Head of Finance, Manchester

Location: Studio-based in Altrincham, Greater Manchester

Hours: Full-time, 37.5 hours per week

Planit is looking for an experienced and proactive Head of Finance to play a lead role in advancing our finance function, and the wider practice, for continued success through a 2-year fixed-term contract.

Planit is an interdisciplinary design practice, bringing together Landscape Architects, Urban Designers, and Visual Storytellers across five studios in the UK. Our Finance Team is based in the practice’s headquarters in Altrincham, our hometown and a place we've been helping shape through public realm design for over a decade.

Role

Our Finance Team, sits at the heart of the practice, overseen by Director for Finance, Lindsay Humblet. As our Head of Finance, you will take responsibility for the smooth running of all aspects of financial management within the practice, from budgeting, forecasting and management reporting through to credit control and cash management. Working closely with the Director and Studio Director Teams, you will provide financial insight and reporting, help improve project profitability, and contribute to informed decision-making across the business.

The ability to work well with people, as well as numbers, is essential; taking a Business Partnering attitude and mentoring approach to the role. Translating financial information into clear and practical guidance, improving financial literacy, and helping the team understand their role in improving financial performance are vital. Likewise, enabling the development and career advancement of the Finance Team, consisting of an Assistant Management Accountant and Assistant Accountant, within the duration of the fixed-term contract, is a key facet to this appointment.

We are seeking a CIMA, ACA or ACCA qualified accountant with a minimum of 5- years’ post qualification experience. Experience within design or professional services would be advantageous, but we’re open to fresh perspectives that enable the practice’s purpose to ‘Design for All Life to Thrive in Balance’, and values as an accredited B Corp.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead the day-to-day finance function, supervising and developing the team and maintaining accurate accounting records.
• Prepare and present monthly management accounts and deliver insightful management information, KPIs and financial analysis to support strategic and operational decision-making across all studios and disciplines. This will include leading monthly finance meetings with the senior leadership design teams and supporting quarterly Finance Management meetings.
• Lead annual budgeting and regular forecasting, monitoring performance, costs and financial risks against business targets.
• Manage cashflow, banking relationships, bank balances and payment planning, ensuring timely reconciliations.
• Oversee sales invoicing, credit control and debt recovery, working with project leads to ensure completed work is billed promptly.
• Manage purchase ledger, supplier approvals and payment runs, alongside staff expenses, petty cash and company credit cards.
• Lead revenue recognition and work-in-progress reviews in line with UK GAAP, including fee forecasts, accrued and deferred income.
• Partner with project and studio leads to drive financial performance, overseeing profitability, labour budgets, resource allocation and staff utilisation, while providing commercial insight and recommendations to Directors.
• Oversight of and overall responsibility for payroll, pensions and employee benefits in conjunction with HR colleagues, to ensure accurate accounting and related tax reporting is provided to our external payroll service provider.
• Oversight of VAT preparation, with overall responsibility for compliance and relevant HMRC filings.
• Coordinate the year-end financial reporting process, liaise with external accountants in the preparation of statutory accounts and support corporation tax compliance, Companies House filings and company secretarial requirements.
• Maintain robust financial controls, manage insurance arrangements, and oversee fixed asset, loan and lease records, ensuring regulatory compliance and reporting deadlines are met.
• Maintain and improve finance systems and processes, using digital tools and emerging technologies to support efficiency and wider business improvement.
• Comfort with digital tools and a genuine willingness to embrace new systems are essential.

We are looking for a Head of Finance to:

• Lead and coach the accounts team, fostering a supportive, motivated and high-performing team that will take forward the finance function at the end of your 2-year tenure.
• Deliver forward-looking financial insight, using advanced reporting, data analysis and forecasting to anticipate challenges and inform business decisions.
• Champion automation and emerging technology, streamlining processes and driving continuous improvement; familiarity with Xero, CMap and Microsoft 365 would be advantageous.
• Communicate financial information clearly and confidently, building constructive relationships with clients, our team of Landscape Architects, Urban Designers, Visualisers, and support colleagues through respect, tact and professionalism.
• Bring or gain a clear understanding of Landscape and Urban Design and Visualisation project finances.
• Exercise discretion and sound judgement in the Finance Team’s handling of sensitive and confidential information.
• Organise and prioritise effectively, managing competing demands and meeting deadlines while maintaining high standards.

Practice Information

Planit is an Employee-Owned business. Every co-owner taking personal responsibility within their areas of expertise for the benefit of the team, and success of the practice as a whole. As an accredited B Corp, we prioritise people, planet, and profit equally, and these values are embedded in how we operate.

This role sits squarely within that context, upholding a triple bottom line approach; Balancing environmental and social considerations with financial success. We welcome applications from candidates who share these values.

We support our team by providing benefits that include a minimum of 22 days holiday plus bank holidays and 3 Christmas closure days, flexible start and finish times (core working hours are 10.00am to 4.30pm), hybrid working following probation period (one day per week from home if full-time), company pension, Employee Ownership Trust Bonus, enhanced maternity and paternity pay, Salary sacrifice cycle and EV car schemes, support with professional fees and CPD.

Candidates must be eligible to live and work in the UK. If you require sponsorship, please check your eligibility against the relevant criteria on the UK Government website before submitting your application.

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