The role
The initial assignment will involve assessing the current finance systems, processes, people and reporting.
You will provide an independent view of what is working, identify the principal risks and weaknesses, and develop a practical improvement plan.
Key responsibilities are likely to include
- Reviewing the existing finance function, controls, processes and reporting.
- Assessing the accuracy and reliability of the Sage data and spreadsheet-based information.
- Improving cash-flow forecasting and working-capital management.
- Developing a clear, accurate and concise monthly board reporting pack.
- Introducing meaningful financial and operational dashboards.
- Improving project-level reporting, including margins, work in progress, committed costs and cost-to-complete forecasting.
- Reducing manual processes and the business’s reliance on spreadsheets.
- Helping the business evaluate, select and implement an appropriate ERP or integrated finance system.
- Supporting and developing the existing finance team.
- Providing commercial challenge and strategic financial guidance to the owner-directors.
- Helping ensure the financial infrastructure is capable of supporting further growth and potential longer-term succession plans.
The person
This role requires an experienced Finance Director, CFO or senior finance transformation professional with a strong understanding of construction, contracting, fit-out, engineering or another project-led environment.
You should have practical experience of areas such as:
Construction Industry Scheme requirements.
Project accounting and job costing.
Work in progress and revenue recognition.
Cost-to-complete forecasting.
Variations and committed project costs.
Project-margin analysis.
Cash-flow and working-capital management.
Management reporting and dashboard development.
ERP selection or implementation.
This is not a purely strategic advisory appointment. You must be willing to examine the underlying data, interrogate spreadsheets and work closely with both the finance and operational teams.
The successful person will be pragmatic, approachable and commercially astute.
You will need to build credibility with a long-established team, challenge constructively and introduce improvements without imposing unnecessary corporate bureaucracy.