At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead financial strategy and support growth in a dynamic luxury hardware company.
- Company: Established British designer of luxury architectural hardware with global reach.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, car allowance, healthcare, and long-term incentives.
- Why this job: Join a senior leadership team and make a real impact on business growth.
- Qualifications: CCAB qualification and experience in senior finance roles required.
- Other info: Engaging work environment with opportunities for professional development.
The predicted salary is between 125000 - 145000 £ per year.
Our client is a well-established British designer and manufacturer of luxury architectural hardware, supplying high-end residential and hospitality projects both in the UK and internationally. The business combines traditional craftsmanship with modern manufacturing techniques and continues to invest in new product development, operational capability and international growth.
We are seeking a hands-on, commercially focused Finance Director to join the senior leadership team of this growing business, based in Crawley. This is a pivotal appointment, partnering closely with the CEO, Board and senior management team, with responsibility spanning day-to-day financial control through to strategic planning and long-term value creation.
In addition to owning the financial strategy and performance of the business, the Finance Director will play a key role in building, developing and scaling the finance function, ensuring it is appropriately resourced to support the company's growth ambitions. The role requires an individual comfortable operating at both a strategic and detailed level, with strong commercial judgement and the credibility to influence decision-making across the organisation.
As the company continues to grow, there will be the opportunity to participate in a long-term incentive plan or equivalent, enabling participation in the value created.
Key Responsibilities- Contribute to the definition and delivery of the organisation's vision and strategy.
- Produce forecasts assessing long-term financial trends, including scenario modelling around growth, new products and market opportunities.
- Provide financial and commercial support to senior management to help achieve short- and long-term objectives, including funding initiatives and potential acquisitions.
- Review financial performance against forecasts, analyse variances and improve planning and forecasting processes.
- Maintain and enhance internal controls, accounting policies and procedures, ensuring compliance and protection of company assets.
- Deliver relevant financial information accurately and on time to the Board and senior leadership team.
- Take ownership of specific projects to reduce the operational burden on the Board, reporting progress and outcomes as required.
- Ensure financial systems, reporting and data flows are aligned and scalable, supporting both operational performance and strategic insight.
- Build proactive relationships with department heads to ensure effective communication, motivation and high-quality information flow.
- Ensure Sales leadership and teams have appropriate financial insight, including margin analysis, product penetration and customer profitability, and recommend improvements where appropriate.
- Maintain clear and constructive communication with the Board, particularly the CEO.
- Identify and evaluate opportunities for acquisitions, new premises, capital investment or emerging product trends.
- Build, lead and develop the finance team, ensuring it is adequately resourced, commercially focused and capable of supporting ongoing business growth.
- Confident in listening, understanding and explaining financial and commercial issues.
- Able to present financial information effectively to teams, the Board, investors and external stakeholders, including banks, auditors and advisers.
- Commercially minded, with the ability to challenge constructively and support decisions that deliver organisational objectives.
- Proven ability to develop individuals and teams through mentoring and training.
- Strong communication skills across all levels of the organisation.
- Sound judgement in knowing when to seek additional management or specialist advice.
- Holds a recognised CCAB accountancy qualification or equivalent.
- At least three years' experience in a senior finance role (Finance Director or Senior Financial Controller) with hands-on responsibility.
- Experience working with SMEs with Boards that include non-executives and/or external investors.
- Experience of acquisitions and growth-related projects.
- Strong Excel capability.
- Familiarity with ERP or accounting systems such as SAP Business One or similar.
- £125,000 - £145,000 per annum (depending on experience)
- Car allowance or company car
- Long-term incentive plan including annual profit or performance-related bonus
- Healthcare
- Supportive and engaging working environment
- Access to all onsite facilities including gym
Finance Director in Northgate employer: Universal Business Team
Contact Detail:
Universal Business Team Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Finance Director in Northgate
✨Network Like a Pro
Get out there and connect with people in the finance industry! Attend events, join LinkedIn groups, and don’t be shy about reaching out to current employees at companies you’re interested in. Building relationships can open doors that a CV just can’t.
✨Ace the Interview
Prepare for your interviews by researching the company inside out. Understand their financial strategies and be ready to discuss how your experience aligns with their goals. Practice common interview questions and have your own questions ready to show your interest!
✨Showcase Your Skills
When you get the chance, demonstrate your financial acumen through real-life examples. Whether it’s during an interview or networking event, share stories of how you’ve tackled challenges and contributed to growth in previous roles. Numbers speak volumes!
✨Apply Through Our Website
Don’t forget to apply directly through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets seen by the right people. Plus, we love seeing candidates who take that extra step to engage with us directly.
We think you need these skills to ace Finance Director in Northgate
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your CV: Make sure your CV is tailored to the Finance Director role. Highlight your experience in financial strategy and team leadership, as well as any relevant achievements that align with the job description.
Craft a Compelling Cover Letter: Your cover letter should tell us why you're the perfect fit for this position. Share specific examples of how you've contributed to financial growth and strategic planning in previous roles.
Showcase Your Commercial Acumen: In your application, emphasise your commercial judgement and ability to influence decision-making. We want to see how you've successfully navigated financial challenges and supported business objectives.
Apply Through Our Website: Don't forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way for us to receive your application and ensures you’re considered for this exciting opportunity.
How to prepare for a job interview at Universal Business Team
✨Know Your Numbers
As a Finance Director, you’ll need to demonstrate your financial acumen. Brush up on key financial metrics relevant to the company and be ready to discuss how you've used data to drive strategic decisions in the past.
✨Showcase Your Leadership Style
This role involves building and leading a finance team. Be prepared to share examples of how you've developed teams in previous roles, including any mentoring or training initiatives you've implemented.
✨Understand the Business
Research the company’s products and market position. Be ready to discuss how your financial strategies can support their growth ambitions and align with their vision, especially in the context of luxury architectural hardware.
✨Prepare for Scenario Questions
Expect questions that assess your ability to handle financial forecasting and scenario modelling. Think of specific examples where you've successfully navigated financial challenges or opportunities, and be ready to explain your thought process.