Director of Finance and Operations - United Kingdom - Wine & Spirit Education Trust

Description

Role: Director of Finance and Operations

Location: Bicester, OX27. Flexible with > 2 day per week

Reports to: Managing Director

Direct Reports: Finance Manager, Head of Operations and Office Manager

North South Wines is a young at heart, dynamic, forward thinking wine distributor. Set up in 2014 with a view to 'do things differently', North South Wines has become more than just your average wine distributor. It was the first wine distributor to gain B Corp Certification in 2023 and its tenacious team is determined to drive change for good. As a company that is part owned by three wineries it is also set up to directly supply better quality and better value products.

Role Summary: The Director of Finance and Operations will act as co-pilot to the Managing Director, shaping future strategy whilst leading and developing Finance, Customer Services, Logistics, Legal, Office management, IT, and Sustainable Business Development to improve operational efficiency, increase profitability and manage risk.

Duties and Responsibilities

• Strategic Management
  • Act as co-pilot & 2iC to the Managing Director.
• Play a lead role in shaping & executing the 5-year Strategic Plan
• Provide investment appraisal to all areas of the business
• Lead the Sustainable Business Development for North South Wines along side the Sustainability Manager
• Financial Management
  • Ensuring the robustness of all financial controls, processes, and systems, creating effective solutions, and implementing value adding change.
• Manage Foreign Exchange risk.
• Effective cash and working capital management.
• Develop financial and tax strategies.
• Manage supplier credit limits and work with credit insurers to maximize cover.
• Approve Supplier payment runs.
• Implementing a "no surprises" reporting environment to provide business performance analysis.
• Manage relationships with banking providers, leveraging assets to maintain working capital whilst minimising costs.
• Lead the relationship with & evaluation of external auditors, including production of annual statutory accounts.
• Commercial Finance
  • Drive a cultural change, embedding commercial finance business partnering into the organisation so all departments feel supported in making the most appropriate financial decision for the business.
• Delivery of robust budgeting, forecasting, and planning activities.
• Lead the management reporting process to deliver monthly accounts and quarterly board reports in a timely manner.
• Develop and implement improved sales reporting system.
• Report and analyse customer, producer and product profitability. Implement projects to increase profitability.
• Undertake competitor analysis to track trend and relative performance in the trade.
• Researching and reporting on factors influencing business performance.
• Sustainable Business Development
  • Oversee the maintenance & development of B Corp Accreditation alongside the Sustainability Manager
• Ensure governance of the business is in line with best sustainable practice.
• Oversee the maintenance & development of the Environmental Management System
• Reinforce a sustainable business culture across the teams.
• Partner with HR to review policies, processes, and benefits to ensure they keep up to date with best practices.
• Business Operations
  • Coach, mentor, and develop all operations functions.
• Create and lead the implementation of new processes and systems to enhance business operations systems, organisational procedures, information flow, planning and business processes.
• Develop Customer Service KPls and lead team to overachieve targets.
• Oversee the management of stock levels to maximise stock rotation.
• Office Management
  • Management of Office Manager
• Manage Insurance providers to minimize risk and ensure appropriate cover at competitive cost.
• Legal and Company Secretary
  • Manage all legal matters, support the contract negotiation process, and manage the contract approval process, participating directly in contract negotiation.
• Ensure accurate and timely submission of all corporate returns along with full and complete record keeping.
• Ensure that the regulatory requirements of all statutory bodies are met.
• Oversee the Company Secretary activities to manage compliance with Articles.
• IT
  • Implementation of IT systems and software to improve communication, effective working and maximize efficiency.
• Oversee the financial system upgrade from existing MS Dynamics NAV platform to MS Dynamics 365 Business Central, with support from 3 rd party vendor.
• Ensure end-users are adequately trained on all company systems.
• Manage ERP system EDI links.

Skills and Experience

• Leadership — leading all teams within the business to achieve organisational goals.
• Qualified accountant preferred but will consider QBE. Minimum 5 years PQE.
• Broad base of financial experience covering management, financial and statutory accounting
• Demonstrable track record of embedding business partnering culture into organisations, including acting as 2ic to MD.
• Experience of improving efficiencies in growing companies.
• Strong analytical and numerical skills.
• Experienced decision maker with the ability to challenge conventional thinking.
• Creative. Proactive self-starter
• Financial acumen and a track record in delivering regular board information whilst leading a small team.
• Ability to work with a variety of external customers including banks, landlords, environmental representatives, suppliers, and customers.

Your Commitment to the role

• I make things happen.
• I have boundless energy.
• I deliver WOW through service.
• I am quick to spot opportunities.
• I feel confident to take my ideas forward.
• I have a collaborative pitch in attitude.
• I like to work in a positive team environment.
• I am a good communicator and have open and honest communication my colleagues.
• I can tailor my communication for the audience.
• I am able to tell stories with numbers; making the complex seem simple.
• I embrace and drive change.
• I am adventurous and creative.
• I learn from my mistakes, own up to them and do things better next time.
• I am passionate, optimistic and determined.
• I have a voice; I like to make a difference.
• I am humble.
• · I have fun at work.

Our commitment to Diversity & Inclusion:
At North South Wines we believe in building more value together, we see diversity in all forms as a source of enrichment. Our employment policies and practices ensure that we are committed to providing equal employment opportunities in all aspects of employment without regard to any individual's race, religion, creed, colour, national origin, ancestry, physical disability, mental disability, medical condition, genetic information, marital status, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or characteristics or expression, political affiliation or activity, age, veteran status, citizenship, or any other characteristic protected by law.