Head of Finance

Sewell Wallis Ltd; England; Hybrid; GBP 95,000 - 116,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

20% bonus

Company car / car allowance

Private medical insurance

Company pension

Hybrid working

On-site parking

Leadership opportunity

Job summary

Sewell Wallis Ltd is seeking a Head of Finance to lead a multi-entity finance operation, drive transformation and strengthen controls. The role focuses on financial reporting, governance and commercial performance across the group.

The ideal candidate is a fully qualified accountant with strong IFRS knowledge, extensive leadership experience and a track record of delivering measurable improvements within asset-intensive, multi-site organisations.

Qualifications

• Fully qualified accounting qualification (ACA, ACCA or CIMA).
• Practice-trained background is preferred.
• Strong knowledge of IFRS 16, IFRS 15, IAS 2, IAS 36, IAS 37 and FRS 102.

Responsibilities

• Lead the Group finance, accounting, payroll and reporting functions with high standards of performance and control.
• Own monthly management reporting, statutory accounts, budgets and forecasts with robust financial analysis.
• Provide technical leadership across lease and asset accounting, ensuring IFRS 16 compliance.
• Oversee complex accounting matters and govern financial reporting and regulatory requirements.
• Manage year-end audit and tax reporting in coordination with external advisers.
• Strengthen the financial control framework and embed strong processes across the organisation.
• Lead cash-flow management, budgeting, forecasting and KPI reporting.
• Oversee consolidation and intercompany accounting for a multi-entity group.
• Partner with divisional leaders to identify risks, opportunities and performance improvements.
• Coach a finance team of ~30; foster accountability and continuous improvement.
• Identify opportunities to improve systems and reporting, including BI/AI tools.

Skills

Financial leadership

Consolidation

Intercompany accounting

IFRS knowledge

Change management

Stakeholder influence

Business partnering

Education

Fully qualified accountant (ACA, ACCA or CIMA)

Job description

Sewell Wallis is working with a highly established global manufacturer based in Berkshire to appoint a Head of Finance. This is a senior finance leadership position with responsibility for a large, multi-entity finance operation and a clear mandate to drive transformation, strengthen controls and bring greater commercial focus to the function.

The successful candidate will take ownership of the Group's financial reporting and control environment while leading a finance team. You'll have the opportunity to influence how the function operates, develop an established team and introduce improvements that have a measurable impact across the wider business.

You'll be joining an organisation with significant experience in business transformation and organisational change, making this an excellent opportunity for an ambitious finance leader who enjoys challenging existing processes and creating a more effective, commercially driven finance function.

What will you be doing?

As Head of Finance, you will have broad responsibility across financial control, reporting, accounting and finance operations. Your key responsibilities will include:

• Lead the Group finance, accounting, payroll and reporting functions, ensuring high standards of financial performance, control and service.
• Take ownership of monthly management reporting, statutory accounts, budgets, forecasts, profit plans and associated financial analysis.
• Provide technical leadership across lease and asset accounting, with particular responsibility for ensuring the accurate application of IFRS 16 across the Group.
• Oversee complex accounting matters and act as a key technical point of reference for accounting standards, financial governance and regulatory requirements.
• Manage the year-end statutory audit and associated tax reporting processes, working closely with external auditors and tax advisers.
• Strengthen the Group's financial control framework, ensuring robust systems, processes, policies and procedures are embedded throughout the organisation.
• Lead cash-flow management, budgeting, forecasting and KPI reporting to provide the business with clear and commercially relevant financial insight.
• Oversee consolidation and intercompany accounting across a large, multi-entity Group structure.
• Partner with divisional and operational leaders to identify financial risks, opportunities and areas for improved performance.
• Lead, coach and develop a finance team of approximately 30, creating a culture of accountability, continuous improvement and high performance.
• Identify opportunities to improve systems, processes and reporting, including the effective use of business intelligence and AI tools.
• Support the Finance Director with strategic projects, transformation initiatives and wider business improvement programmes.

What we're looking for?

We're looking for an experienced and technically strong qualified accountant who can combine excellent technical accounting knowledge with proven senior leadership experience.

Most importantly, you will need:

• A fully qualified accountancy qualification (ACA, ACCA or CIMA).
• Ideally, a practice-trained background with strong technical accounting foundations.
• Detailed knowledge of relevant accounting standards, including IFRS 16, IFRS 15, IAS 2, IAS 36, IAS 37 and FRS 102.
• Proven experience operating within a large Group or multi-entity organisation.
• Strong consolidation and intercompany accounting experience.
• A track record of leading and developing sizeable finance teams.
• Experience within logistics, distribution, manufacturing, engineering or another asset-intensive environment would be highly advantageous.
• The confidence to challenge existing processes, influence senior stakeholders and drive meaningful change.
• A commercially minded, positive and pragmatic approach, with the ability to balance technical accuracy with business needs.
• Experience with business intelligence and AI-enabled finance tools would be advantageous.

What's on offer?

• Salary: up to £105,000 (dependent on experience)
• 20% bonus
• Company car / car allowance
• Private medical insurance
• Company pension
• Hybrid working approximately 3 days per week on site
• On-site parking
• Opportunity to lead and shape a significant finance function within an established organisation