Finance Manager

MorVend Ltd; Ipswich; On-site; GBP 40,500 - 49,500; Full time

Job summary

A leading smart retail operator is seeking a Head of Finance to lead financial functions in its regional operation. This role requires expertise in financial reporting and systems management. Responsibilities include overseeing daily financial operations, ensuring compliance with governance standards, and leading strategic financial planning. Candidates should be qualified finance professionals with strong leadership and analytical skills, and a salary starting from £45,000 is offered depending on experience.

Qualifications

• Strong financial reporting and forecasting expertise.
• Proven leadership with ability to motivate and develop teams.
• Advanced proficiency in Excel and financial systems.

Responsibilities

• Lead company-wide financial strategy and forecasting.
• Oversee general ledger and daily financial operations.
• Ensure compliance with financial reporting standards.

Skills

Financial reporting

Leadership

Analytical skills

Problem-solving

Advanced Excel

Sage Accounts

Education

Qualified finance professional

Tools

Sage Accounts

Vendmanager

Job description

Established in 1968,MorVendis a leading smart retail and vending operator, recently incorporated within a national network of businesses forming the Amplifi arm of Compass Group UK & Ireland. Operating from two depots in Suffolk and Hertfordshire and covering East Anglia, the Home Counties and London, we are renowned for our high-quality service and are well respected within the industry.

We are seeking an experienced professional to lead the full finance function within a fast-growing regional smart retail operation. This role combines the maintenance of the day‑to‑day financial ledger and the management of liquidity, alongside control of strategic leadership, financial planning, systems ownership, and directing cross‑department performance improvement.

The Head of Finance position plays a pivotal leadership role in supporting the management team to deliver long‑term success. The successful candidate will be required to support with the integration of the business into a PLC structure, ensuring accurate financial reporting, governance compliance, and alignment with group financial strategy.

In addition to finance leadership, the role requires ownership of finance and operational software, including technical expertise and efficiency in ERP and VMS systems, and advanced Excel modelling. Accurate financial reporting is critical to enable company‑wide efficiencies through data input, analysis and process optimisation.

Key Responsibilities

Strategic Finance Leadership

• Lead company‑wide financial strategy, forecasting, and performance monitoring.
• Provide financial insight into senior leadership, and direct department heads in achieving operational and cost efficiencies.
• Support and assist the integration of the business into a PLC, ensuring systems, reporting and financial controls align with group requirements.
• Produce and submit financial reporting to the PLC in accordance with group deadlines and governance standards.

Financial Operations & Control

• Oversee general ledger management, nominal postings, and daily bank transactions.
• Supervise daily purchase ledger payments and ensure supplier payment processes align with internal controls, and maintenance of the supply chain.
• Oversee daily bank reconciliations to ensure accurate real‑time cash position, alongside identification of any discrepancies, processing errors, and system sales failures.
• Analysis of income from digital payments and a comprehensive understanding of cashless systems and telemetry.
• Oversee credit card and petty cash postings, and monthly reconciliation processes.
• Oversee credit control and elevate where required.
• Process monthly payroll reports, statutory deductions, pension contributions and holiday entitlement tracking.

Reporting, Forecasting & Compliance

• Transition from daily finances to provide monthly oversight through preparation of the management accounts, including detailed sales analysis, margin performance and variance reporting.
• Deliver monthly P&L forecasting and accurate rolling financial projections.
• Prepare quarterly VAT returns, including more complex retail VAT treatments.
• Coordinate annual statutory requirements, including P11D calculations and reporting, and liaison with external accountants and auditors.
• Ensure regulatory compliance to meet all legal and group obligations.

Systems, Data & Efficiency Leadership

• Strong working knowledge of Sage Accounts and develop expert‑level capability in the company’s operating system (Vendmanager).
• Lead financial data input, validation and analysis across finance and operational systems.
• Drive company‑wide process improvements through financial and operational data insights.
• Support the integration and optimisation of finance and operational systems during PLC transition.
• Overall sight and control of all financial elements of the business, and management of roles that feed into this.

Qualifications & Skills

• Qualified, or qualified‑by‑experience senior finance professional, with expertise in financial reporting, forecasting and management accounts.
• Proven leadership and management skills, with the ability to guide, motivate and develop department heads and influence company‑wide decision making.
• Strategic mindset with excellent communication, analytical and problem‑solving skills.
• Ability and willingness to become the internal expert in the company’s operating software system (currently Vendmanager).
• Advanced Excel and financial systems proficiency; strong working knowledge of Sage Accounts.
• Strong analytical capability with the ability to translate financial data into operational strategy.
• Experience working with group reporting structures and requirements is desirable.

Further Role Details

• Location: Office‑based; Suffolk headquarters.
• Hours: Full‑time; permanent.
• Salary: Starting from £45,000 (depending on experience).
• Reporting to: Managing Director