Finance Director - Focusrite Novation (Maternity Cover)

The Focusrite Group; United Kingdom; Hybrid; GBP 100,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading music technology firm is seeking a Finance Director for a maternity cover role in High Wycombe. The position involves overseeing financial reporting and maintaining internal controls across multiple entities. This role requires strong leadership and analytical skills, as well as the ability to communicate effectively with various stakeholders. The role offers hybrid working arrangements, competitive salary, and a range of benefits to support personal and professional development.

Benefits

Flexible/hybrid working

Company pension

Life insurance

Private healthcare

Enhanced Maternity and Paternity pay

Employee purchase scheme

Group bonus scheme

Company music events

Offsite company parties

Free lunch in the canteen

Qualifications

• Self-starter able to manage a complex agenda.
• Excellent organisational skills with a track record of process improvement.
• Experience of working in a multi-national listed company.

Responsibilities

• Prepare monthly management reports accurately and on time.
• Oversee financial reporting and internal controls for 5 legal entities.
• Manage relationships with auditors ensuring timely resolution of queries.

Skills

Qualified Accountant

People management skills

Process improvement

Analytical skills

Communication skills

Education

Qualified Accountant

7 years' post qualification experience

Tools

ERP systems (preferably Oracle Netsuite)

Job description

Finance Director - Focusrite Novation (Maternity Cover)

Based: High Wycombe office / hybrid

Term: Contract - Maternity Cover

Salary: c.£100000 pa + bonus and benefits

About the company

Focusrite plc is a global music and audio group that develops and markets music technology products. Used by audio professionals and amateur musicians alike, its solutions facilitate the high-quality production of recorded and live sound. Our audio technology brands stand together, seeking to enrich lives through music by removing barriers to creativity - 'we make music easy to make'.

About the role

This is a maternity cover position which is to start in January 2026 and is expected to last until April 2027.

For this role we require attendance at our head office in High Wycombe for 2-3 days per week.

The Focusrite Finance Director will be responsible for the financial reporting and internal controls within the content creation related UK and APAC based entities. This includes the head office activities and global distribution for Focusrite content creation brands as well as the distribution activities of all content creation brands within EMEA. They will have strong relationships with all the key stakeholders and ensure that timely and accurate management reporting is available to key decision makers and that a well-controlled and efficient transaction processing for Accounts receivable and Accounts payable is in place.

They will be a business partner for the content creation brands based in the UK and APAC, helping with commercial decision support. They will also be responsible for the financial reporting and internal controls of the distribution entity for the Group content creation. They will have responsibility for tax compliance within the relevant regions, working with the external tax accountants.

This role will be reporting directly to the Group CFO with a dotted line to the Focusrite Managing Director and be part of the Focusrite leadership team and Global finance leadership team. They will manage a team of approx. 8 in the UK and 2 in Hong Kong.

Essential functions and major responsibilities

• Monthly management reporting delivered accurately and on time
• Effective and efficient accounts receivable and payable processes
• Responsible for the financial reporting and internal controls for 5 legal entities - 3 UK, 1 in Hong Kong and 1 in Australia
• Oversight of statutory filings and tax compliance for the same entities
• Business partnering for Focusrite brand product development and centrally managed departments.
• People management of UK and APAC Finance teams

Management Reporting

• Preparation of monthly financial reports for Focusrite Boards/Management teams
• Submission of monthly results and commentary to Group Finance on a timely basis
• Preparation of quarterly reforecasts
• Preparation of annual budget and three year plan
• Strong internal controls in place across record to report process

Finance Transaction Processing

• Efficient Accounts receivable process, with clear KPIs monitored and easy to use for customers
• Efficient Accounts payable process, with clear KPIs and supporting the Focusrite brand with suppliers
• Effective and efficient intercompany transaction process in place across geographies and brands
• Strong drive to process improvement to ensure processes are fit for purpose and can support the growth of the company
• Finance transaction processing will cover the UK and APAC teams who will provide financial information across 5 entities (one of which includes a German branch).

Statutory and Tax compliance

• Manage relationship with UK and APAC auditors ensuring timely resolution of queries and statutory accounts filings are accurate and on time
• Oversee tax computations and filings, working with Group tax accountant, ensuring corporate and indirect taxes are in compliance with local regulations

Business Partnering

• Work with Focusrite management teams to support commercial forecasts and budgets
• Support with ad hoc investment projects and analysis,
• Financial planning for long term strategic ambitions
• Ensure there are robust return on investment metrics in place
• NB Business partnering of the EMEA and APAC sales teams is not included in the scope of this role, although support of the underlying finance transactions is included

People Management

• Manage UK team of approx. 8 and Hong Kong team of 2
• Part of the UK Focusrite brand leadership team and part of the Global finance leadership team

About you

• Qualified Accountant
• Preferably 7 years' post qualification experience
• Self-starter able to manage a complex agenda, with good people management skills
• Excellent organisational skills, with a track record of process improvement
• Strong problem solving and analytical skills,
• Effective communication and influencing skills, with an ability to build strong stakeholder relationships
• Experience of working within ERP systems, preferably Oracle Netsuite
• Experience of working in a multi-national listed company operating in a fast-paced environment

About Us

Focusrite plc is a global music and audio group that develops and markets music technology products. Used by audio professionals and amateur musicians alike, our solutions facilitate the high-quality production of recorded and live sound. Our audio technology brands stand together, seeking to enrich lives through music by removing barriers to creativity - 'we make music easy to make'.

Benefits

Benefits include flexible/hybrid working, company pension, life insurance, private healthcare, Health Cash Plan, enhanced Maternity and Paternity pay, employee purchase scheme, group bonus scheme, company music events, offsite company parties and free lunch in the canteen. We arrange company training sessions and encourage personal development.