Head of Finance

Whitaker Smith Recruitment; Blackburn; Hybrid; GBP 60,000 - 100,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Private healthcare

30 days holiday

Enhanced pension

Flexi-time

Hybrid working

Job summary

Whitaker Smith Recruitment are partnering with a growing, independently owned services SME to appoint a Head of Finance into a key leadership role. This is a hands-on position for a qualified accountant who wants to influence how the business operates and contribute to its growth.

You will lead the finance function, working closely with the senior leadership team to improve financial visibility, strengthen decision-making, and modernise processes with automation and AI.

Qualifications

• Fully qualified ACA/ACCA/CIMA or equivalent.
• Strong SME finance experience, £10m–£50m turnover.
• Track record of leading and developing a finance team.

Responsibilities

• Take overall responsibility for the day-to-day leadership and performance of the finance function.
• Provide the senior leadership team with clear commercial insight and drive forward-looking financial planning.

Job description

Up to £100k + bonus + benefits including private healthcare, 30 days holiday PLUS stats, enhanced pension, flexi-time, hybrid working

Whitaker Smith are partnering with a growing, independently owned services SME to appoint a Head of Finance into a key leadership role within the business. This is a broad, hands-on position for a qualified accountant who enjoys operating within an SME environment and wants the opportunity to genuinely influence how a business operates. Alongside taking ownership of the finance function, you will work closely with the senior leadership team to improve financial visibility, strengthen commercial decision-making and help shape the next stage of the company’s growth. This isn’t just a role focusing on the numbers, the MD wants someone who can develop people, challenge existing ways of working and modernise the finance function through better systems, processes, automation and AI.

Key responsibilities

• Take overall responsibility for the day-to-day leadership and performance of the finance function.
• Provide the senior leadership team with clear commercial insight, identifying the key drivers behind performance rather than simply reporting historic results.
• Own the budgeting and forecasting cycle, creating a more forward-looking approach to financial planning.
• Develop management information and KPIs that give leadership greater visibility over performance, profitability, cash and future opportunities.
• Build a strong finance team, setting clear expectations while coaching and developing individuals to increase capability and accountability.
• Lead improvements across finance systems and processes, identifying opportunities to simplify, automate and remove unnecessary manual activity.
• Explore and implement practical uses of AI, automation and data tools to improve reporting, analysis, efficiency and decision-making.
• Challenge established processes and lead change across the finance function
• Strengthen financial controls, cash management and working capital
• Improve the quality and speed of month-end reporting and ensure management information is accurate, relevant and delivered on time.
• Work closely with operational and commercial leaders, providing constructive challenge and helping them understand the financial impact of their decisions.
• Support wider business improvement and transformation projects as the organisation continues to grow and evolve.
• Develop and maintain relationships with external advisers and ensure statutory, regulatory and financial reporting requirements are met.

Experience:

• Fully qualified accountant – ACA, ACCA, CIMA
• Strong experience operating within an SME environment £10m-£50m turnover
• Previous experience within a services-led organisation is essential
• A track record of leading, managing and developing a finance team, with evidence of improving capability and performance
• Experience of taking ownership of a finance function with proven experience improving finance systems, processes and reporting.
• Genuine interest in technology and evidence of using or implementing automation, AI, digital tools or improved data solutions within finance.
• Strong commercial instincts with the ability to translate financial information into practical actions for non-finance stakeholders.
• Comfortable operating in a hands-on SME environment where strategic leadership and operational involvement go hand in hand.

This is an excellent opportunity for an ambitious finance leader who wants more than a traditional Head of Finance position with progression to FD in the very near future.

You will have the autonomy to shape the finance function, develop the team and introduce new ways of working, while becoming a key commercial partner to the leadership team.