THE ROLE: Head of Finance

INDUSTRY: Fashion

We're looking for a commercial thinker with a finance background to drive consistently great customer focused, financially informed decision making. You will form part of our core management team, making decisions across all parts of the business.

The role is not siloed in a department, our CEO has a finance background and sees the finance function as tightly integrated across the business to promote great decision making that improves what we deliver to our customers.

Internally we have the resources to complete day to day accounting and compliance. This role will require operating at a detailed level early on to build the infrastructure required for quality information to be available across the company. You will then create a plan to continue building our finance capability to support what our strategy requires through a combination of technology and people.

Key to your success will be your ability to communicate financial concepts to key decision makers without financial backgrounds and to the company at large, which has many creatives. We have a transparency promise which requires all information to be made available company-wide with the exception of sensitive HR matters. From the perspective of financial information, this presents a unique set of challenges.

Core functions of this role:

• Overall responsibility of the Central Finance team, providing support to all central departments including General and Admin, Finance, Systems, HR

• Integrate within each customer facing team's decision making to improve financial aspects of commercial decision making and develop your understanding of our customers

• Managing four part qualified accountants

• Implementation and ongoing configuration of systems which provide access to quality financial information, presented in a way which promotes strategically aligned decision making

• Coaching business managers on interpreting their financial information and educating the company at large about the financial implications of decisions and circumstances

• Understanding and improving the financial health of our supply chain including developing scenarios for further Reform investment

• Preparing UK statutory accounts

• Oversee our budget process, particularly working with business managers to ensure it has the intended impact when implemented

• Reviewing the monthly balance sheets, cashflows and bank reconciliations

Our number one priority is finding the best person for the role. Secondary to that experience in the following areas would be advantageous but not decisive:

• System specification and implementation

• Qualified ACA or ACCA candidate (3-4 years PQE)

• Strong communication and interpersonal skills and a pro-active approach to challenges

• Strong organisational skills

• Experience of consolidation and accounts preparation

• Experience of VAT

• Interest or background in the Fashion industry

• Knowledge of UK GAAP and IFRS an advantage