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- Tasks: Lead finance and IT functions, optimising performance and developing a high-performing team.
- Company: Join a reputable UK tour operator with over 40 years of experience in creating memorable holidays.
- Benefits: Enjoy hybrid working, generous holiday discounts, and a subsidised annual staff trip.
- Why this job: Shape financial processes in a fun, fast-paced environment while supporting key business decisions.
- Qualifications: ACCA, CIMA, or equivalent qualification with proven finance experience, especially in SMEs.
- Other info: Relaxed dress code, regular socials, and excellent career development opportunities await you!
The predicted salary is between 50000 - 70000 £ per year.
People2People is partnering with a well-established and leading UK-owned tour operator to recruit for a pivotal leadership role. Directly support key business decisions in a dynamic industry. Oversee the finance function, driving efficiency and developing a small, high-performing team. Join a passionate, supportive team with unique industry-related perks and hybrid working.
Salary Package: £60,000 - £80,000 per annum, plus generous holiday discounts, pension, and a subsidised annual staff trip. This is a unique opportunity to shape financial processes from the ground up, providing critical data-driven insights in a fun, fast-paced environment.
Key Benefits: Enjoy hybrid remote working (at least 2 days/week in West London), a relaxed dress code, regular company socials, and excellent career development within a stable, growing business.
Company: Join a long-standing and highly reputable UK-owned tour operator, recognized as one of the largest in its field. Established for over four decades, this company specializes in delivering memorable holiday experiences across Europe and North America. With a focus on customer peace of mind, they operate with robust financial and operational frameworks, dedicated to continuous improvement. The team, currently around 30-40 staff in the London headquarters, is united by a shared passion for their product and a supportive, collaborative culture. They are committed to fostering ambitious individuals, offering significant opportunities for skill development and career success as they continue to grow.
Role: We are seeking a Head of Finance to take comprehensive ownership of both the finance and IT functions, reporting directly to the Managing Director. This is a critical role that requires a hands-on approach to financial management, IT oversight, and team development. You will be instrumental in optimising financial performance, streamlining operations, and providing robust data-driven insights to support strategic decision-making in a dynamic industry.
Key Duties and Responsibilities:
- Lead the finance and IT functions, ensuring alignment with commercial objectives.
- Oversee comprehensive financial reporting, including statutory and monthly management accounts, KPIs, and profitability analysis.
- Develop and maintain critical financial models and projections, including budgets and cash flow forecasts.
- Manage complex data requirements, ensuring accuracy and providing insightful commentary on financial trends, risks, and opportunities.
- Lead, motivate, and develop a small finance (2-3 staff) and IT (1 staff) team, fostering high performance.
- Manage relationships with external auditors and accountants (including international entities).
- Oversee core financial operations: payroll (UK & overseas), sales/purchase ledger, revenue recognition, stock accounting.
- Ensure robust financial controls, IT security, and efficiency, overseeing system upgrades and infrastructure maintenance.
- Act as a key member of the company-wide crisis management team.
Ideal Candidate Overview: The ideal candidate is a proactive, adaptable, and solution-oriented finance professional with strong technical and data-handling abilities. You are passionate about optimising financial processes and leveraging data to provide actionable insights. You thrive in fast-changing environments, enjoy hands-on work, and excel at leading and developing small teams. Your excellent communication skills enable you to interact effectively across all levels and functions.
Essentials:
- ACCA, CIMA, or equivalent qualification (preference for CIMA/ACCA).
- Proven experience covering all areas of the finance function, particularly within an SME.
- Expert in Excel (complex formulae, pivot tables) and a solid understanding of IT network systems, with experience in VBA for automation.
Desirables:
- Experience within the travel industry or a related dynamic sector.
- Proficiency in French and/or German.
- Advanced Programming skills (e.g., Python).
Benefits and Culture: Join a highly supportive and engaging environment where people are at the heart of the business. We offer a positive work/life balance, including hybrid remote working from our West London office. You'll benefit from a relaxed dress code, in-office showers and bike parking, regular company socials, and weekly in-office breakfast. We provide incredible development and long-term career growth opportunities, including a subsidised annual staff trip and generous holiday discounts for you and your friends/family. Our mission is to provide opportunities to ambitious individuals looking to develop their skills and achieve career success in a focused, UK-owned company.
As an inclusive workforce, we welcome everyone and encourage our employees, clients, and candidates to showcase their authentic selves. Should you require reasonable adjustments throughout the recruitment process, we encourage you to make a request by phoning the above-mentioned recruitment consultant to discuss. In response to these requests, we will collaborate closely with you to implement the appropriate adjustments.
Skiworld - Head of Finance employer: People2people
Contact Detail:
People2people Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Skiworld - Head of Finance
✨Tip Number 1
Familiarise yourself with the travel industry, especially the financial aspects that are unique to it. Understanding the nuances of financial management in a dynamic sector like travel will give you an edge during interviews.
✨Tip Number 2
Highlight your leadership experience in finance and IT. Be prepared to discuss specific examples of how you've developed teams and optimised financial processes in previous roles, as this is crucial for the Head of Finance position.
✨Tip Number 3
Brush up on your Excel skills, particularly complex formulae and pivot tables, as these are essential for the role. Consider preparing a few examples of how you've used these skills to drive insights or improve efficiency in past positions.
✨Tip Number 4
Network with professionals in the travel and finance sectors. Engaging with others in the industry can provide valuable insights and potentially lead to referrals, making your application stand out when you apply through our website.
We think you need these skills to ace Skiworld - Head of Finance
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your CV: Make sure your CV highlights relevant experience in finance and IT management. Emphasise your leadership skills and any experience you have in the travel industry or similar dynamic sectors.
Craft a Compelling Cover Letter: In your cover letter, express your passion for optimising financial processes and your ability to provide data-driven insights. Mention specific examples of how you've led teams and improved financial performance in previous roles.
Highlight Relevant Qualifications: Clearly state your ACCA, CIMA, or equivalent qualifications. If you have expertise in Excel, VBA, or programming languages like Python, make sure to include these skills as they are highly relevant to the role.
Showcase Your Soft Skills: The ideal candidate is described as proactive and adaptable. Use your application to demonstrate your communication skills and ability to work collaboratively within a team, as well as your hands-on approach to problem-solving.
How to prepare for a job interview at People2people
✨Showcase Your Financial Acumen
Prepare to discuss your experience with financial reporting, budgeting, and cash flow forecasting. Be ready to provide examples of how you've optimised financial processes in previous roles, as this will demonstrate your capability to lead the finance function effectively.
✨Highlight Team Leadership Skills
Since the role involves leading a small team, share specific instances where you've successfully motivated and developed team members. Discuss your approach to fostering high performance and collaboration within a team setting.
✨Demonstrate IT Knowledge
Given the dual focus on finance and IT, be prepared to talk about your understanding of IT systems and any relevant experience you have with automation tools like VBA. This will show that you can oversee IT functions alongside financial management.
✨Express Passion for the Travel Industry
As the company operates in the travel sector, convey your enthusiasm for the industry. Share any relevant experiences or insights that connect your background to the company's mission, which will help you stand out as a candidate who truly understands their business.
