Group Financial Controller

Hand Picked Hotels; England; On-site; GBP 50,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

An established industry player in the hospitality sector is seeking a Group Financial Controller to lead their finance team. This pivotal role involves ensuring compliance, managing cash positions, and overseeing financial shared services. You will be part of the Senior Leadership Team, reporting directly to the CFO, and play a key role in transforming the finance function to align with the company's strategic goals. Ideal candidates will have a strong background in finance within multi-site operations, particularly in the hospitality industry, and possess exceptional leadership skills. Join a family-owned group that values individuality and community, and contribute to creating enchanting stays for guests.

Benefits

Life Assurance Scheme

Employee Assistance Program

28 Days Holiday

Career Progression Opportunities

Staff Stays Discount

Online Retail Discount Platform

Diversity and Inclusion Initiatives

Qualifications

• Experience as a Group Financial Controller in a multi-site operation, ideally in hospitality.
• Excellent leadership and coaching skills with finance team management experience.

Responsibilities

• Overall responsibility for compliance with statutory filing and management of cash position.
• Oversee preparation of monthly management accounts and manage central costs.

Skills

Leadership Skills

Coaching Skills

Financial Management

Transformation Mind-set

Education

Qualified Accountant (ACA/CA, ACCA, CIMA)

Tools

Microsoft Office (Excel, Word, PowerPoint)

Sage Intacct

Opera

Job description

About the Company

Hand Picked Hotels was founded in 2001 by owner, Chairman and CEO, Julia Hands MBE. Julia's love of historical buildings, the English countryside, local food and good wine inspired her dream to own a collection of hotels that would celebrate these passions and invite others to share in them.

Today, the family-owned group has 21 unique luxury country houses and coastal retreats, each hand picked for their individuality. Architecturally distinctive and quintessentially British, every hotel boasts an extraordinary location from Scotland to the Channel Islands, offering breathtaking views from vast countryside to expansive beaches, to lush woodlands.

Dedicated to creating unique and enchanting stays, curated personalised service runs through the heart of every hotel. Whilst each hotel is individual, each property fulfils the company values of family, individuality, community and care, with a team commitment to aiming higher and delighting their guests with magical experiences that offer a true escape from the every day.

A new opportunity has arisen to join our expanding finance team. We are currently recruiting for a Group Financial Controller; this role will be responsible for the overall financial control and accounts preparation for the hotels and central support office.

This is key role in Hand Picked Hotels and will be part of the Senior Leadership Team, reporting to the CFO, you will be instrumental in the ongoing transformation of the finance function in line with Hand Picked Hotels strategy.

This role is based from our Central Support Office in Kent.

About the Role:

• The Group Financial Controller has overall responsibility for the Group's compliance with applicable statutory filing requirements, management of the Group's cash position and the provision of streamlined financial shared services (General Ledger, AP, AR, Payroll and Treasury).
• This includes overseeing the preparation of monthly management accounts for the mainland hotels, ensuring they are accurate and timely and produced in an efficient way.
• The Group Financial Controller will also have responsibility for the management of the head office/central costs and the group's capex programme, working with the relevant members of the Exec team/Heads of Department to monitor, manage and report central spend (including strategic projects).
• Manage, motivate and provide direction for the central and shared service finance team ensuring they have appropriate structures, competencies, and systems, to deliver the wider business objectives.
• Set clear short- and medium-term priorities, objectives, KPIs and plans of activity for the central and shared service finance team to deliver Hand Picked Hotels' commercial objectives.
• Support, mentor and coach the managers within the finance team.
• Provide structured guidance for the development of each person within the team via regular 1-2-1s and documented development plans, ensuring alignment of individual objectives with wider operational and strategic direction.
• Identify any skills and knowledge gaps within the team and create training and development plans to close those gaps.

About You:

• To be considered for this role, you will need to have current experience as a Group Financial Controller within a multi-site operation ideally in the hospitality industry.
• It is essential you have excellent leadership and coaching skills and have managed and developed finance teams during your career.
• It is essential you are a qualified accountant with either (ACA/CA, ACCA, CIMA).
• Have advanced user knowledge and experience of Microsoft Office products including Excel, Word and PowerPoint.
• Be able to present written information to a high professional standard up to board level.
• Be able to demonstrate a transformation mind-set and the ability to get things done in a fast moving and dynamic environment.
• Previous work experience in the hotel industry would be an advantage, as would knowledge of Sage Intacct, Opera and other hospitality software.

Company Benefits:

• An excellent salary package, plus bonus this will be discussed at interview stage.
• This is a Full-Time role working Monday to Friday 9am - 5.30pm, 40 hours per week.
• Life assurance scheme.
• Employee Assistance Program to support you with whatever life throws at you.
• Company Sickness Scheme Benefit.
• 28 days holiday per year including bank holidays, increasing to 33 days including bank holidays with length of service.
• Forward career progression, with access to our In House and external training programs, including apprenticeships up to level 7, which are all supported by our learning and development team.
• £30 staff stays with Hand Picked Hotels per room Bed & Breakfast & 25% discount on all food & drink. Yes, it's as good as it sounds! Annual loyalty awards (like afternoon teas and overnight stays).
• Online retail discount platform offering thousands of savings with high street retailers and restaurants as well as a health and well-being platform.
• Opportunity to make lifelong friendships and be part of a team that celebrates Diversity and Inclusion.

Hand Picked Hotels is an Equal Opportunities employer. Candidates must be eligible to live and work in the UK.