Finance Director

Our client is an international, private equity backed manufacturing business based in Sussex. They are now looking to recruit an FD with experience in the industrial sector who has ideally worked in a leveraged environment and/or has experience of working with private equity investors.

Key responsibilities:

• Implement appropriate financial systems, controls and reporting processes in line with good practice;
• Create a system for monitoring and reporting on operational and financial KPIs;
• Implement comprehensive treasury and cash management operations, including 13 week cash flow forecasts and foreign exchange planning (GBP, USD and EUR); and
• Manage the financial and (alongside the Managing Director) commercial/operational affairs of the Business, delivering proactive and timely insight to relevant stakeholders and working with the Managing Director and Board to set the Business’s strategic direction and deliver those plans.

Other responsibilities

• Participate in key decisions as a member of the executive management team and of the Board, and help drive accelerated growth in the Business;
• Participate in commercial discussions / considerations including pricing, commission structures and customer and supplier contract negotiations;
• Act as a partner to the Managing Director and pro-actively contribute widely across various departments in the Business as a key member of the leadership team;
• Provide proactive advice and challenge on the financial implications of business activities and decisions;
• Oversee the production of accurate monthly and annual accounts (historical and budget), and prepare insightful forecasts, in a timely and efficient manner and, when reporting these to the rest of the team and to the Board, highlight trends in actual and/or projected revenues, margins and costs and suggest actions to address any material issues/grasp emerging opportunities early so that the Business can respond effectively and with pace;
• Represent the Business positively and professionally with external parties (customers, suppliers, debt providers) and develop a good working relationship with the private equity investors;
• Manage the relationship with the auditors, tax advisers and insurance providers;
• Manage the Business’s VAT, corporation tax, PAYE and other tax affairs; and
• Manage the Business’s legal and company secretarial, IT and HR capabilities.

Characteristics

The successful candidate will need to have previous senior finance management experience with a proven track-record of implementing financial systems and improving financial reporting, ideally in an entrepreneurial environment, and be used to working in a small team:

• Professionally qualified accountant;
• Degree or equivalent level of education;
• Hands on experience with multiple stakeholders, ideally including private equity investors and lenders;
• Prior experience in the manufacturing sector will be beneficial but not essential;
• Strong commercial intelligence, able to make financial decisions based on business benefits and used to actively helping to drive growth;
• Able to work with the others functions in a strong but constructive manner to achieve profitable growth of the right type of business;
• Entrepreneurial and keen to have a shareholding in the business.

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