Head of Finance

Harper May is collaborating with a prominent educational group, actively searching for a proactive Head of Finance to bolster their finance team and elevate financial standards across the organisation.

As the Head of Finance, you will assume a central role in monitoring the financial well-being of the group. With a direct line to the CFO, your duties will encompass spearheading all facets of financial planning, analysis, and reporting, aimed at facilitating strategic choices and enhancing profitability.

Key responsibilities and accountabilities:

• Oversee the preparation and review of the Group monthly management accounts
• Support the Finance team analysis of monthly management accounts vs budget and assist in reviewing with operational managers
• Review of monthly and quarterly Balance Sheet reconciliations
• Review and approve quarterly VAT return preparation and lodgement
• Working with external accounting firm to prepare Annual Financial Statements
• Assist the Group CFO in the preparation of Board and Audit Committee presentations
• Implement, audit and maintain appropriate financial controls and processes to ensure good governance and risk mitigation
• Manage the working capital and treasury processes of the Group
• Manage the Group’s annual budget process and re-forecasting process end-to-end
• Manage the Group’s financial reporting system to ensure it delivers the Group’s statutory reporting and management information requirements
• Responsibility for FP&A including production of the Group's management accounts on a monthly, quarterly and half-yearly basis and participate in the communication of monthly management information to members of Executive team
• Communicating with and managing external auditors
• Develop and manage supplier, Trading Partner and internal colleague relationships

Criteria:

• ACA / ACCA / CIMA Qualified or equivalent
• Advanced Microsoft Excel skills
• Strong technical accounting skills including experience of reporting under IFRS
• Excellent written and verbal communication and presentation skills and ability to convey financial matters to non-financial stakeholders
• Highly organised with strong attention to detail
• Ability to manage complex, changing and high-volume workload effectively
• Ability to build strong relationships with internal and external stakeholders at a senior level
• Ability to work well under pressure, working accurately with attention to detail and able to meet deadlines
• Excellent communication skills, approachable and confident