Head of Finance - Winchester, United Kingdom - The Canopy

Description

We are looking for a Head of Finance & Operations to join our growing team.

You will be responsible for overseeing all financial aspects of the business and ensuring the financial health and stability of the organisation.

You will report directly to the Managing Director and work closely with the founders and leadership team.

This role is instrumental in guiding our financial strategy and operations, including our IT and working environment. You will be able to spot areas for improvement in each of these areas.

You will help plan and implement systems to boost the studio's profitability and streamline the engine room of the business, all whilst helping to protect the creative output of the agency.

We are on track with an ambitious growth plan and are simultaneously recruiting a part-time Finance Assistant / Book-keeper who will report to you, along with our Studio Manager and Resource Manager.

We're looking for someone who has:

• Qualified Accountant status (ACA, ACCA, CIMA) with a proven track record in financial leadership roles.
• A minimum of 10 years' experience in Financial and Operations roles with at least 4 of those in a relevant creative business, ideally an agency.
• Strong understanding of financial regulations, reporting, and compliance.
• Exceptional financial modelling, analysis and reporting skills.
• A detail driven approach but intimately understands the creative or production agency world.
• Flexibility to offer high level strategic input but is also happy to roll up their sleeves to deliver hands on support across the business.
• Passion for implementing processes that support and allow creativity to flourish.
• Ability to juggle, manage and prioritise the various disciplines of the Finance & Operations ecosystem
• Expertise to confidently evaluate opportunities and investment decisions across the business and ensure they will positively impact profit and performance.
• Advanced Excel or Google Sheets knowledge (creating spreadsheets and using financial functions).
• Advanced knowledge of accounting softwares XERO and WorkflowMax and expense software PLEO.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills.

Responsibilities:

Financial Leadership

• Oversee all financial activities, ensuring accuracy, compliance, and strategic financial planning.
• Collaborate with the leadership team to develop and implement financial strategies that align with our business goals.

Budgetary Control

• Lead the annual budgeting process, providing insightful analysis and recommendations to optimise resource allocation.
• Monitor and control expenses to ensure financial objectives are met without compromising creativity and innovation.

Cash Flow Forecasting and Financial Reporting

• Manage cash flow forecasting, ensuring liquidity for daytoday operations as well as building and protecting cash reserves for protection and investment.
• Prepare comprehensive monthly, quarterly, and annual financial reports for the Board and Leadership team, offering valuable insights and recommendations.

Operations Oversight

• Take charge of our Operations functions, overseeing IT (including software and server management), to ensure smooth and efficient processes across the organisation.
• Identify opportunities for operational improvements to enhance overall productivity and employee satisfaction.
• Oversee and manage the systems that support the running of the studio, this currently includes, but is not limited to; Asana, WorkflowMax, XERO, Google Suite, Adobe Creative Suite, Maxon One

Strategic Planning

• Provide financial insights to contribute to the development and execution of the company's strategic initiatives.
• Collaborate with department heads to align financial planning with creative project goals and client expectations.

Resource Allocation and Freelance Network

• Oversee effective resource allocation to ensure optimal utilisation of talent and project resources.
• Assist in the development of an effective freelance network, enhancing our ability to flexibly scale creative capacity as needed.

Pricing Decisions and Profit Optimisation

• Play a key role in pricing decisions, leveraging market insights and cost structures to ensure competitive yet profitable pricing.
• Implement strategies to optimise profit margins, identifying opportunities for cost efficiencies and revenue maximisation.

Risk Management

• Implement effective risk management strategies to safeguard the financial integrity of the organisation.
• Stay abreast of industry trends and regulatory changes to ensure compliance and mitigate potential risks.

Measures of success:

• Profitable growth of the business, hitting or exceeding all budgeted financial metrics
• Systems and processes that adapt as the company grows, are understood, accepted and easily and effectively provide key data for strategic decision making

And what will you get in return?

Our people are the foundation of our business and we work hard to develop, i