Head of Finance

Grafton Banks Finance are working with a successful SME organisation with offices in Brighton, East Sussex to recruit a Head of Finance on an initial 3–6-month contract basis. Reporting into the COO and CEO you will be responsible for supporting with the business with managing the day-to-day operations of the company’s finances and operations. You will deliver timely and user-friendly management information, increase financial awareness, and ensure a comprehensive control environment.

Duties and Responsibilities:

• Work closely with the COO/Deputy CEO to deliver maximum financial effectiveness to improve financial sustainability of the Charity and identify opportunities to maximise profitability.
• Support the COO/Deputy CEO in the budgeting process and preparation of financial reports for Board meetings, including monthly management accounts and cash flows, supporting schedules and variance analysis.
• Support the Trustees and Executive as required with financial performance assessments and strategic analysis, to identify and avert financial risks.
• To provide accurate and timely budgetary, accounting and financial advice to budget holders in accordance with legislation and professional guidelines.
• Provide decision support and analysis to the Executive team e.g., financial modelling, contract review, and commercial analysis.
• Maintain the organisation’s accounting system, ensuring records are accurate and up to date.
• Strategically overseeing the preparation and audit of the annual Financial Statements, including supporting schedules and reconciliation of significant P&L and balance sheet items.
• Oversee treasury and cashflow management with a focus on timeliness of cash inflows.
• Ensure the financial relationship between the Trust and its trading subsidiary is compliant and optimised, and supporting procedures and processes are developed to support trading activity. 
• Ensure all statutory returns and regular reporting are completed accurately and on time, and compliance with financial laws, regulations, and obligations.
• Ensure all tax matters such as VAT, and relevant tax computations are completed accurately and payments including are made on time.
• Manage key external relationships with bankers, auditors, legal, accounting and taxation advisors, etc. 
• Effectively line manage x2 direct reports and organise training requirements, to ensure efficient planning and workflow is in place to deliver high standards of technical skill and professional customer service, across the organisation.
• Assume overall responsibility for all aspects of a successful finance department including cash handling, bank reconciliations, petty cash, credit control, supplier payments and commitments.
• Prepare and post monthly journals, accruals, prepayments and similar accounting entries.
• Liaise with Payroll Department and ensure posting of monthly figures to nominal ledger.
• Continually identify risks to delivery and propose solutions where necessary.

The successful candidate will be either ACA,ACCA,CIMA Qualified or Qualified by Experience. You will have practical working experience of working as a Head of Finance /Financial Controller position. Proven leadership experience, excellent communication skills and IT skills including Advanced Excel and Accounting Software knowledge. Due to the initial 3–6-month contract nature of this position candidates available at short notice will take preference. This Contract job is working in office.