Group Financial Controller

Coach House has partnered with Robert Walters to recruit a Group Financial Controller based in Altham. This is a £90,000 to £110,000 role based on experience.

Coach House is an established, 50-year-old business operating as a wholesaler and distributor of design led homewares and accessories largely across the UK, Ireland and also across the world. The business is a family affair, having started as a sole trader in West Yorkshire in 1975, and growing over time into a state-of-the-art distribution facility in Altham, Lancashire.

The business has enjoyed a stable period of growth over the years as well as a stable leadership team, but due to a retirement of a longstanding business partner, the business is now looking to recruit a number one in finance – a Group Financial Controller.

The business is product led, client facing and requires someone more than willing to be hands on and in the business five days a week. Clearly there will be times where you may have appointments or you need to let someone in to fix a boiler etc etc, and allowances will be made for that, but in the main this role requires someone able, and hopefully enthusiastic about being on site in and among the business. Unfortunately, if you require hybrid working or flexible allowances this will not be the perfect role for you.

The Group Financial Controller job leads a finance team and will report to and work closely with the Directors of the business. This role has been titled Group Financial Controller because though this is a senior and essential part of the leadership of the group, ultimately business strategy and the final decision making will remain with the board. You will be a trusted advisor and deliver critical information relevant to the decision-making group, but ultimately you will not be a director in companies house or decide the strategy of the business in the strictest sense of the word: understanding that relationship will be critical to the success of this role.

Given the family ownership of this business, it’s success both financial and otherwise the key focus of this business is to continue developing and growing, challenge its current assumptions and models while respecting the heritage, and loyalty of staff, suppliers and customers of this business. The right candidate for this role will be low ego and high EQ. Given this is the first full time number one in finance in this business you will have the opportunity to develop and improve process and systems improvements to ensure this business stands the test of time and its legacy can continue through your tenure and beyond. As such you will be eager to work in a business that rewards long term decision making, values its culture and heritage whilst also being cognisant of making the changes needed to be a modern business and ultimately work in a business proud of its place in a local community that offers real loyalty to those who offer loyalty.

Your role will include:

• Producing monthly, quarterly, and annual management accounts across the group and presenting these to the board of Directors.
• Cash flow management and transactions in foreign currencies.
• Financial planning and analysis.
• Budgeting, forecasting, and variance analysis.
• Management of the end-to-end auditing process.
• Process improvement, efficiency gains, automation.
• Adding and maintaining strong financial controls and compliance.
• Management and development of an accounts team and ensuring adherence to best practices.
• Compliance with applicable accounting standards and regulatory requirements.
• Oversee tax planning and compliance and coordinate with external tax advisers where necessary.

You will be:

• Fully qualified Accountant (ACA, ACCA, CIMA or equivalent).

• Minimum 5 years post qualification experience.
• One, but ideally more posts in a Financial Controller position.
• Experience of managing a finance team.
• Strong communication is vital. Post holder must be able to communicate well with other internal departments, external stakeholders and accountant's firms, and must be able to present financial information for non-finance stakeholders.
• Strong technical accounting skills.
• Strong IT skills across Microsoft office 365, Sage 200, and other accountancy software packages.

Benefits

• £90,000 - £110,000k base salary
• Generous holiday allowance
• Pension Plan
• Private Healthcare Plan

Application Process:

This appointment is being managed exclusively by Robert Walters on a retained basis. All third-party applications will be redirected through the retained search process. Formal applications can be made via the Robert Walters website.

Robert Walters Operations Limited is an employment business and employment agency and welcomes applications from all candidates