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Robert Half

Head of Finance

Harlow
£70k – £80k/yr
Posted 1 day ago
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Robert Half are delighted to be partnering with a growing and established organisation to recruit an experienced Head of Finance.

This is an excellent opportunity to take a hands-on leadership role within the finance function, managing a team of six and working closely with the Group Financial Controller and senior stakeholders across the business.

The successful candidate will take responsibility for the effective day-to-day management of the finance function, ensuring accurate, timely and insightful financial reporting while maintaining strong financial controls. The role will combine technical accounting, team leadership and commercial business partnering, with significant scope to improve processes, systems and reporting.

The Role

You will lead the day-to-day finance operation, taking ownership of the month-end process, management accounts, financial controls and key statutory processes. Managing and developing a team of six, you will ensure the finance function operates efficiently while providing high-quality financial information to support decision-making across the business.

This is a broad, hands-on position that would suit an experienced finance professional who enjoys combining technical accounting and team leadership with commercial exposure and continuous improvement.

Key Responsibilities

  • Lead, develop and motivate a finance team of six, creating an efficient, collaborative and well-controlled finance function.
  • Own and lead the monthly close process, including the preparation and review of management accounts, reconciliations, journals and supporting schedules.
  • Review quarterly VAT returns and oversee payroll processing and associated returns, ensuring accuracy and appropriate financial controls.
  • Support the preparation of annual budgets and periodic forecasts, monitoring performance against budget and identifying key variances.
  • Support the preparation of year-end statutory accounts and manage the audit process.
  • Partner with operational and commercial stakeholders to provide financial insight and support decision-making across profitability, pricing, margin, investment and cost-saving initiatives.
  • Continuously review finance processes, reporting and systems to improve efficiency, accuracy and consistency.
  • Provide technical guidance and support across both general ledger and transactional finance.
  • Work closely with senior finance leadership to deliver accurate, timely and meaningful financial information.

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About You

  • Qualified accountant, ACA, ACCA or CIMA.
  • Strong practical experience across management accounting, month-end close, balance sheet reconciliations and financial reporting.
  • Proven experience leading, developing and managing a finance team, while remaining comfortable operating in a hands-on capacity.
  • Experience overseeing or reviewing VAT returns and payroll, with a strong understanding of UK financial controls and statutory requirements.
  • Strong budgeting and forecasting experience.
  • Advanced Excel skills alongside experience using accounting, ERP and reporting systems.
  • Commercially minded with strong analytical and problem-solving capabilities.
  • Confident communicator capable of building effective relationships with both financial and non-financial stakeholders.
  • Highly organised and able to manage multiple priorities within a fast-moving environment.

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Salary & Benefits

  • Salary up to £80,000
  • Hybrid working: four days in the office and one day working from home
  • Opportunity to lead and develop an established finance team
  • Broad exposure across financial reporting, commercial finance and operational decision-making
  • Regular interaction with senior stakeholders
  • Significant opportunity to drive improvements across finance processes, systems and reporting

This represents an excellent opportunity for an ambitious and commercially minded finance professional looking to take ownership of a broad finance function within a growing organisation. To learn more about this opportunity, please apply or contact Robert Half for a confidential discussion.

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Location

Harlow, England, United Kingdom

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