Head of Finance

Blackburn / Lancashire (hybrid)

Up to £100k + bonus + benefits including private healthcare, 30 days holiday PLUS stats, enhanced pension, flexi-time, hybrid working

Whitaker Smith are partnering with a growing, independently owned services SME to appoint a Head of Finance into a key leadership role within the business. This is a broad, hands-on position for a qualified accountant who enjoys operating within an SME environment and wants the opportunity to genuinely influence how a business operates. Alongside taking ownership of the finance function, you will work closely with the senior leadership team to improve financial visibility, strengthen commercial decision-making and help shape the next stage of the company’s growth. This isn’t just a role focusing on the numbers, the MD wants someone who can develop people, challenge existing ways of working and modernise the finance function through better systems, processes, automation and AI.

Key Responsibilities

• Take overall responsibility for the day-to-day leadership and performance of the finance function.
• Provide the senior leadership team with clear commercial insight, identifying the key drivers behind performance rather than simply reporting historic results.
• Own the budgeting and forecasting cycle, creating a more forward-looking approach to financial planning.
• Develop management information and KPIs that give leadership greater visibility over performance, profitability, cash and future opportunities.
• Build a strong finance team, setting clear expectations while coaching and developing individuals to increase capability and accountability.
• Lead improvements across finance systems and processes, identifying opportunities to simplify, automate and remove unnecessary manual activity.
• Explore and implement practical uses of AI, automation and data tools to improve reporting, analysis, efficiency and decision-making.
• Challenge established processes and lead change across the finance function.
• Strengthen financial controls, cash management and working capital.
• Improve the quality and speed of month-end reporting and ensure management information is accurate, relevant and delivered on time.
• Work closely with operational and commercial leaders, providing constructive challenge and helping them understand the financial impact of their decisions.
• Support wider business improvement and transformation projects as the organisation continues to grow and evolve.
• Develop and maintain relationships with external advisers and ensure statutory, regulatory and financial reporting requirements are met.