Finance Director

 A rare opportunity has arisen for an experienced Finance Director to lead bira’s financial operations.

This is a challenging and responsible post requiring the successful candidate to be financially qualified, and be able to work well on an operational basis, as well as having strategic vision and the personality to fit within a small finance team.  A proven track record of achievement in this area will be expected.

INTERVIEWS WILL TAKE PLACE ON 1 NOVEMBER 2017 & 14 NOVEMBER 2017

Purpose of role:

This role exists to lead bira’s finance function and to ensure the financial position of bira remains sound. This position will support the CEO and ensure accuracy on capital, profit and cash flow.

In due course the appointee may take on the position of Managing Director of our banking subsidiary so in the initial period understudying this role at director level will be an essential and rewarding part of the job

Main Responsibilities:

1. Take overall control of the Groups accounting function.
2. Formulate strategies, business plans and financial forecasts which enhance the group’s financial position and performance.
3. Formulate and monitor investment strategies to achieve the Groups strategic objectives.
4. Lead, manage and develop a team of accounts staff
5. Preparation of monthly, quarterly and annual accounts, rolling as needed. 
6. In conjunction with the IT & Systems Manager and other directors, ensure that the Group’s financial systems are robust, compliant and support both current activities and future growth.
7. Ensure the budgeting processes are carried out and reviewed.
8. To oversee and authorise employee payroll processing and all appropriate returns
9. Insurance
10. Internal administration
11. Ensure that the regulatory requirements of all statutory bodies are met (Customs & Excise, Companies House etc)
12. Understanding and being fully involved in the groups property interests.
13. To act as director of bira direct, advising on, and overseeing the day to day financial operation
14. Providing financial support to bira publishing including accounts system development and conducting financial reviews. Managing internal and external project work when requested
15. Responsible for the day to day control and review of bira clearing department.
16. Planning, implementing and overseeing group audit.
17. Taxation with group auditors
18. Actively support good communication practices within your work and promote and maintain good teamwork.
19. Be aware of and comply with the rules relating to your employment as detailed in the staff handbook.
20. Be aware of and comply with the Health & Safety regulations of bira.
21. Be aware of and comply with the Fire Regulations within bira’s offices.
22. To actively support the Equal Opportunities Policy of bira.

Person Specification
 

Bira is a leading trade association for independent retailers and has 5000 members (representing 600 stores across the UK). It prides itself on the quality of its services as a membership attraction, many of which are financial and the more significant of which are delivered through separate limited companies.

The Group financial director is the key person to overview the whole of the groups financial activities and forms part of a small team of directors reporting directly into the group CEO and to the Group Board of Management. A qualified accountant with a proven record in all the main financial areas is a prerequisite of the job. These would include responsibility for quarterly accounts preparation, cash flow monitoring, intra group reconciliations and agreement of annual accounts with the external auditors. Help setting and monitoring annual budgets and building with the rest of the directors a meaningful 3-year financial plan and the delivery of the same are key functions.

A small team of accountants’ staff reports into the group FD, as well as specialist financial teams for our buying group and Clearing House. You will therefore be experienced in leading and managing teams, including facilitating and managing staff through change. Maintaining good working relationships with key stakeholders, both internal and external is vitally important.

More importantly within a small group a real understanding of our groups financial drivers and participation at many of the groups subsidiary boards would be essential. This enables problems and constraints and opportunities and risk on the other to be readily identified. We are looking for a proactive accountant not just a technician.

We need a personality to communicate with other departments and maximize financials outcomes across the group whilst at the same time spotting and finding remedies for financial shortfalls.

Understanding our membership is key to have a strategic vision of the group and the Group FD will be encouraged to visit members across the company. This can aid in various ways not least credit setting and bad debt control, both critical parts of the role.

The group may benefit from a review of its accounts handling, not least automation of some of our processes on which substantial progress has already been made.

The group’s main ‘sub activities are bira bank (depositing and lending), bira direct ( group buying), bira publishing ( group magazine interests), Oxford Summer School ( principally residential training). All these are separate limited companies, together with bira clearing, a cheque clearance operation (£100m pa) but in its twilight years. Further career advancement in due course, particularly in the banking area, may suit an ideally motivated candidate