March 2023

Chief Financial Officer

The Role

The key responsibilities of the role include:

  • Lead the financial management of the business and be an active, assertive and key member of the leadership team. This person will inspire confidence in the business’ stakeholders and peers and will further drive the development of a positive, progressive culture.
  • Establish resilient, future-proof systems and processes, whilst instilling new levels of rigour into the finance function.
  • Be the de-facto 'number two' in the business and at times be required to deputise and be a visible leader for colleagues at all levels.
  • Provide Finance and Accounting leadership to the Board in order to optimise the company’s financial performance and achieve it's strategic goals.
  • Offer support, challenge and advice to the business and Board on a broad range of finance, commercial and operational subjects.
  • Ensure appropriate structures are in place to service the business' needs, maintain tight controls to minimise risk, drive continuous improvement, best practice, efficiencies and team career development.
  • Take ultimate responsibility for cash management, and treasury activities and policies.
  • Own the financial planning process including preparation and delivery of forecasts, budgets and strategic plans.
  • Oversee the production of management accounts and insight, statutory accounting and ad hoc reporting.
  • Support ongoing operations as well as investment/growth projects, ensuring opportunities are maximised while safeguarding existing assets.
  • Design and champion the KPIs that provide early notification of performance trends and illuminates potential commercial opportunities.
  • Provide financial expertise on new business initiatives, including investment appraisal.
  • Manage external relationships with capital providers and oversee corporate financing: manage company policies regarding capital requirements, debt, taxation and equity.
  • This role requires an individual who is experienced in partnering with stakeholders, such as investors, and can balance the pressures of this with the delivery of a complex transformation plan.

The Person

  • Minimum of 10 years’ experience in food manufacturing is absolutely essential.
  • This person will be a professionally qualified accountant.
  • This person will have needed to have operated as the number one within the finance function.
  • Ideally, they will have previously been involved in a leveraged buy-out type environment.
  • They will be able to commute c3 days per week to the organisation's East of England head office.