Head of Finance & IT

Flat Fee Recruiter; Hereford; On-site; GBP 55,000 - 60,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Company bonus scheme

Company pension scheme

Private healthcare

22 days holiday

Job summary

ESC Trading Ltd in Hereford is seeking an experienced Head of Finance & IT to join the leadership team on-site. This senior role owns the finance function and IT systems, shaping strategy and driving financial discipline across the business.

You will oversee financial controls, monthly accounts, and board reporting, manage Sage 200, and lead a growing finance/IT team. The role offers a competitive £55,000-£60,000 salary, a company bonus, and the chance to influence company direction.

Qualifications

• Qualified accountant with senior leadership and board-level experience.
• Experience producing management accounts and board-level reporting.
• Proficient with Sage 200 and IT systems oversight in an SME environment.

Responsibilities

• Sit on the leadership team and shape company strategy.
• Own financial controls, reporting and monthly management accounts.
• Compile and present Board Pack to Directors.
• Oversee IT infrastructure, systems, and data security.

Skills

Leadership

Board reporting

Strategic finance

Financial controls

Stakeholder management

IT oversight

Strategic planning

Team management

Data security

Education

Qualified accountant (ACA, ACCA, CIMA, or equivalent)

Tools

Sage 200

Job description

We're looking for an experienced and commercially minded finance professional to join our growing business in Hereford. This is a key leadership role offering the chance to make a real impact, influence business strategy and help shape the future of an established engineering, industrial supply and machinery manufacturing business.

Head of Finance & IT

Hereford, HR2

£55,000 - £60,000, depending on experience

Full-time, Permanent

Seniority: Leadership Team Member

Reports to: General Manager

ESC Trading Ltd is a growing engineering and industrial supply company with a machinery manufacturing division. Based in Hereford, we operate nationwide, working with a wide range of clients, from FTSE 100 companies to small family-run engineering firms. As we continue to grow, we're looking for an experienced Head of Finance & IT to join our leadership team, taking ownership of our finance function and IT systems as we shape the company's next chapter.

The Role

This is a senior leadership role, based on-site at our Hereford offices. As Head of Finance & IT, you'll sit on the leadership team and play a central part in shaping company strategy, not just managing finance and IT, but influencing the direction of the business as a whole. You'll take full responsibility for financial controls and reporting, producing monthly management accounts and compiling the Board Pack for presentation to the Board of Directors, while also overseeing IT systems and infrastructure to ensure both functions run efficiently and support the company's wider goals.

Key Responsibilities

Leadership

• Sit on the leadership team, contributing to company-wide strategy and decision-making
• Act as a trusted advisor to the General Manager on financial and operational matters
• Represent finance and IT perspectives in strategic planning, investment decisions, and risk management
• Champion a culture of financial discipline and operational efficiency across the business

Finance

• Take full ownership of financial controls and reporting across the business
• Produce monthly management accounts, ensuring accuracy and timeliness
• Compile and present the Board Pack to the Board of Directors
• Lead the finance function, including budgeting, forecasting, and financial planning
• Oversee and optimise use of Sage 200 accounting software, ensuring accurate financial records and efficient processes
• Own cash flow management and long- term financial strategy
• Ensure compliance with statutory, tax, and regulatory requirements
• Manage relationships with auditors, banks, and external advisors
• Develop and mentor the finance team, building capability as the business grows

IT & Systems

• Oversee the company's IT infrastructure, systems, and software
• Manage relationships with IT suppliers, service providers, and software vendors
• Ensure data security, backup, and business continuity processes are in place and effective
• Lead on system upgrades, integrations, and new software implementations
• Develop IT policies and ensure compliance with data protection requirements (e.g. GDPR)
• Identify opportunities to improve efficiency through better use of systems and technology

About You

• Qualified accountant (ACA, ACCA, CIMA, or equivalent)
• Significant experience in a senior finance role, with a track record of leadership team or board-level involvement
• Experience producing management accounts and board-level reporting is essential
• Strong working knowledge of Sage 200 accounting software and understanding of AI and how that can be used across the business.
• Experience overseeing IT systems or infrastructure, ideally in an SME environment where IT sits alongside other responsibilities
• Strong strategic and commercial acumen, with the ability to influence beyond your immediate function
• Experience managing and developing a team
• Excellent communication and stakeholder management skills, comfortable operating at leadership/board level
• Highly organised, with a hands-on approach and strong attention to detail

What we Offer

• Salary of £55,000 - £60,000, depending on experience plus company bonus scheme
• Company pension scheme
• Private healthcare
• 22 days holiday (plus bank holidays)
• A seat at the leadership table, with genuine influence over company direction

You must be authorised to work in the UK. No agencies, please.

Other suitable skills and experience includes: Finance Director, Head of Finance, Financial Controller, Finance Manager, Senior Finance Manager, Head of Finance and Operations, Finance and IT Manager, Head of Finance and Systems, Commercial Finance Manager, Group Financial Controller, Head of Business Services, Director of Finance and Operations

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