Head of Finance - Large and Vibrant Architecture Practice

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A highly acclaimed architecture firm with a great working environment is seeking a capable and hands on individual to lead their finance team. As Head of Finance, this is a hands on role where one would oversee the delivery of the finance function and deliverables, mentoring and developing the finance team; conducting their yearly appraisals and staff reviews accordingly and reviewing all financial policies.

Responsibilities –

Financial Management-
– Responsible for the financial management of the practice, delivering agreed targets.
Provide strategic reporting on financial performance trends to Partners on a regular basis and to the management and resources team as necessary.
– Ensuring that the internal and external statutory requirements are provided in relation to LLP governance.
– Provide regular reports on the financial performance of all projects and ensuring jobs are delivered to budget and schedule.
– Preparation of monthly accounts.
– Advise on fee proposals and job costing of prospective projects, where required drawing on the ERP system.
– Manage an efficient sales ledger process to ensure that monthly invoices to clients for agreed fees are raised in relation to the agreed targets.
– Manage a robust credit control process, reviewing debtors on a daily basis to ensure a DSO of no more than 60 days.
– Manage the purchase ledger process and introduce a purchase order process.
– Foster excellent working relationships with advisors including our bank, auditors and lawyers, ensuring that the firm achieve best value for money.
– Maintain excellent working relationships with our clients and suppliers.
– Ensure adequate cash flow to meet the organisation’s needs and investigate ways to optimise the return on our cash reserves.
– Oversee the efficient management of our payroll process in conjunction with HR and our external payroll company.
– Recommend changes that will improve the company’s financial performance and financial controls.
– Encouraging greater awareness of project budget performance and financial awareness.

• Performance reporting and forecasting


• – Oversee the delivery of up-to-date Work in Progress reporting, interrogating the reporting to provide an


• analytical overview of our performance.

• – Maintain an overview of job performance through monitoring the ERP system highlighting under performing projects and recommending strategies for their improvement.


• – Prepare and issue job profit reports to team leaders. Devise and implement a regular reporting system for team leaders. Present financial data clearly, to improve the staffs understanding of project current and projected revenue, costs and profitability.

– Prepare and report monthly and quarterly results to the Partners, highlighting variations on previous projections.
Analyse and interrogate the reports produced through the ERP system providing advice and direction.

• – Making recommendations in relation to budget planning and expenditure.


• – Assist in the design, implementation, and timely calculations of staff salary increases, profit share calculations and bonuses during the Salary Review process.

Auditing and tax
Oversee the management and coordination of all fiscal reporting activities.
Act as a key contact to external auditors and ensure that all required information is provided to facilitate the audit process.
Ensure that all regulatory/compliance issues are addressed.
Ensure that VAT returns are lodged in a timely manner.

Essential Experience, Skills and Qualifications

• Chartered Accountant (CIMA/ACCA).

A sound understanding of complex financial processes and procedures.
Experience of producing year end accounts and financial reports.
Excellent team working within a professional services context.
Experience of successful delivery of a finance function within a professional services environment.
Sound communication skills, highly personable with excellent people skills.
Sound business acumen.

This is an excellent opportunity for someone to join a company who really values it’s employees offering unrivalled benefits and holiday pay and a good live/work balance.

Should you be interested in hearing further, please apply without delay to Gabrielle Saw, Creative Support Specialist at Adrem Group