Head of Finance

Head of Finance – Fast-Growing Consultancy

Unlock Your Potential:

Step into a pivotal role as Head of Finance in a dynamic, fast-growing tech consultancy. This position offers the chance to shape the financial future of a business that thrives on delivering high-value consulting services. As the financial linchpin, you will be instrumental in driving sustainable and scalable growth, providing crucial insights to support strategic decision-making, and ensuring the smooth financial operation of the company.

Why This Role Stands Out:

• Strategic Influence: Partner with the leadership team and Board to shape the company's financial direction, supporting long-term planning, investment decisions, and commercial strategy.
• Autonomy & Impact: Operate independently within a lean finance function, with the opportunity to make significant contributions to both day-to-day operations and high-level strategy.
• Professional Growth: Join a small but ambitious business where your expertise will be highly valued, and your role will evolve as the company scales.

Key Responsibilities:

Finance Function Ownership: Develop and manage the end-to-end finance function, ensuring a framework that supports growth.

• Management Reporting: Deliver timely and accurate financial data, KPIs, dashboards, and insights to the CEO, Leadership Team, and Board.
• Accounting Operations: Oversee all accounting activities, including general ledger, month-end close, journal entries, accruals, and reconciliations.
• Project Accounting & Commercial Support: Collaborate with project teams to maintain accurate project P&Ls, track time utilisation, and manage resource planning.
• Proposal Support & Pricing: Assist in the financial modelling of project proposals and bids, ensuring alignment with margin targets and pricing strategy.
• Revenue Recognition: Ensure correct treatment of revenue from consulting services in line with accounting standards.
• Cash Flow & Working Capital Management: Prepare cash flow forecasts and manage client invoicing cycles, banking relationships, and other treasury-related activities.
• Budgeting & Forecasting: Lead the annual budgeting process, periodic reforecasts, and financial scenario planning.
• System Integration & Automation: Enhance integration between finance, project delivery, and CRM tools, enabling real-time insight.
• Financial Administration: Oversee AP/AR processing, bank reconciliations, expenses review, VAT returns, and statutory compliance.
• Statutory Reporting & Year-End: Liaise with external accountants and auditors for statutory accounts, year-end filing, tax, and R&D credit claims.
• Controls & Risk: Implement robust internal controls, risk management practices, and financial policies.
• Grant Funded Projects: Manage financial planning and claims for grant-funded projects, ensuring compliance with funding requirements.

Skills & Experience Required:

• Qualified accountant (ACA, ACCA, CIMA) with 5+ years’ experience in finance roles.
• Experience in a professional services or consulting environment is essential.
• Proven experience managing a standalone finance function in a fast-growing scale-up.
• Strong understanding of project accounting, revenue recognition, and financial audit.
• Proficient with Xero and advanced Excel skills.
• Experience with financial automation and APIs.
• Strong working knowledge of UK financial and tax regulations, including R&D credits.

Personal Attributes:

• Proactive, hands-on operator who enjoys variety and independence.
• Self-starter with excellent organisational skills and a commitment to quality and accuracy.
• Strong commercial awareness, with the ability to see the bigger picture and contribute strategically.
• Clear communicator with excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Calm under pressure, with a high degree of resilience and a solutions-focused mindset.
• High integrity, dependable, and committed to the success of the wider team.

This role is perfect for a commercially astute financial professional ready to take on a central role in a thriving consultancy. If you have the expertise and drive to make a significant impact, this could be the next step in your career.