Rutherford Cross is delighted to be working on a retained basis to appoint a Financial Controller with a Stirling based private equity firm.

The Business

The business invests in sector-leading companies delivering quality-oriented products. The firm seeks out “like-minded business owners and talented management teams with the ability to achieve ambitious growth targets” and then works closely with management teams day in, day out providing them with the strategic direction and capital required to drive growth.

The company has grown significantly over the last 3 years with 14 deals completed and £30m of capital committed. The firm’s investment portfolio now includes steel stockholding and distribution, precision engineering, a bar and restaurant business as well as significant property holdings. The group has 190 employees and operates across the UK and in France and Italy. Forecast turnover for the current financial year is £35m.

This business represents a unique opportunity to join a fast-growing, private equity firm with exciting expansion plans working from a Stirling base.

The firm has recently completed the purchase of a new head office building in Stirling which will be the base for the firm’s leadership team, finance team and group support staff. The new office space will allow the finance team to work together closely, allowing for procedures to be standardised, clearer reporting lines and encouraging best practice to be shared.

The Opportunity

Following the group’s rapid growth over the last 3 years and with ambitious growth plans for the years ahead, Howat Capital are looking to recruit a high-calibre individual to join the leadership team and help take the group forward.

Reporting to the Group FD, the Financial Controller will be responsible for all aspects of management and statutory reporting and will be capable of building effective working relationships with the Board, the finance team and the management teams and employees of the group’s portfolio companies.

The Financial Controller role is a highly visible role working closely with the Group FD and Group MD. The successful candidate will take ownership of financial controls and leading the way on technical accounting standards to support the wider finance team. Given the exposure of the post, it is essential that an individual has a strong work ethic, takes responsibility for their duties and has a willingness to take a lead for the group on key finance objectives.

The successful candidate will embrace the challenge of managing a small team of 6 finance professionals initially, with the team growing as the group expands.

An overview of core responsibilities includes:

• Responsible for all aspects of the financial reporting for the group's portfolio of 12 trading and property companies and 2 holding companies

• Consolidation of group management accounts and monthly reporting

• Taking ownership for monthly management reporting including finance KPIs

• Monthly balance sheet reviews

• Preparation of annual statutory accounts

• Management of year-end audits

• Ongoing control and review of finance processes and procedures, with a pro-active approach to development

• Management of the group’s capital and liquidity positions

• Producing financial forecasts

• Review of corporate tax and VAT returns

• Keeping up to date with technical accounting developments, providing support and advice to the finance team
• Working closely with direct reports to ensure they continue to develop
• Support and interact with the senior management of the group and businesses on a daily basis.
• Based in Stirling with occasional travel to the group's locations across UK and internationally as the group expands.

The Candidate

The Financial Controller role requires a confident and commercial individual that relishes a challenge and thrives under pressure. The successful candidate will bring a positive, “can do” attitude to their work and will inspire the team around them. They will understand the culture of a rapidly-growing group and the high level of commitment required. Communication skills are key and the FC must be able to build effective relationships at all levels across the group from the Board to the most junior employees. This is a fast-growing business and the individual will have the determination to play a key role in the group’s success.

A summary of the key candidate requirements are as follows:

• Qualified accountant, ICAS, CIMA or ACCA.

• Must be capable of managing a small team of 6 people initially (more as the group expands)

• Strong work ethic, attention to detail and the willingness to take accountability

• Confidence and strong interpersonal skills

• First class communications skills both written and verbal

• Ability to meet tight deadlines and handle changing workload priorities

• Evidence of a positive, proactive and flexible approach

• Pragmatic and approachable

• Energetic and resilient

• Commercial acumen and a positive, "can-do" attitude that will inspire the team around them

• Understanding of the culture of a rapidly-growing group and the high level of commitment required

• Familiarity with one or more of the group's ERP systems desirable but not essential (CAT, Emax, Factory Master, iZettle)

• Prior use of Sage and/or Xero would be advantageous
• IT literacy (database, internet, spreadsheet and word processing)

Remuneration

Salary:

£45,000 - £50,000 (depending on experience)

Pension:

Employer’s contribution of 3% of annual salary rising to 4% in April 2019 and 5% in April 2020 dependent on business performance.

Holidays:

23 days plus 8 statutory days. 1 additional day for each complete year of service up to a max of 25 days.

Life Cover:

Death in service benefit of 3 x annual salary

Working hours:

Normal hours are 38 hrs pw with core working hours of 9.30am to 4.00pm. As for other senior group employees the Group Finance Manager will be expected to work additional hours to meet the demands of the role.

Bonus:

Discretionary annual bonus, based on group and individual performance.