finance officer jobs

Group Head of Finance

£250 - £350 per day (depending on experience and tech capabilities)
8 – 10 days a month | Part-time | Office Based

Stevenage

Opportunity

A unique opportunity has arisen for an experienced Finance Director to join a long-established, second-generation, market-leading family packaging business based in Stevenage’s most prestigious and superbly located Old Town air-conditioned office with free on-site parking.

This is an opportunity to become a trusted strategic advisor to the Directors, helping to shape the continued success and growth of the business.

The company is underpinned by a remarkable history of over 37 years without making a redundancy, demonstrating its commitment to sustainable growth, financial stability and looking after its people. In addition, the business has proudly supported the local community through 36 years of charity work, fundraising and philanthropic initiatives, making it an organisation that genuinely values people both inside and outside the workplace.

If you are looking for a business that recognises and rewards individuals based on their contribution and results, whilst offering a level of job security that is increasingly difficult to find, this could be the perfect opportunity.

Job Profile

We are looking for an experienced, commercially minded CIMA or ACCA qualified Finance Director to provide strategic financial leadership across the group on a part-time basis.

Working closely with the Directors, you will provide financial insight, commercial challenge, and strategic guidance to support the continued growth of the company. You will review the performance of the group, oversee financial reporting and controls, and help identify opportunities to improve efficiency and profitability.

Alongside your strategic responsibilities, one of the most rewarding aspects of this role you will be guiding an excellent team. The role includes mentoring and developing an aspirational AAT Qualified Finance Manager intending to progress through their CIMA qualification. There are two other AAT qualified accountants in the team, alongside long excellent long serving Credit Controller and Senior Accounts Administrator.

You will play a key role in supporting their individual professional development, sharing your experience, strengthening their commercial awareness, and helping prepare them for a future senior finance.

This position would suit an experienced Group Finance Manager/Finance Director who enjoys combining strategic leadership with coaching and developing people, whilst remaining hands-on enough, with weekly support the wider finance function where required.

Primary Responsibilities

• Provide strategic financial leadership across a group of companies.
• Act as a trusted and astute adviser to the Directors on all commercial and financial matters.
• Review monthly management accounts and provide meaningful financial analysis.
• Produce board-level financial reports, forecasts, and strategic recommendations.
• Lead budgeting, forecasting and cashflow planning.
• Review and strengthen financial controls, systems, and reporting processes.
• Support business growth, acquisitions, and future investment opportunities.
• Monthly wage support where necessary with the outside payroll company.
• Liaising and negotiating with banks, lawyers, and external accountants.
• Overseeing Plastic Packaging Tax and Packaging Waste tax returns and summarising customer annual rebates.
• Reviewing and reducing annual insurances.
• Ensure statutory compliance and financial governance across the group.
• Liaise with external accountants, auditors, banks, and professional advisers.
• Identify opportunities to improve profitability, efficiencies, and commercial performance.
• Provide strategic oversight of the finance function while supporting the day-to-day operation where required.
• Mentor, coach, and support the Finance Manager throughout their CIMA qualification and professional development. Preparing comprehensive board meeting packs.
• Carry out Due Diligence and provide financials commentary/analysis for potential acquisitions.

Skills & Experience

• Fully qualified CIMA or ACCA accountant.
• Previous experience operating as a Finance Director, Group Finance Director, Head of Finance or Financial Controller.
• Strong commercial acumen with the ability to influence strategic business decisions.
• Experience working within owner-managed businesses or multi-entity group structures would be advantageous.
• Proven ability to produce high-quality financial reporting, budgeting, and forecasting.
• Lived values, honest, trustworthy, strong moral and ethical compass.
• A passion for developing and mentoring finance professionals.
• Excellent analytical, organisational and communication skills.
• Sage Line 50, Excel, V Look Up/Pivot tables, embracing, and utilising AI advancements
• Filings at companies’ house, P11D submissions, experience with overseeing the annual with the auditors.
• Professional, approachable, and collaborative leadership style.

Hours

This is a permanent or consultancy part-time position, requiring 2 days per week, based at the company's prestigious Head Office in Stevenage.

The successful candidate will benefit from a flexible, although office based working arrangement that can be tailored around the individual, whilst maintaining regular visibility within the business to provide leadership, guidance, strategic support, and mentoring.

Package

• £250 - £350 per day, depending on experience.
• Permanent employed or consultancy part-time position (8 to 10 days a month).
• Opportunity to work for a financially secure, market-leading family business.
• Join an organisation with an exceptional culture, over 37 years of no redundancies and a long-standing commitment to its employees and local community.
• Play a key role in shaping the future financial strategy of a successful £20m+ turnover group.
• Mentor and develop an aspiring CIMA-qualified Finance Manager, leaving a lasting legacy within the organisation.

Pay: £250.00-£350.00 per day

Benefits:

• Company events
• Free parking
• On-site parking
• Transport links

Work Location: In person