Head of Finance in Frome

Lead finance for Andros, a growing, globally trusted food manufacturer. Be hands-on, visible, and part of an exceptional close-knit leadership team.

About Our Client: Andros is a family-owned food group headquartered in south-west France, with over €3.4 billion turnover and 56 production sites worldwide, with two based in the UK. Best known for brands like Bonne Maman, Andros is a leading producer of fruit-based products, chilled dairy desserts and yoghurts, combining traditional craftsmanship with industrial innovation to deliver simple, high-quality food enjoyed in more than 100 countries.

Job Description: The department overseen by the Head of Finance plays three key roles:

• Accounting
• Administration support for other departments
• Monitoring and drive of performance

The team is today split across the three activities. The second one requires permanent review and optimisation. The third one needs to evolve from gathering information to analysing and advising more. One of the first roles will be to recommend improvement to the organisation including the use of additional software while keeping the regularity and efficiency of the accounting practice.

Responsibilities include:

• Standard accounting tasks including reporting, dealing with group divisions, preparing the annual budget.
• Administer the use of resources in commercial, marketing, supply, purchasing.
• A clear focus on Somerset factory performance as well as commercial (pricing, promotions…) and marketing.

In addition, the Head of Finance will need to:

• Work proactively with the Operations Director and wider management team to ensure all policies and procedures are followed and no aspect of the business is financially compromised.
• Lead and manage the Finance team and ensure they take responsibilities.
• Partner with other departments looking at productivity, waste and competitiveness to identify and realise opportunities for margin improvement, cost optimisation, management of budgets and spending efficiencies.
• Support trade spend, tenders and pricing models with robust financial analysis.
• Provide strategic financial insight to support investment decisions, pricing and promotion strategies and new product development.
• Produce long term plans, budgets and forecasts then check on their respect with all departmental heads.
• Develop new systems with the Finance team to enable gains in efficiencies, speed of output and standardisation of presentation of financial data.
• Ensure that the accounting records, financial control procedures and reporting are maintained at a level which meets all internal, group and statutory audit requirements.
• Oversee cash flow and currency requirements for the Andros UK sites, providing cash flow forecasting as required.

Please note, this is an office based role and therefore expectation is to be on-site full time.

Candidate Profile:

• A doer. Andros' managers stay close to action.
• Strong verbal and written communication skills and capable of explaining financial information to non-finance staff.
• Ability to work calmly to deadlines and accurately under pressure.
• Positive can-do attitude.
• Quality should permeate every part of the company, even finance!

Background:

• Professional/Chartered accounting qualification (ACCA/CIMA or equivalent).
• Proven experience of working in a senior finance leadership role ideally within a 24/7 manufacturing environment.
• Track record of commercial acumen in driving financial performance, transformation and supporting strategic growth initiatives.
• Strong leadership skills and experience.

Company Package:

• Highly competitive salary - dependent on experience.
• Market Leader in their products and sector.
• Annual 10% performance bonus.
• Company pension 6% employer contribution.
• 25 days holiday + Bank holidays.
• Company sick pay.
• 4 x Death in Service.
• Employee Assistance Programme - flu jabs, contribution to eye tests and prescription lenses, financial and legal helplines and access to 24/7 GP service.