Reports to:
Chief financial officer
Direct reports:
8 direct reports (inc. 2 part-time)
Head of finance
A new role at GS1 UK, providing strong, collaborative leadership of the finance function, managing a team of 9 people.
This role will be a senior, collaborative and visible leader within the organisation. As a finance all-rounder, this candidate will be comfortable maintaining high levels of financial control and process efficiency, whilst also supporting the commercial development of the organisation and the delivery of its strategy.
An excellent communicator and values-based leader, you will work with colleagues from across the organisation, the executive team and board directors.
Key responsibilities
Team leadership and development
- Lead, manage and develop the finance team, fostering a high-performing, collaborative, and supportive work environment
- Promote a culture of continuous improvement
- Knows ‘what good looks like’ for a modern finance function and able to drive positive change
- Ability to cover the CFO where necessary
Strategic financial leadership
- Prepare accurate and clear financial reports for CFO, Executive team and Supervisory Board
- Secretarial responsibilities for the Audit and Risk Committee
- Contribute to the development and execution of the organisations long-term financial strategy, ensuring alignment with organisational goals and financial sustainability
- Provide insightful financial analysis and recommendations to inform strategic decision-making by senior leaders
- Lead the development of multi-year financial forecasts and models, incorporating scenario planning, risk assessment and the identification of opportunities
- In collaboration with other teams, develop strategic pricing, revenue and commercial analysis for the organisation, supported by appropriate financial models
Financial operations and treasury management
- Oversee the efficient and accurate processing of all transactional finance operations, including accounts payable, accounts receivable and treasury
- Manage cash flow and treasury activities, optimising liquidity and maximising returns
- Ensure strong financial controls and compliance within all operational areas
- Collaborate with the member support and retention teams, to ensure efficient and effective credit control and customer ticket handling
Financial planning, budgeting and analysis
- Lead on the preparation of the annual budgets and quarterly forecasts, providing expert financial analysis and advice to support decision-making across the organisation
- Lead the annual, quarterly and monthly financial cycles, in alignment with wider business planning function
- Monitor financial performance against budget, analyse variances and recommend corrective actions
- Develop and utilise financial models and key performance indicators (KPIs) to drive efficiency, cost optimisation and value for money
Financial control and compliance
- Ensure compliance with all financial, tax, VAT, and regulatory requirements
- Manage the external audit processes, ensuring timely production of financial statements and resolution of audit recommendations
- Maintain a robust financial control environment, encompassing effective policies, procedures, risk management frameworks and internal controls
Stakeholder management and business partnering
- Cultivate strong working relationships with key stakeholders
- Provide financial training and support to other teams
- Promote a culture of financial awareness and accountability across the organisation
Person specification:
Background and experience
- Excellent interpersonal and relationship-building skills, able to collaborate effectively with diverse stakeholders both internally and externally and the ability to clearly communicate complex financial information to non-finance stakeholders
- An inquisitive mindset and commitment to continuous improvement, with an interest in how technology can help drive operational efficiency and effectiveness
- Ability to think strategically, whilst also delivering operationally with a strong attention to detail
- Proactive, driven and able to confidently take initiative and make appropriate decision
- Highly organised, deliver to deadlines, able to prioritise effectively and display clear problem-solving abilities
- Strong attention to detail and an analytical approach
Personal strengths and style
- Excellent interpersonal and relationship-building skills, able to collaborate effectively with diverse stakeholders both internally and externally and the ability to clearly communicate complex financial information to non-finance stakeholders
- An inquisitive mindset and commitment to continuous improvement, with an interest in how technology can help drive operational efficiency and effectiveness
- Ability to think strategically, whilst also delivering operationally with a strong attention to detail
- Proactive, driven and able to confidently take initiative and make appropriate decision
- Highly organised, deliver to deadlines, able to prioritise effectively and display clear problem-solving abilities
- Strong attention to detail and an analytical approach
Why join us?
As a colleague at GS1 UK you will enjoy a supportive working environment along with a generous amount of benefits available to you.
- A healthy work life balance (hybrid working with flexibility on start and finish times).
- 25 days annual leave (excluding bank holidays) with the option to buy or sell up to 5 days every year.
- Join our social and charity team events.
- Generous pension scheme with employer contributions up to 12%.
- Life assurance policy (5x annual salary) to give you a peace of mind.
- Full range of benefits available (PMI, dental, travel, gym membership and many more).