Head of Finance

Due to growth, we have an opportunity available for a Head of Finance with a clear progression path to Finance Director, which has the scope to be reached within three years. You will be working for a privately owned, family-led group of companies based in Gravesend, Kent. Across the Group they deliver construction and groundwork projects, run their own fleet and plant, and handle waste and material disposal for their customers across Kent, London and the South East. The Group turns over around £20m a year and has ambitious plans to grow. They are hands-on, quick to make decisions and invest in their people, fleet and equipment.

They are restructuring their finance function and they are looking for a qualified, hands-on finance professional to join the Managing Director as Head of Finance and become a long-term part of the business. This is very much a right-hand role, you will work side by side with the MD, be involved in the big decisions, and be the person they turn to for an honest view on the numbers and on where the business is heading.

To start with you will be the Group's only finance person, responsible for everything from day-to-day processing through to management accounts, cash, compliance and commercial insight. As the business grows you will recruit an Accounts Assistant and build the finance team around you. This is a role to grow into, they want someone who will stay with them for the long term and progress to Finance Director.

Head of Finance Benefits

• Competitive salary of £65,000–£75,000 depending on experience
• Performance-related bonus
• 20 days holiday plus bank holidays.
• Company pension.
• Free on-site parking.
• Professional development, including support with CPD.
• A clear route to Finance Director.
• Supportive, entrepreneurial environment and regular team events.
• Monday to Friday working pattern.

Head of Finance Responsibilities

• Be hands-on and run the finance function.
• Purchase and sales ledger, bank reconciliations, supplier payment runs and credit control.
• Payroll, pensions, VAT returns, CIS returns and other HMRC submissions.
• Month-end close and accurate monthly management accounts for every Group company, with clear commentary.
• Year-end preparation, working with their external accountants and auditors.
• Strong financial controls across the Group, including purchase order controls.
• Cash and working capital including daily cash position and weekly/rolling 13-week cash flow forecasts, manage working capital, debtor days, customer credit limits and supplier terms, and manage relationships with banks, lenders and asset/plant finance providers.
• Construction and project finance
• CIS compliance including applications for payment, valuations, variations, retentions, final accounts, and project cost reporting and contract profitability.
• Commercial insight and business partnering including profitability by customer, contract, project and division; spot revenue leakage and margin opportunities.
• Operational reporting, including fleet, fuel, labour and disposal costs, overheads and KPI dashboards.
• Annual budgets and rolling forecasts including budget vs actual reporting.
• Pricing reviews and financial models for investments, including ROI on fleet, plant and infrastructure.
• Support acquisitions and growth, and present clear recommendations to the Managing Director and directors.
• Systems and improvement, getting the most out of Sage and improve the quality and speed of reporting.
• Review finance processes, remove manual work and lead any new finance system implementation.

Head of Finance - Progression Path

• Year one: take full ownership of finance, tighten controls and reporting, and become the MD's trusted right hand.
• As the business grows you will recruit, train and manage an Accounts Assistant and build the team to support business needs.
• Finance Director: join the senior leadership/board, lead strategy, funding and acquisitions, and own the Group's financial direction.

Head of Finance - Essential Requirements

• Qualified accountant (ACCA, ACA or CIMA), or finalist with substantial senior experience.
• Experience as Finance Director, Financial Controller, Head of Finance or Finance Manager in an SME, ideally running the finance function single-handed or with a small team.
• Genuinely hands-on: happy to do the processing as well as the reporting.
• Management accounts, budgeting, forecasting and cash flow forecasting.
• Experience across multiple entities or a group of companies.
• Strong Excel and accounting system skills (Sage preferred).
• Full UK driving licence.
• Looking for a long-term role where you can grow with the business.
• Ambitious, with the drive to become a Finance Director.
• Takes ownership and works well on your own.
• Commercially minded, practical and solutions focused.
• Someone the MD can trust completely: discreet, honest and confident enough to challenge and advise.
• Clear communicator who can explain the numbers to non-finance people.
• If you have Finance Director experience, there is an opportunity to join as the Finance Director role from the start.

Head of Finance - Desirable not Essential

• Construction, waste, logistics, engineering or plant hire experience.
• CIS and project accounting (applications, valuations, retentions).
• Experience building or managing a finance team.
• Experience with lenders, asset finance, due diligence or acquisitions.
• Finance Director experience (for candidates looking to start at that level).

Apply now, we look forward to hearing from you.