Freelance Finance Director (Maternity Cover)
Pearlfisher
Full-time
Remote friendly
United Kingdom, United Kingdom
About the job
We foster a welcoming, diverse and inclusive workplace culture where everyone is treated with respect and dignity.
Each of us thrives when everyone feels valued for who they are, regardless of gender, race, religion, social class, disability, sexual orientation or background. We leave no room for discrimination of any kind because we believe we have a unique opportunity and obligation to design more equitable ways of living and working.
As long as you have the experience required for the role, we welcome applications from all walks of life and these will be judged on talent, first and foremost.
This is
A 7-month maternity cover role starting mid-August.
A crucial role to provide leadership of the company’s finances as a foundation for the stability, growth and profitability of Pearlfisher.
We need you to
Drive business strategy and provide pro-active, hands-on financial analysis, management and direction to the Leadership team and the partners, enabling them to make key business decisions. The FD will act as a business partner to the team and will be specifically responsible for the overall P&L analysis, Balance Sheet analysis, financial management and revenue generation. In addition, this role will lead, manage and oversee the operational side of Pearlfisher in a way that provides a strong platform for our creativity.
This role requires the highest level of
Communication skills / Organisation / Accuracy / Attention to detail / Energy
You Will Show Us That You Have
Strong financial and commercial know-how, awareness and intelligence
The vision to see the ‘bigger picture’ and relate finance to the broader business issues and opportunities
Natural communication and people management skills
An affinity for a creative entrepreneurial working culture and the skills to initiate and implement change within this kind of culture
The skills to report on and present financial information in a simple and meaningful way
A collaborative, supportive and constructive working style
The personal qualities and skills to lead, guide and nurture a small team
You will definitely need to be
A talented and progressive financial director with an affinity for the creative business who can establish the highest levels of financial professionalism within a creative and entrepreneurial culture.
Able to demonstrate common sense, good judgement and authority in pressured situations.
Someone who understands the importance of discretion and confidentiality at all times.
Able to deal with external and internal people at a variety of levels.
The bare minimum we need from you is
Qualified accountant ACA/CIMA/ACCA
5-10 years post-exam experience
Experience and proven success within an international business, the design industry or the wider creative/media industry
Legal contracts understanding and interpretation
The role in detail
i. Strategic Financial Planning & Analysis
Lead both short-term and longer-term financial planning in consultation with the partners and management team
Lead the preparation of annual budgets/business plans, ensuring stakeholder engagement and buy-in.
Oversee, review and adhere to budgets and set annual and quarterly targets while managing operations and operation costs to achieve budgeted profit.
Develop and maintain key performance indicators.
Interpret and analyse financial data and present commercial insight to create tangible objectives.
Design and prepare management reporting, allowing the information to be easily digestible for management teams, team heads, and the wider business.
Liaise with client management regularly to develop and manage client financial targets.
Close consultation and coordination with our Financial Advisors and our CFO in NYC.
Define and implement criteria for the management/control of the overall financial health of the business.
Business partner with team heads, to enable strong finance acumen and commercial awareness throughout the business.
ii. Control & Compliance
Provide effective control and management of all aspects of the company’s finances and maintaining integrity of all financial information.
Develop and maintain internal control systems.
Supervise sales ledger – including debt recovery, setting client terms and invoicing.
Supervise purchase ledger – including setting supplier terms & managing payments.
Overall responsibility for prompt cash collection from clients.
Manage cash requirements of the business.
Ensure compliance with accounting standards and with all government legislation, the ONS and any other statutory bodies.
Create and maintain relationships with service providers and contractors, including banking institutions and accountants.
FX Management
VAT Returns
Management of the Payroll and of the company’s various benefits schemes.
Update and implement financial policies and procedures.
iii. Financial Systems
Establish and monitor appropriate systems, databases and processes.
Identify systems/processes improvements to gain greater efficiency.
Provide recommendations and justifications for potential changes to systems.
iv. Reporting & Analysis
Maintain effective, accurate and streamlined management and reporting of finances including job costing, invoicing, job profitability and financial performance
Weekly update on key figures
Monthly reporting to Leadership team in London
Quarterly reporting to Leadership team, global stakeholders and external accountants
Job costing & job profitability analysis
Utilisation, recoverability and capacity analysis
Other Ad-hoc reporting
v. Team Leadership
Lead and develop the London finance team (currently one Management Accountant)
Establish clear responsibilities, roles and career development for finance staff
Lead 6 monthly performance reviews in conjunction with Partners
vi. Legal matters
Review of contracts/T&Cs
Liaise with external Legal consultants
Reporting structure
The Finance Director will report directly to the CEO.
Each of us thrives when everyone feels valued for who they are, regardless of gender, race, religion, social class, disability, sexual orientation or background. We leave no room for discrimination of any kind because we believe we have a unique opportunity and obligation to design more equitable ways of living and working.
As long as you have the experience required for the role, we welcome applications from all walks of life and these will be judged on talent, first and foremost.
This is
A 7-month maternity cover role starting mid-August.
A crucial role to provide leadership of the company’s finances as a foundation for the stability, growth and profitability of Pearlfisher.
We need you to
Drive business strategy and provide pro-active, hands-on financial analysis, management and direction to the Leadership team and the partners, enabling them to make key business decisions. The FD will act as a business partner to the team and will be specifically responsible for the overall P&L analysis, Balance Sheet analysis, financial management and revenue generation. In addition, this role will lead, manage and oversee the operational side of Pearlfisher in a way that provides a strong platform for our creativity.
This role requires the highest level of
Communication skills / Organisation / Accuracy / Attention to detail / Energy
You Will Show Us That You Have
Strong financial and commercial know-how, awareness and intelligence
The vision to see the ‘bigger picture’ and relate finance to the broader business issues and opportunities
Natural communication and people management skills
An affinity for a creative entrepreneurial working culture and the skills to initiate and implement change within this kind of culture
The skills to report on and present financial information in a simple and meaningful way
A collaborative, supportive and constructive working style
The personal qualities and skills to lead, guide and nurture a small team
You will definitely need to be
A talented and progressive financial director with an affinity for the creative business who can establish the highest levels of financial professionalism within a creative and entrepreneurial culture.
Able to demonstrate common sense, good judgement and authority in pressured situations.
Someone who understands the importance of discretion and confidentiality at all times.
Able to deal with external and internal people at a variety of levels.
The bare minimum we need from you is
Qualified accountant ACA/CIMA/ACCA
5-10 years post-exam experience
Experience and proven success within an international business, the design industry or the wider creative/media industry
Legal contracts understanding and interpretation
The role in detail
i. Strategic Financial Planning & Analysis
Lead both short-term and longer-term financial planning in consultation with the partners and management team
Lead the preparation of annual budgets/business plans, ensuring stakeholder engagement and buy-in.
Oversee, review and adhere to budgets and set annual and quarterly targets while managing operations and operation costs to achieve budgeted profit.
Develop and maintain key performance indicators.
Interpret and analyse financial data and present commercial insight to create tangible objectives.
Design and prepare management reporting, allowing the information to be easily digestible for management teams, team heads, and the wider business.
Liaise with client management regularly to develop and manage client financial targets.
Close consultation and coordination with our Financial Advisors and our CFO in NYC.
Define and implement criteria for the management/control of the overall financial health of the business.
Business partner with team heads, to enable strong finance acumen and commercial awareness throughout the business.
ii. Control & Compliance
Provide effective control and management of all aspects of the company’s finances and maintaining integrity of all financial information.
Develop and maintain internal control systems.
Supervise sales ledger – including debt recovery, setting client terms and invoicing.
Supervise purchase ledger – including setting supplier terms & managing payments.
Overall responsibility for prompt cash collection from clients.
Manage cash requirements of the business.
Ensure compliance with accounting standards and with all government legislation, the ONS and any other statutory bodies.
Create and maintain relationships with service providers and contractors, including banking institutions and accountants.
FX Management
VAT Returns
Management of the Payroll and of the company’s various benefits schemes.
Update and implement financial policies and procedures.
iii. Financial Systems
Establish and monitor appropriate systems, databases and processes.
Identify systems/processes improvements to gain greater efficiency.
Provide recommendations and justifications for potential changes to systems.
iv. Reporting & Analysis
Maintain effective, accurate and streamlined management and reporting of finances including job costing, invoicing, job profitability and financial performance
Weekly update on key figures
Monthly reporting to Leadership team in London
Quarterly reporting to Leadership team, global stakeholders and external accountants
Job costing & job profitability analysis
Utilisation, recoverability and capacity analysis
Other Ad-hoc reporting
v. Team Leadership
Lead and develop the London finance team (currently one Management Accountant)
Establish clear responsibilities, roles and career development for finance staff
Lead 6 monthly performance reviews in conjunction with Partners
vi. Legal matters
Review of contracts/T&Cs
Liaise with external Legal consultants
Reporting structure
The Finance Director will report directly to the CEO.