Marks Sattin are delighted to be working with in Exclusive Partnership with a leading International Group to help appoint a new Divisional FD for one of their most high-profile Business Units.

The FD will report to the Divisional Managing Director, but with a dotted line to the Chief Financial Officer. This role requires a commercial finance professional who will act as a true business partner to his / her fellow executive colleagues and the operational management across the group.

The overall objective of this role is to improve performance and profitability of the business, positively influencing shareholder value for the group.

• Provide commercial financial support and a business partnership service for the divisional board
• Strong emphasis is placed on the ability to challenge, advise and influence.
• Offer strategic and commercial input across all market sectors of the division with the objective of improving margins and profitability.
• Manage continual improvement of the overall finance function, making sure that team leadership and service levels to all parts of the division are of the highest standard.

Key responsibilities:

• Work closely with divisional and local board colleagues and the Group executive team to determine the strategy of the division and help drive commercial and operational performance both at a project, company and divisional level.
• All financial and management reporting and planning, including budgeting, P&L, cash flow and balance sheet forecasting, as well as investment appraisals for significant business transactions.
• Co-ordinate the strategic planning, budgeting and forecasting process ensuring that there is rigorous analysis behind the numbers and a deep understanding of the business.
• Ensure that the division provides all the necessary financial information required by Group in a timely manner and work closely with Group management.
• Provide a commercial outlook on strategy, with an appropriate degree of risk assessment and management. Having the ability to advise and guide those around them in the appraisal of the financial returns achievable and those being achieved across a complex and evolving operation.
• Improve the quality of the financial information, drive systems development and develop procedures to improve the quality of information available.
• Offer support and advice to the Divisional Managing Director across all areas including supplier relationships, negotiation and contract review, taxation, pricing strategy, management of overheads, operational improvements, working capital and cash flow management. It is imperative that the appointed candidate can effectively manage capital employed and can demonstrate the internal rate of return a project will deliver via discounted cash flow techniques.
• Understanding, and being able to articulate, the main drivers of business performance and specifically, the benefits of current and prior operational improvements and investment decisions.

Candidate Requirements:

• Chartered Accountant, probably Big 4, or an outstanding management accountant who has been trained within a large corporate FTSE 350 environment and has a demonstrable track record of success.
• Proven track record in finance as a member of divisional board or equivalent senior management team.
• Possessing first rate commercial skills with evidence of margin and profit enhancement in a multi-site business
• Proven leader of a high-performing finance team across all its elements, including business performance appraisal, leading to achievement of relevant KPIs.
• Track record of project delivery, including cross-functional engagement where necessary to ensure delivery in line with project plan.
• Can confidently manage internal and external relationships with an appropriate level of credibility.