Head of Finance
Aylesford, Kent £70,000+ Permanent
Reed Finance are exclusively recruiting for a successful, long-established and growing distribution business based in Kent, currently seeking to appoint a Head of Finance.
This is a newly created role and represents a fantastic opportunity for a commercially minded finance leader to join a profitable, multi-site organisation at an exciting stage of growth. Reporting directly to the Directors, the Head of Finance will play a pivotal role within the senior leadership team, helping to drive financial strategy, control, and performance across the business.
The Role
This is a broad, hands-on leadership role combining strategic oversight with operational delivery across finance.
Responsibilities
Financial Strategy & Leadership
* Develop and deliver the financial strategy to support growth and competitiveness
* Advise Directors and senior stakeholders on financial performance, risks and opportunities
* Lead budgeting, forecasting and long-term financial planning
* Drive site-level financial analysis, benchmarking and performance improvement
* Support expansion activity with financial modelling and analysis
Cost Management
* Oversee staff costs, overheads and cost accounting
* Ensure accurate inventory valuation and margin analysis
* Support new site acquisition planning with detailed cost modelling
Financial Controls, Compliance & Reporting
* Produce accurate monthly management accounts and board-level reporting
* Ensure compliance with accounting standards and tax requirements
* Maintain strong internal controls, manage audits and banking relationships
Systems & Process Improvement
* Lead finance system integration following acquisitions
* Improve data accuracy and reporting capability
* Implement KPIs and dashboards to support operational decision making
* Drive continuous improvement across finance processes
Risk Management
* Identify and mitigate financial and operational risks
* Maintain audit-ready documentation and control frameworks
Leadership & Team Development
* Lead, develop and mentor the finance team
* Ensure consistent processes, controls and reporting across multiple sites
* Build strong business-partnering relationships across the organisation
* Promote a culture of accountability, accuracy and performance
The Person
We are looking for:
* A qualified accountant (ACA / ACCA / CIMA) with significant post-qualification experience
* Strong commercial acumen and the ability to challenge and influence senior stakeholders
* Experience within a distribution or multi-site environment (highly desirable)
* Proven experience integrating finance processes following acquisitions
* Advanced Excel and financial modelling skills
* Strong understanding of stock management, margin and cost of sales
* Experience improving financial controls, systems and processes
* A confident leader who is comfortable operating both strategically and hands-on
Working Arrangements & Package
* Full-time, permanent role
* Based at head office in Aylesford, Kent
* Salary £70,000+, dependent on experience
Reed Finance are exclusively recruiting for this position. All applications will be handled with the strictest confidence.
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