Role Description: Finance Director / Senior Finance Manager
The Finance Director or Senior Finance Manager is a senior leadership role responsible for overseeing and managing the financial activities and strategic direction of an organization or department. In this role, you will ensure the integrity of financial reports, budgets, forecasts, and financial planning processes, contributing to the overall business strategy. You will lead a team of financial professionals and work closely with other senior leaders to provide financial insights and recommendations that drive business decisions, improve performance, and ensure long-term financial health.
You will be involved in a wide range of activities, from developing financial strategies, managing financial risks, and ensuring compliance with regulations to optimizing financial operations and overseeing financial reporting and analysis. This is a key role that directly influences the company's financial performance and requires a combination of technical financial expertise, leadership skills, and strategic thinking.
Key Responsibilities:
- Financial Strategy & Planning:
- Lead the development and execution of the organization's financial strategy, aligning it with overall business goals and objectives.
- Oversee the preparation and management of the company's budgets and financial forecasts, ensuring alignment with business priorities and objectives.
- Provide strategic financial advice to the executive team and other stakeholders to help inform key business decisions.
- Financial Reporting & Analysis:
- Oversee the preparation and presentation of financial reports, including income statements, balance sheets, cash flow statements, and financial performance analyses.
- Provide actionable insights to senior management regarding financial performance, trends, and potential risks or opportunities.
- Ensure that financial reporting complies with applicable laws, regulations, and internal policies.
- Risk Management & Compliance:
- Identify and assess financial risks, developing strategies to mitigate potential risks related to market conditions, currency fluctuations, credit, or operational risks.
- Ensure compliance with financial regulations, tax laws, accounting standards, and internal controls.
- Oversee internal audits and ensure accurate financial records are maintained.
- Team Leadership & Development:
- Lead and mentor a team of finance professionals, providing guidance, training, and development opportunities to enhance their skills and performance.
- Foster a collaborative and high-performance team culture, ensuring efficient financial operations and data-driven decision-making.
- Cash Flow & Working Capital Management:
- Monitor and optimize cash flow, working capital, and capital expenditures, ensuring the organization maintains sufficient liquidity to meet operational needs.
- Oversee debt management and ensure that the organization maintains an optimal capital structure to support growth and financial stability.
- Financial Modeling & Business Case Development:
- Develop financial models to evaluate business opportunities, investment decisions, acquisitions, and other strategic initiatives.
- Assist in the preparation of business cases for new projects, investments, or expansions, providing financial analysis and projections.
- Stakeholder Communication:
- Communicate financial performance, strategies, and recommendations to board members, investors, and other stakeholders.
- Present complex financial data in an accessible and understandable manner for non-financial stakeholders, including senior leadership and department heads.
- Cost Control & Profitability Improvement:
- Monitor and control costs across the organization to improve profitability and financial efficiency.
- Identify areas for cost reduction or operational efficiencies without compromising business growth or service quality.
Qualifications:
- Educational Background:
- A bachelor's degree in finance, accounting, economics, or a related field. A Master's in Business Administration (MBA) or a professional accounting qualification (e.g., CPA, CFA, ACCA) is highly preferred.
- Experience:
- Extensive experience (typically 5-10 years) in a senior finance role, with a proven track record of financial management and leadership in a complex business environment.
- Experience leading financial planning, reporting, budgeting, and forecasting processes.
- Solid understanding of financial regulations, accounting standards, and industry best practices.
- Technical Skills:
- Strong proficiency in financial software, ERP systems (e.g., SAP, Oracle), and advanced Excel skills (including financial modeling, pivot tables, and data analysis).
- Experience with financial forecasting, budgeting, and modeling techniques, with the ability to generate and interpret complex financial reports.
- Leadership & Management Skills:
- Proven leadership ability with experience managing and developing teams of financial professionals.
- Strong interpersonal skills with the ability to work cross-functionally with senior executives and department leaders.
- Strategic Thinking & Problem-Solving:
- Ability to think strategically and drive financial performance improvements that align with the organization's business goals.
- Strong problem-solving skills, with the ability to develop solutions to financial challenges and complex business problems.
- Communication Skills:
- Excellent verbal and written communication skills, with the ability to present complex financial information clearly to non-financial stakeholders.
- Strong presentation skills, particularly when discussing financial performance, business strategy, and future plans.
- Attention to Detail & Accuracy:
- Exceptional attention to detail, with a focus on ensuring accuracy in financial reporting and analysis.
- Ability to work with large datasets and ensure data integrity across all financial records and reports.
- Adaptability & Time Management:
- Ability to work under pressure and manage multiple competing priorities in a fast-paced environment.
- Flexible and adaptable to changing business needs and market conditions.
