Head of International Finance

This retail business in North London is looking for an international Head of Finance

The purpose of the role is to ensure that effective financial controls are in place and adhered to for International trading (predominantly a franchise business with retail sales > £600m and with CAGR over 20% over recent years).

Building excellent relationships with the 4 JV Partners to ensure maximum return from the investment in these businesses

To work closely with international team, UK finance, and the Sourcing finance team (Hong Kong) to challenge the business to maximise growth and profitability.

Key accountabilities include:

Financial Control & Management Accounting

• Ability to understand key drivers of profitability, with an ability to recommend appropriate corrective actions across a complete P&L structure
• Lead the strategic planning processes to ensure all risks and opportunities are explored and understood
• Deliver periodic, annual and 3yr planning, forecasting and reporting for group finance and international as required
• Keeping tight control on working capital requirements and suggesting ways of improving working capital in a growing business area
• Set the framework for financial control and ensure adherence with the International business
• Overseeing the running of debt management; ensuring franchisee debtors are paying on time and are insured to the appropriate level - highlighting risks as appropriate.
• Investigate and resolve queries raised by the Auditors and Audit committee as appropriate
• Developing excellent trusted relationship with 4 JV Partners and have confidence to proactively challenge where necessary

Providing Support & Challenge

• Communicate current performance and it’s implications on the financial year and challenge the senior International management team to maximise performance
• Provide financial analysis and support to the identification of new territories, ensuring that all opportunities are identified and cost benefit cases accurately presented
• Ensure capital funding requirements from JV Partners are understood, validated and backed up by a business case
• Maintain risks and opportunities register, communicate and drive appropriate actions within the business
• Recommend changes to processes to drive improvements by utilising knowledge of retail and how all functions through buying, marketing and operations can influence the business profitability
• Ability to manage relationships remotely
• Ability to integrate finance in to the International Senior Team developing a trusted relationship with the Group International Director whilst retaining the level of independence that is required to ensure all decisions are financially robust
• Supporting team of 7 reports in developing their career
• Carry out ad-hoc analysis as required

Best Practise

• Ability to react quickly as issues arise and present options constructively to the business
• Ability to operate in a cross-functional working environment, with an ability to guide non-financial colleagues through complex models and enhance their finance knowledge
• Develop an agreed list of prioritised change projects (which enhance the service level provided to the business and / or improve efficiency), and deliver change projects as subsequently agreed.

Desired Skills & Experience

You will have an outstanding financial awareness, an understanding of key profitability P&L drivers, strong knowledge of working capital, balance sheet and cashflows and ideally some experience of working in an International environment.

You will have excellent negotiation and influencing skills, leadership and team building skills, teamed with a cultural awareness and sensitivity.

Ideally you will have experience of working with a world class retail brand although this is not essential. The ideal candidate will be ACA/ACC/CIMA qualified

Please note that this role will involve travel to Europe & the Far East (approx 12 weeks per annum total)