Job Introduction
About Woodgate & Clark
Woodgate & Clark has been providing a loss adjusting service to the UK insurance market for over 40 years and is one of the UK's leading loss adjusters, providing complete claims solutions to insurance providers operating in commercial, domestic, marine, and motor. The Company excels at the handling of specialist and non-standard claims. We are currently just under 350 team members across the UK and since 2015, Woodgate & Clark has been part of the Van Ameyde Group, Europe's market leader in international claims management. Van Ameyde operates across more than 30 territories through 46 operating companies, with more than 2500 team members.
To complement our adjusting services, we also have our own dedicated building repair network, Quadrassist, and provide specialist loss adjusting services in entertainment, events, and advertising through Spotlite Claims.
The Person
As a Finance Manager you will be responsible for ensuring the delivery of all financial reporting, planning and analysis in accordance with both internal and external reporting guidelines and requirements.
You will prepare monthly management accounts and reports, including analysis and commentary in relation to profit and loss account and balance sheet at a level appropriate for the intended audience.
You will have strong writing and presentational skills and be an all-round excellent communicator, presenting in a clear and concise fashion to enable senior leaders from both finance and non-finance areas are able to understand the issues quickly and make appropriate business decisions.
You will also have direct involvement and support the Financial Controller in Woodgate & Clark's annual and half-year financial reporting, whilst also getting involved in various other finance projects and providing ongoing support to senior stakeholders across the Finance department. You will also support with any external auditors and play a pivotal role in facilitating satisfactory completion of the audit requirements.
The role is suited to:
* ACCA/CIMA qualified Accountant with up-to-date technical knowledge and experience operating under IFRS.
* Analytically strong with a willingness to question and challenge, able to identify anomalies or inconsistencies and pursue these through to a resolution.
* Ability to multi-task and must be exceptionally well organised; attention to detail; high level of accuracy; ability to meet established deadlines; ability to work under pressure; ability to work proactively.
* Autonomous, forward thinking, able to make appropriate decisions independently with good business acumen and understanding.
* Excellent communication and interpersonal skills with a range of colleagues at varying levels.
* Able to quickly establish credibility, winning the respect and co-operation of colleagues.
* Experience with SAP, Sage, Excel & PowerPoint are desirable, but not essential.
Responsibilities
The responsibilities of the Assistant Finance Manager/Finance Managerinclude (though are not limited to):
* Oversee and ensure timely completion of all transactional accounting, including sales postings, purchase ledger processing, reconciliations and adjustments
* Preparation of monthly management accounts and commentary within strict Group reporting timelines
* Provide clear sales reporting from multiple systems, ensuring reconciliations are completed and discrepancies resolved
* Preparation of bi-monthly forecasts, as well as the annual 5YP and budget (P&L, Balance Sheet & Cash flow).
* Develop accurate financial forecast models considering historical data and future trends.
* Analysis of actual performance versus plan/forecasts, providing insights into any discrepancies and recommending corrective actions.
* Support the Financial Controller in the maintenance of a robust control environment and the enhancement and testing of the financial control framework.
* Ownership of the employee expenses policy and processes, ensuring that these are kept up to date and adhered to by the wider business.
* Supervise and support daily banking and posting of receipts to ledgers and database, as well as bank reconciliations.
* Supervise the processing of all supplier invoices & expenses on the purchase ledger.
* Build excellent working relationships with key stakeholders, both internal and external, including colleagues across finance, internal and external audit.
* Constantly self-improve, in addition to developing other members of the team and promote an environment of teamwork and high professional standards.
* Coach and develop other team members, leading by example and providing motivation within the Finance team.
* Adhoc projects and other data analysis as required.
* You will be expected to carry out any other duties that may reasonably be required and notified to you by the Woodgate & Clark.
Skills and Experience
* Fully qualified (or newly qualified) ACA, ACCA or CIMA.
* A natural business communicator who is commercially aware.
* Have a can-do attitude / takes initiative / self-starter.
* Credible, can instantly establish rapport with colleagues at all levels, including Heads of and Directors.
* Analytically strong with the ability to challenge and think creatively.
* Comfortable with detail but can summarise at the right level for senior stakeholders.
* Demonstrates advanced Excel skills.
* Systems knowledge / experience of SAP/Sage preferable but not essential.
Education and Qualifications
* AAT, and ACCA or CIMA qualified.