Interim Finance Manager

Axon Moore have an opportunity with a large multi million turnover business with office across the North who are looking for an interim Finance Manager for an interim contract. We will consider daily rate or FTC to suit.

The Interim Finance Manager has overall responsibility and full accountability of the finance function for three businesses based in North East Manchester. This is an integral role reporting to both Group Finance and the Division and offers the opportunity to oversee management reporting as well as advising and partnering with business leaders on their business strategy.
The Interim Finance Manager will business partner with the divisional directors and key operational staff as well as ensuring timely and accurate financial reporting to Group. This is a demanding role that will take leadership and ownership for Operational Finance, as well as having lots of interaction with the wider finance teams across the Group.
Job Description:
• Management Accounts: To lead the processing and production of accounts for the Division including cash flow forecasting and related analysis. Production of P&L, balance sheets and business forecasts and the identification of balance sheet improvements. This will include preparation of sub-consolidated Divisional financial statements and then presentation of these at monthly Management Meetings to the Group CEO/CFO/MD
• Business Partnering: Work with and support Operational Teams in ensuring accurate business reporting and good operational/cost control. Involves reporting of project financials to Operational teams
• Balance sheet: Preparation of relevant balance sheet accounts, including reconciliations and supporting documentation ensuring robust support is in place for each balance and reconciling items are cleared on a timely basis
• Project accounting: to ensure income and costs recognised in accordance with accounting standards. Need to ensure accrued / deferred income and costs captured correctly and produce meaningful financial analysis on a project by project basis. Track actual performance versus quoted costs and report on any significant variances providing full explanation and analysis. Work with operational team to update forecasted costs to completion and related accounting.
• Revenue recognition: ensure that all revenue recognised is in line with relevant accounting standards and local group policies.
• Materials and direct costs: ensure all materials are booked in and out of inventory accurately and on a timely basis to ensure accurate costs on a project by project basis. Direct costs should be allocated to specific projects as well as being reviewed overall to ensure effective cost control.
• External audit: Support on the external audit by ensuring robust reconciliations and support is in place for areas, such as revenue recognition, accrued/deferred income/costs, stock counts and relevant accruals and prepayments.
• Compliance: Ensure the Division complies with relevant statutory and industry regulations and requirements (e.g. VAT, CIS)
• Budgeting: Work with the Directors to support the preparation of budgets and forecasts for all projects, ensuring the operational team have a full understanding of financial expectations.
• Stock counts: ensure that periodic stock counts are carried out in line with Group Policy to ensure that balance sheet position reflects physical stock on hand. Analyse any stock write offs to understand root cause issue

Person Specification:
• Accountable for ensuring financial accuracy and transparency for a nominated Division
• Line management responsibility for a small team of accountants
• This is a senior role within the organisation with a responsibility to inform and influence others and will involve cross functional working
• Qualified Accountant (ACA/ACCA/CIMA)
• Good knowledge of accounting principles and their appropriate application
• Project/construction accounting experience is advantageous
• Strong business partnering skills with the ability to engage with and challenge operational staff
• Highly credible and able to quickly build effective working relationships
• Analytical, accurate and detailed
• Pragmatic and flexible in approach
• Self-starter and able to work autonomously
• Strong time management and the ability to prioritise
• System orientated with excellent IT skills, ideally Sage and advanced Excel capability)