Finance Director

The Role

The FD will own the commercial strategy of the business, take the lead on positioning and scaling the company's financial arrangements, shape and execute fundraising initiatives and build relationships with key investors, partners and clients. The FD will play a critical role in providing strategic and financial guidance to the CEO, wider Senior Leadership Team and the Board to ensure the company's strategic financial objectives and obligations are met, as well as establishing and executing the necessary mechanisms to enable sound financial management and governance, alongside opportunities for future optimisation and growth. Critically, this role will be a key player in shaping, structuring and governing commercial deals, and ensuring that the Sales team have the tools to optimise the pipeline and contractual structuring. The role will also lead reporting and management information, ensuring that the leadership team, the board and the whole business has the foresight and insight to grow the business profitably.

Key responsibilities

• Develop and implement the commercial strategy, plans and budgets, as well as functional objectives, management practices and metrics in line with broader strategic objectives for future optimisation;
• Support the CEO and wider leadership team to define and develop the financial strand of the strategic direction of the business, translating priorities and objectives into a go-to-market strategy;
• Continually monitor financial performance, identify opportunities to maximise revenue and proactively manage commercial risks by maintaining a risk register and actively managing risk mitigation and escalation plans;
• Lead the Series B fundraise, incorporating all aspects of proposal development, execution strategy and key levers and relationships;
• Support the development of the client journey and high value strategic bids, working in collaboration with the Propositions and Business Development Directors to ensure that commercial levers are mapped to client touch points to leverage revenue and maximise margin opportunities;
• Determine the appropriate financial business objectives, budgeting/planning process, cost management and associated metrics, ensuring alignment with wider business strategic plans;
• Collaborate with the leadership team to identify target non-UK markets, lead the development of a go-to-market blueprint and supporting cost benefit analysis to enable optimal, rapid and significant internationalisation;
• Develop and implement efficient financial controls and procedures for key processes, such as expenses, procurement, invoicing and recoveries and take ownership of the full financial and accounting records, ensuring external compliance and statutory reporting requirements are met (Annual Accounts, VAT, HMRC compliance, R&D tax credit etc.);
• Lead the development, continual improvement and provision of commentary and analysis of financial management information (annual and monthly), such as P&L, commercial performance, cash forecasts and other financial KPls, using key systems to give substantial visibility on financial data;
• Support and oversee the provision of proposals, business cases, contractual development and products or services that impact business performance, in conjunction with external legal guidance and key outsourced providers.

Skills

• Proven track record of achieving exponential commercial growth internationally, long term value-creation and delivering high-quality management information and analysis;
• Exceptional leadership capabilities to inspire, clarify, simplify and coach both direct and indirect colleagues as well as partners and suppliers to the business;
• Ability and experience of working closely with an executive team to drive commercial outcomes, grow the business, and contribute to strategic discussions and decisions across all function areas;
• Qualified Accountant with strong technical knowledge and a client centric, data driven approach;
• Strong intellect and strategic thinker as evidenced by achievements;
• Experience within an internationally-diverse business will be beneficial.

About You

• Fully qualified accountant (ACA or equivalent)
• Results-driven, problem-solving self-starter
• Be a highly effective and empathetic leader, with a strong desire to provide leadership, coaching, mentoring and development to your team
• Ideally worked start-up, or similarly fast-paced environment
• Have a positive outlook and the ability to roll your sleeves up and deliver hands-on orientation
• Have a strong work ethic, ambition and drive
• A good sense of humor is essential

We are committed to encouraging and celebrating applicants from different backgrounds, whatever their gender, ethnicity, race, religious and political beliefs, education, socioeconomic background, disability, sexual orientation and geographical location to promote diversity and inclusion in the workplace.

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