Finance and Operations Director

Job Description

FINANCE AND OPERATIONS DIRECTOR(Full time, permanent basis)*Competitive salary and benefits*Location: Nottingham - office-based roleCompany ProfileOur client is a leading UK importer and distributor of oriental foods from Asia and the Far East, selling and delivering across a wide range of markets including Chinese restaurants and Takeaways, wholesalers and major supermarkets. Each product (own labeland branded) is carefully sourced from the country of origin capturing its unique richness and character and impeccable quality control ensures their products are leading the field across all categories.The Opportunity:We have a great opportunity for a Finance and Operations Director to join a leading oriental food importer and distribution specialist (turnover circa £42m+), selling across a wide range of markets - grocery multiples, convenience, food service and catering.This is a newly created leadership role to inspire this forward-thinking organisation, and to grow with their business makes the position worth exploring further.The Company is on a new exciting growth phase with the ambition to refocus their strategy and build on a fantastic business.Reporting to: CEOResponsible for: Finance, Operations (includes H&S), IT and administrative.Position summary:The Finance and Operations Director (FOD) is a crucial strategic and operational board role at the heart of the business. Working closely with the CEO, the FOD assumes full responsibility for all financial, operational, commercial and strategic aspects ofthe companys business and long-term strategy.The FOD should be an outstanding accountant, possessing exceptional commercial acumen and strategic business insight. This involves analysing financial performance, lead the Senior Management Team in delivery of the annual plan by managing organisationallevers to enable achievement of overall annual targets.Main responsibilities:

• Accountable for delivery of all annual operating targets both operational and financial.
• Responsibility for the IT strategy and IT functions
• Leading on managing software projects and implementations provided by external suppliers
• Developing and controlling all operational budgets to ensure that the company has all the resources required to meet its objectives within agreed financial parameters and to maintain the financial strength of the company.
• Developing strategies for the growth of the organisation and making sure they are implemented.
• Lead on supplier and lease negotiations, ensuring the company achieves value for money with its spend.
• Update and implement robust financial systems and manage cost control across the business.
• Identifies efficiency opportunities, particularly via synergies and reducing system complexity.
• Leads the budgeting, forecasting and planning process.
• Works with the Senior Management team to translate strategy into deliverables.
• Forge and maintain strong relationships with Directors, CEO, auditors, banks and all other third parties.
• Advise the CEO and Senior Management Team on all matters relating to financial performance information and KPIs.
• Full responsibility for finance and other departments (circa.10 staff).
• Establish and implement a training plan for the new finance employees.
• Ensure the Financial Controller supervises, leads and motivates his team to ensure all targets and deadlines are achieved.
• Prepare annual accounts and official reports on a monthly and annual basis as required.
• Control all financial and accountancy matters including month and year end reports, management accounts, cashflow management, statutory accounts, compliance, presentation of management information and KPIs
• Responsible for cashflow, foreign exchange, treasury etc.
• Ensure that all of the companys financial practices are in line with statutory regulations and legislation including but not limited to Health and Safety.
• Driving profitability into the Company.
• Work with the HR team to recruit the right candidates in the company.
• Works with the Executive Board and CEO to shape future strategic direction.
• Ad hoc group reporting as and when required in a timely manner.

The Ideal Candidate:

• A fully qualified accountant ACA, ACCA or ACMA with significant post-qualification experience operating at senior management or board level.
• Strong commercial operational and finance experience of working "hands-on" within an FMCG family-owned business ideally in distribution, wholesale, retail, or manufacturing.
• Proven experience in successfully leading and managing multiple teams.
• Outstanding communicator with people at all levels (including non-finance staff) with an ability to influence.
• Need to understand trends in the industry, including external and internal factors affecting the business.
• Advance working knowledge of MS Excel including the use of Vlookups and Pivot Tables.
• Excellent mathematical, research, analytical, and negotiating skills.
• Must be honest and possess integrity.
• Proactive, decisive, and adaptable with an ability to manage high levels of pressure.
• Practical attitude to continuous improvement of function and systems.
• Superior level of accuracy and attention to detail as well as the ability to multi-task.