Head Finance

Pursuit Executive Recruitment Ltd; England; Hybrid; GBP 85,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading company in FMCG is seeking a Head of Finance. This pivotal role requires strategic leadership and financial management skills. You will oversee financial operations and partner with the leadership team to drive business performance. The ideal candidate must have a strong track record in finance leadership, particularly within FMCG, and a proven ability to develop high-performing teams. A competitive salary and benefits package is offered, along with a supportive working environment to foster professional growth.

Benefits

25 days annual holiday allowance

Group personal pension, company contribution of 4%

Life Cover: 3 x salary

Opportunity to buy/sell holidays

Qualifications

• Minimum 10 years in a senior finance leadership role, ideally in FMCG or consumer goods.
• Proven track record of leading finance teams of 10+ people.
• Experience with ERP systems implementation or optimisation.

Responsibilities

• Lead strategic financial operations and reporting for UK entities.
• Drive continuous improvement initiatives across finance operations.
• Ensure compliance with accounting standards and regulatory requirements.

Skills

Strategic Financial Leadership

Financial Management

Commercial Analysis

Risk Management

Data Analytics

Team Leadership

Education

Qualified accountant (ACA/ACCA/CIMA)

Tools

Advanced Excel

Business intelligence tools

ERP systems

Job description

Job Title: Head of Finance

Location: Brentwood

Salary: Hybrid Competitive + 15% non-contractual bonus + Car of 7248 + comprehensive benefits package

Work Pattern: Monday - Friday. 37.5 working hours per week, total 8.5 hours per day, between hours of 7.30am - 18.00pm (including 1-hour lunch break).

Overall purpose of job:

The Head of Finance is a pivotal leadership role within our client's organisation. Reporting to the UK Executive Team and with matrix reporting to the Group Finance function in Europe, you will lead a team of 17 finance professionals and play a critical role in driving business performance, ensuring compliance, and enabling strategic decision-making.

This position demands exceptional strategic vision combined with operational expertise, offering the opportunity to make a significant impact on our 0.4bn UK business. You will partner closely with operational leaders across multiple business units to drive profitability while maintaining robust financial governance.

The ideal candidate will bring strategic financial leadership experience from within FMCG or a comparable industry environment. You must demonstrate a track record of building high-performing teams and driving business value through financial insights and commercial acumen.

Key areas of responsibility:

Strategic Financial Leadership

- Partner with UK Executive Team to develop and execute financial strategies aligned with global business objectives
- Provide critical financial insights and decision support to drive business performance
- Lead strategic projects including potential acquisitions, business integrations, and major capital investments
- Identify and implement synergies across UK business units to maximise operational efficiency
- Drive continuous improvement initiatives across finance operations

Financial Management & Reporting

- Oversee all financial operations for UK entities with combined turnover of circa 0.4bn
- Ensure timely, accurate monthly, quarterly and annual reporting to both UK leadership and Group headquarters
- Maintain rigorous financial controls and governance frameworks
- Lead the annual budgeting and forecasting processes
- Manage relationships with external auditors to deliver consistently clean audit outcomes
- Oversee tax planning and compliance, working with specialist advisors to optimise the Group's tax position
- Ensure compliance with all relevant accounting standards including FRS101, FRS102, and IFRS

Commercial & Business Partnering

- Act as key financial partner to business unit Managing Directors
- Provide sophisticated financial analysis to support strategic decision-making
- Challenge commercial assumptions and ensure robust business cases for investments
- Identify profit maximisation opportunities and develop strategies to action
- Present financial performance and insights to senior stakeholders at local and Group level

Risk Management & Governance

- Ensure robust Internal Control Framework for Financial Reporting (ICFR)
- Develop and maintain effective risk management strategies
- Lead the ongoing enhancement of financial policies and procedures
- Ensure compliance with all regulatory requirements and Group policies
- Maintain oversight of cash management and working capital optimisation

Systems & Process Innovation

- Partner with IT to drive digital transformation within finance operations
- Lead the evaluation and implementation of finance technology solutions
- Develop enhanced management information systems and reporting tools
- Champion process automation and efficiency improvements
- Design and implement data analytics capabilities to provide deeper business insights

Person specification and experience required:

- Qualified accountant (ACA/ACCA/CIMA) with 10+ years post-qualification experience
- Minimum 10 years in a senior finance leadership role, ideally within FMCG or related consumer goods industries
- Experience within an SME background an advantage due to the businesses operating as stand-alone units
- Proven track record of leading and developing finance teams of 10+ people
- Experience working in a matrix structure within a multinational organisation
- Demonstrable success in business partnering with commercial operations
- Experience managing financial integrations and change projects
- Strong background in financial reporting, planning and analysis
- Experience with ERP systems implementation or optimisation (JDE experience advantageous)

Technical Skills

- Expert knowledge of UK accounting standards and IFRS
- Advanced Excel and financial modelling capabilities
- Strong understanding of tax legislation and treasury management
- Experience with business intelligence tools and data visualisation
- Working knowledge of modern finance technologies and automation tools
- Familiarity with internal controls frameworks and risk management

Additional benefits include;

Annual holiday allowance 25 days. After 4 years completed service, it will increase to 26 days and after 5 years completed service it will increase to 28 days.
Employees will be given the opportunity to buy or sell up to 5 days holiday per holiday.
Pension: Group personal pension, company contribution of 4%.
Life Cover: 3 x your salary in the event of your death to your nominated beneficiary
Medical plan