Head of Finance FTC

SYSTRA; England; Hybrid; GBP 60,000 - 100,000; Full time

Job summary

An established industry player is seeking a Head of Finance to lead their UK & Ireland finance team. This pivotal role involves overseeing financial management, driving efficiency through ERP systems, and ensuring compliance with governance requirements. The position offers a unique opportunity to influence financial strategies across multiple business areas while working closely with senior leadership. Ideal candidates will possess extensive financial management experience, strong technical accounting skills, and a proven ability to drive process improvements. Join a forward-thinking organization committed to innovation and sustainability in infrastructure design.

Qualifications

• Extensive experience in financial management within large organizations.
• Strong technical accounting skills with project-driven industry experience.
• Qualified ACA, ACCA, or CIMA with senior business partner experience.

Responsibilities

• Oversee financial management for SYSTRA UK & Ireland.
• Drive efficiency using ERP systems for accurate reporting.
• Manage audits, statutory accounts, and compliance with governance.

Skills

Financial Management

Technical Accounting

ERP Systems

Forecasting

Budgeting

Project Accounting

Problem Solving

People Management

Client Relationship Management

French Language

Education

ACA

ACCA

CIMA

Tools

IFS ERP

Job description

Around the world, SYSTRA's specialists plan, design, integrate, test, commission, project manage and deliver mass transit and mobility solutions that are relied on by more than 50 million people every day.

For more than 60 years, the Group has been committed to helping cities and regions contribute to their development by creating, improving and modernising their transport infrastructure with sustainability, accessibility and innovation at the heart of our designs. With over 10,300 colleagues globally and around 1000 in the UK & Ireland we are growing significantly and seeking out the very best talent to join the SYSTRA signature team and be part of leading the way in infrastructure design.

Context

We currently have an opportunity for a qualified and highly experienced finance professional to join our busy UK& Ireland finance team as Head of Finance on a 9 month fixed term contract. The opportunity is based in Manchester and benefits from our hybrid working model, but will also cover staff based in York as well with some travel there expected. The Head of Finance owns the SYSTRA UK & Ireland finance function and will work closely with the CFO and the Divisional Finance Directors for Engineering & Consultancy. This is a high profile role and will have significant interaction with the SYSTRA UK & Ireland Board, and SYSTRA Group, whilst driving forward consistency across 3 business areas in conjunction with global business directives.

Missions/Main Duties

The Head of Finance will have full ownership of the financial management of the SYSTRA UK&I reporting including:

• Full suite of technical accountancy
• Leverage the benefits of an already implemented ERP system (IFS) in order to drive efficiency through the organisation and provide accurate and timely monthly management reporting
• Simplification of the process within the ERP to reduce administration for fee earning individuals and non-fee earners accordingly
• Organisation and management of the month end process
• Management of and liaison with the internal and external audit functions and production of the statutory accounts
• Supporting the governance requirements in accordance with the Group policies & procedures
• Management of foreign exchange
• Management of branches (with the reporting)
• Group liaison for regular Group activities such as intercompany reconciliation
• Liaison with Group and external advisors for tax and treasury purposes and development
• Support, development and management of the SYSTRA Finance team business unit
• Management of the control environment within SYSTRA UK
• Consistency of process
• Recording of financial process
• Drive compliance with the Group governance requirements in accordance with the Group policies & procedures
• Implementation of improved tax & treasury processes within SYSTRA UK&I liaising with the Group functions and the external advisors as required
• Provision of statutory accounts, and regulatory compliance
• Ownership of the SYSTRA UK Overheads
• Monthly reporting to the functional leads
• Forecasting and management of cost saving

Profile/Skills

• Extensive Financial Management experience from a large complex organisation, ideally within the Engineering or Construction industries and preferably design consultancy focussed
• Strong technical accountant with previous experience in industry in a project driven environment
• Experience of using and developing the functionality of ERP systems
• Financial management of large, international projects
• ACA, ACCA or CIMA qualified with significant experience working at a senior business partner level
• Significant forecasting, reporting, budgeting and project accounting experience
• A tenacious, resilient, self-starting problem solver who is keen to drive change and process improvement
• People and relationship management skills with the understanding of a client relationship driven organisation
• French language skills desirable but not essential