Head of Finance
Vacancy Ref: 16738KM

The Company:
Working for a very successful family farming business that has operated since the early 1900s. This well known, established family-run agricultural and farming operation grows, packs, and supplies a large range of fresh produce to both supermarket and wholesale customers from production sites across the UK. Based in the wonderful countryside in Herefordshire.

Job Purpose:
The business wishes to employ a Head of Finance to help drive sustainable growth and, most importantly, a robust business for future generations.
The new Head of Finance will first seek to understand the business and establish key working relationships. As Finance Lead, the role is primarily responsible for protecting the company's assets through the maintenance and development of a systematic process for financial control and review.
The Head of Finance will introduce and play the role of Finance Business Partner to the two Partners, who are operationally active in the business, to positively influence operational performance, evaluate opportunities, and mitigate risks promptly. This will involve the development of existing management information. The Finance function is small, and the role will require a hands-on approach, with the expectation that the new incumbent will want to hire a management accountant to increase the capacity of the Finance function.
As the company embarks on this next chapter, monthly business meetings involving the Partners and leads for HR and Finance will be introduced to address developments, progress against plan, shine the light on any critical areas, encourage timely decision-making, and generally maintain good communication.
The Head of Finance will also seek a relationship and become the main point of contact for the Bank.

Reports to the role: Accounts Assistant, Payroll Administrator, Accounts Administrator (seasonal temp).

Responsible for: Financial Business Partnering, Commercial Analysis, Financial Operations, Accounting & Payroll, Financial Compliance, Processes & Controls.

Location: Herefordshire

Key Responsibilities:
Form a close working relationship with the Partners and broader Management Team.
Produce and present weekly performance reports for all major crops to the Partners.
Recruitment, management and development of the Finance team, ensuring their wellbeing, job satisfaction, competence and motivation with support from HR.
Monitoring daily costs to maintain reliable data usable for daily operational planning.
Continuous development of controls, processes and procedures to ensure they are robust, compliant, and support current activities and future growth.
Challenge assumptions and decision-making where appropriate and provide financial analysis and guidance on all activities, plans, targets and business drivers.
Prepare and maintain rolling financial projections (including P&L, balance sheet, and cash flow) and rolling short-term cash flow forecasts.
Assist functional managers with the preparation of detailed annual budgets and forecasts.
Preparation of the monthly management accounts for two entities (one partnership and one Ltd Co) for review by the Partners, including commentary on key variances from budget.
Establish high credibility and manage strong working relationships with external parties, including the Bank, customers and suppliers, where appropriate.
Support the business with analysis and tailored management information to aid effective decision-making across the business.
Deliver financial support and coaching to wider business as and when the need arises. For example, work with the operational management team to increase their understanding of cost control.
Oversee annual stock take and ensure monthly stock movements are correctly recorded in the accounts.
Ensure that the regulatory requirements of all statutory bodies are met, e.g. VAT/PAYE.
Develop a relationship with the Bank, annually presenting budgets - P&L and cash flow.
Working on other special projects as required by the Partners; examples include;
Lead/deliver on a project to review the Payroll process across the business, in conjunction with HR, to ensure that it is 'fit for purpose', robust and efficient and harnesses technology to keep manual aspects to a minimum.
Work with the HRD to review company benefits.

Qualifications & Experience:
Professionally qualified accountant (ACA, ACCA, CIMA or equivalent);
Experience in developing financial systems, processes and controls to allow for efficiency and scalability of the business;
Strong communication skills at all levels;
An understanding of Payroll processing and Pension schemes;
Technologically savvy with excellent MS Excel skills;
The commercial experience to assist in driving the business forward, whether it is in the thick of it or as a sounding board and team player;
Financial and management experience with a particular focus on the delivery of timely, accurate management information, cash flow management and forecasting;
Experience in day-to-day management & coordination of a busy transactional Finance team.
Friendly, efficient manner, and enjoy working with diverse people.
An understanding of agriculture and the role of producer organisations in the industry is relevant and valued; however, the prerequisite skill set can be acquired in a wide range of industries-for example, Food Manufacturing, FMCG, Packaging, Retail, and Supply Chain.

Package:
£70,000 - £90,000
Ability to work hybrid
25 days holiday + bank holidays