Finance Manager

Job description

Finance Manager Gerrards Cross Do you want to help shape software that affects thousands of lives? Who are we? We are ranked as the UK’s #1 construction specific software player and our mission is simple; to provide market leading end-to-end software solutions to the construction and construction like industries across the entire build life cycle. If you are looking to build an exceptional career with an award-winning company you’ve come to the right place. Our teams are based in the UK, Europe, and India, working on products that are used on a global scale. We have a clear and defined road map to deliver over the next 3 years, which is centred around a large-scale digital transformation as well as continuing our growth and expansion. We embrace diversity and equality and want our employees to be comfortable bringing their whole selves to work. We are committed to building a team with a variety of backgrounds, skills and views. Creating a culture of Equality isn’t just the right thing to do, it improves every aspect of our business. Purpose The Finance Manager is responsible for leading the month-end financial reporting process, ensuring the timely and accurate preparation of management accounts, financial analysis and reporting for the business. The role owns the end-to-end production of the monthly profit and loss account, drives accountability for month-end delivery, and supports continuous improvement of finance processes and controls. Working closely with the Group Controller, the Finance Manager leads and develops the finance team, ensuring reporting deadlines are met, financial information is accurate and insightful, and key variances, risks and opportunities are proactively communicated to support effective decision-making across the business. Key Responsibilities Financial • Own the end-to-end monthly close process for the profit and loss account, ensuring the timely, accurate and complete production of monthly management results in accordance with the month-end timetable. • Lead the preparation and review of the monthly P&L, ensuring significant variances to budget, forecast and prior year are identified, investigated and clearly explained, with issues escalated promptly to the Group Controller and relevant stakeholders. • Present the results, key movements and business performance to senior management. • Drive accountability for month-end delivery by using FloQast (or other close management tools) to monitor progress, manage dependencies, ensure deadlines are met and proactively address bottlenecks or overdue tasks. • Proactively communicate risks, delays, anomalies and emerging issues throughout the month-end process, ensuring stakeholders are kept informed and appropriate actions are taken to maintain reporting timelines. • Challenge the quality and accuracy of financial information, investigating unusual transactions or trends and ensuring appropriate corrective action is taken before reporting is finalised. • Continuously review and improve month-end processes, identifying opportunities to streamline activities, strengthen controls, automate manual tasks and reduce the overall reporting timeline whilst maintaining accuracy and governance. • Partner with the wider Finance team to embed best practice, improve consistency of working papers and reporting, and develop more efficient and scalable financial processes. • Ensure that month end schedules, balance sheet reconciliations and supporting analysis are completed accurately, reviewed appropriately and delivered on time. • Oversee the production and review of weekly cash flow forecasts, proactively identifying significant movements, risks and opportunities, and ensuring management have timely information to support decision-making. • Assist the Group Accountant with the preparation of annual financial statements for standalone and group companies and support the team during the audit process. • Partner with key stakeholders to interpret financial results, budgets and KPIs, providing clear analysis and insights, and continually enhancing reporting to support informed decision-making. • Lead process improvement and systems enhancement initiatives across the Finance function, leveraging technology (including FloQast) to improve efficiency, strengthen controls and reduce the time taken to produce monthly financial information. • Manage the VAT reporting process, ensuring accurate and timely preparation and submission of returns, whilst maintaining compliance with relevant tax legislation. • Support the financial integration of acquisitions, including accounting, reporting, process alignment and the implementation of appropriate financial controls. • Identify, evaluate and implement opportunities to leverage AI and emerging technologies to streamline finance processes, improve team efficiency and enhance the quality of financial reporting and analysis. • Represent Finance in the business, liaise with, and provide advice to other functions and staff members. • Act as deputy to the Group Controller and provide cover as needed. Team Management • Lead, manage, coach, and motivate the team to enable them to perform to their full potential. • Ensure that the team carry out all activities as described in their job descriptions; objectives and targets are set and regular performance feedback is provided. • Monitor activity levels to ensure the team consistently achieve their objectives and targets. • Ensure that the company values are reflected in both personal work and behaviour and that of the team. • Maintain a positive and engaging work environment for the team, ensuring a fair and consistent approach, implementation of company policies and processes, and a good work-life balance. • Lead by example, fostering a positive working environment, inspiring others, and encouraging teamwork and collaboration. Administration • Ensure that all processes are documented and stored centrally. • Provide information and analysis as required. • Identify opportunities to improve processes to maximise efficiency and accuracy and reduce risk. • Carry out analysis and reporting as required to support the requirements of the team. Key Skills, Experience and Qualifications Essential Skills • Qualified Accountant (CIMA / ACCA / ACA or equivalent) with minimum 3-4 years PQE. • Minimum of 3 to 5 years of work experience in accounting. • Strong technical accounting skills essential. • Experience of complicated legal entity structure. • Strong commercial and business acumen. • Intermediate to advanced computer software skills, including Excel and other financial software and tools for reporting and analysis purposes. Desirable Skills • Experience of integration of new acquisitions. • Working with multiple financial systems. Competencies • Excellent planning and organisational skills to successfully plan and co-ordinate a high number of activities, with excellent time management, prioritisation, resilience, and the ability to remain calm and objective under pressure and meet deadlines. • Ability to manage processes and meet deadlines consistently. • A high level of accuracy and attention to detail. • Ability to synthesise information, analyse problems, and recommend solutions. • Ability to collate, analyse, and present information. • Excellent written and verbal communication skills. • Ability to perform data and statistical analysis to spot trends and anomalies. • Ability to explain finances to non-financial colleagues. • Ability to communicate clearly and influence stakeholders effectively. • Demonstrable track record of integrity, confidentiality, accountability, and delivering results. What you get from us: If you're looking to build an exceptional career with an award-winning company you’ve come to the right place. We believe everyone at Causeway has a vital role to play in our success. Causeway is fuelled by curiosity and is a place for people who beam with positivity and burn with ambition. Our team is everything, so we’ll take good care of you. In fact, we give well-being the same priority as our other business goals. We’re strong advocates of work-life balance, offering hybrid working alongside the opportunity to work from modern, collaborative offices. Our Values We are United . As part of a team, we’re better together. We are Agile . Be the change, we’re on a journey. We are Trusted . Do the right thing, we own this. We are Driven . Get stuck in, we make it happen. Benefits As a leader in employee engagement and people management, there are fantastic benefits and rewards at Causeway. We strive, year on year, to achieve recognition as an award-winning workplace that our employees love. We’ve selected just a few of the many benefits available below to show you how we take care of our Causeway stars. 25 days annual leave + public holidays, increasing with length of service. 4% matched pension. Income protection and life assurance. Access to our award-winning benefits platform. We take mental health seriously and have a dedicated EAP available 24/7. £100 allowance towards a fitness club. Dell discounts. Private Medical Insurance. Paid study leave + volunteering days. Car Scheme. Like all responsible companies Causeway is aware of the need to recognise the importance of protecting our environment and addressing the climate emergency. Causeway is a carbon neutral company and we offset our calculated carbon footprint. However, we recognise that offsetting is not a permanent solution, so we set environmental objectives to reduce our footprint year-on-year.