Head of Finance

The Company

Since launching in 2008, this company has established itself as an award-winning independent hospitality business operating across both retail and events. They operate in four iconic, large-scale London venues and their premium hospitality operations span events spaces, cafes, restaurants and bars. Service excellence, career-development, training and education are embedded in the culture of the business, and as an organisation they are growth-focused. Improving their profitability and market position through innovation and quality is key to their success, and they are always on the lookout for passionate and experienced people to join them on this journey.

The Opportunity

• Based in their flagship London site, as a group role this position will also require regular presence across all London sites, and you will form a key part of the Executive Team who are responsible for driving all areas of the business forward.
• The role will involve line managing an in-house finance team and requires previous financial accounting experience at a senior level.
• Leading and mentoring the Finance team as well as being a key member of the Executive team and Senior Leadership team.
• Oversee the preparation and reviewing of all financial reporting including insightful commentary for 4 sites
• Preparing budgets, forecasts and cash flows
• Analyse and comment on sites performance against budget and forecast highlighting opportunities and explaining anomalies and communicating this to the senior management team
• Continually reviewing and improving existing business processes and controls to create efficiencies across the financial reporting
• Consulting with operations and sales teams to ensure agreed financial controls and procedures are in place
• System audits and integrations
• Development of daily and weekly management information and KPIs to improve operational decision making
• Support payroll and purchasing function in line with senior team.
• External audit process
• Oversee balance sheet reconciliation
• Head up finance meetings with the operations and sales teams, as well as finance team, and to report to monthly senior finance meetings
• Oversee group Vat returns, PAYE payments
• Oversee accounts payable, accounts receivable and all nominal ledger entries
• Liaise with and support General Managers on weekly financial/operational matters
• Evaluate direct reports performance in line with job descriptions and give regular feedback. Ensure that yearly appraisals are planned and conducted in a timely manner
• Liaise with managers, suppliers and customers with any associated queries both externally and internally.

The Candidate

• At least 4 years senior finance management experience within the hospitality industry and with some group management experience
• Excellent working knowledge of key financial systems, and a working knowledge of hospitality-based systems such as Fourth Hospitality, Kitchen Cut, CRM and reservation systems
• You will be able to think both analytically and strategically and work well off their own initiative to drive change and development in their department.
• You will be responsible, working alongside the Director of Operations and General Managers for reporting accurate financial figures at all times across all sites.
• The candidate will need to have excellent people skills, initiative, drive and enthusiasm. Personality is key, as we are an energetic and upbeat team. Good planning and organisational skills will be essential to managing your workload and driving the other HOD’s to deliver relevant financial information required to accurately report and forecast
• The role is challenging and fast paced and requires the candidate to be hands-on, flexible and capable of dealing with high pressure situations.
• Whilst being responsible for all of the financial elements of the business, you will also play a key role in supporting the operations team with data to help inform decisions