Divisional Finance Director - Motor Retail

Job Description

Our client is a well-respected business operating with the Motor Retail Industry.As part of the companies continued dominance and expansion within the Industry, FRS have been enlisted to assist with the recruitment of an experienced Finance Director to join the business.This is a highly visible and influential role with-in the organisation, the FD has full responsibility for the Operational Finance Team across Motor Retail Group. The successful candidate will be responsible for ensuring financial controls are embedded and adhered to as well as ensuring that the finance community are viewed as effective business partners. The FD has significant influence over business operations as wellas the strategic direction of the finance team and reports directly into the Group FD with dotted line responsibility to the Operations Directors.Key responsibilities in the role include:Management • Build positive working relationships with the Operations Directors, GFD and Operations Board.• Provide challenge, partnership and support to the Operations Directors on all financial and non-financial matters.• Member of the Senior Finance Leadership Team driving the strategic direction of the finance community.• Build and maintain relationships with all of the franchisee’s funding arms and third-party stock funders, ensuring the most optimum use of the available funding facilities.• Member of the Group Operations Board, including monthly presentation of the retail performance with a view to challenging and driving performance• Lead the Divisional Financial Controller (FC) Team o Active management and coaching of the Franchise Financial Controllers function.o Identification and sharing of best practice with the retail businesses to ensure strong oversight and control.o Drive the Agenda for regular Franchise Financial Controller meetings and follow up on actions to ensure the effective execution of group activities. o Promote Business Partnering amongst the Groups finance colleagues.o Ensure effective succession planning across the finance community.• Build relationships across the broader Group entities.Financial Control and Reporting• Ensure the custodianship of the Groups assets and dealership compliance with policy and procedure. • Ensure timely, prompt and accurate submission of monthly accounts and manufacturer composites, weekly submission of forecasts cash flows. • Lead monthly performance reviews with the Operations Directors and Divisional Management teams. • Manage the preparation of the retail divisions budgets/forecasts/cashflows to a strict timetable ensuring that they are both attainable and accurate.• Manage group retail debt through regular review with the divisional Teams.• Ensure adherence to all accounting policies, internal controls and financial procedures ensuring and developing best and consistent practise across the retail finance function. • Lead the delivery of projects within time and Budget, typically this could be New Businesses acquisitions, green field set up and would involve working with IT /Corporate finance. • Management of the local retail sites Internal and external audits • Management of day-to-day OEM vehicles funding lines and third party group used stocking lines• Work with Group finance functions in the preparation of Board reporting and commentary on order to ensure key issues and messages are understood.Systems and Processes• Oversee the management of day to day links with the OEM and finance systems.• Implement standardised accounting processes across the divisions.Experience and knowledge required• A confident finance individual with extensive motor retail knowledge and experience of managing a large diverse team across multiple sites. • Proven experience of driving and managing change both locally and at a group level.• Successful track record of managing M&A, finance function integration and transformation. • Qualified Accountant with proven post qualification experience (Ideal but not essential)• Sound judgement with the ability to apply strong commercial acumen to new business challenges. • Ability to multi-task and make good judgement calls under pressure. • Excellent interpersonal skills, with the ability to communicate and challenge at all levels.• Straightforward, authentic, open and transparent in style, with high integrity. • Lateral thinker with ability to use own initiative. • Ability to work independently under pressure to tight deadlines and deliver high quality output.