Finance Director

About the role: This position would be well suited to a candidate who has excellent leadership skills, strong finance, reporting and risk management experience plus the ability to present financial information clearly and effectively. The role supports the strategic growth of the organisation in the UK and internationally by ensuring its financial integrity and supporting the evolving needs of the business in the UK and overseas. Reporting to the Chief Executive, the role controls the day to day finance operations of the Carbon Trust Group as well as working with the management team, representing the Group at the Audit Committee, supporting the Board, CE and COO’s strategic and business management decision making. About us The Carbon Trust provides innovative advice to governments and businesses around the world to support the global transition to a low carbon economy. We work closely with decision makers and implementers in key institutions in the UK and across multiple emerging and developing countries on low-carbon finance, programmes, policy and technology. The role leads the UK based Finance team and has responsibility for Finance across all areas of the organisation’s global footprint (including 5 small and growing overseas operations in Mexico, China, Singapore, S Africa and The Netherlands and associated local outsourced finance support). The primary duties of the role are to ensure that: Financial and other processes deliver timely and accurate management information enabling the assessment of business performance and effectiveness by the CE, CEO, senior managers and Board; Robust financial processes, controls and systems are in place in the UK and overseas offices and that these are monitored effectively; Tax and company reporting requirements globally are fully compliant, including the production of the Group’s statutory accounts, risk and audit process; and Non-executive director responsibilities for a number of the Group’s international subsidiaries and one UK subsidiary are delivered by the role. The role is also responsible for: Supporting CE, COO and Board decisions: delivering the financial elements of the corporate strategy; business planning and the allocation of resources; business performance review and improvement; and defining and improving financial processes, controls and systems. Audit Committee and Board: management of the Audit Committee and Group risk processes and clear presentation, written and oral, of financial papers to the Board and Audit Committee. Finance and business integrity: managing Group and company finances across all areas including A/P, A/R, cashflow, complex treasury management and all financial management. Business Planning and forecasting: supporting development of financial and performance objectives in the light of current performance and corporate strategy; monitoring and reporting of performance relative to plan and managing the quarterly financial reforecasts and reporting to the Board. Supporting business change: working with existing finance and commercial teams to simplify and improve procedures, processes and controls and taking ownership where necessary and supporting business expansion - including (but not limited to) international expansion to new geographies and finance system development as we further transition to a global multi-currency organisation. Team management: supporting and developing the finance team to ensure effective delivery, adaptation to changing business requirements and professional development, providing relevant guidance or coaching where required. Outsourced accounting support management: ensuring the integrity of financial reporting and controls as well as local compliance for our international offices from our outsourced accounting partners. Provision of financial support and services to the business including: advising on the financial implications of new business activities and projects, the collation, analysis and reporting of management information (financial, business performance and effectiveness) and performance data (e.g. project profitability; day rates; utilisation). Key skills and experience we are looking for: Excellent leadership and people skills - capable of both mentoring the finance team and developing strong senior internal and external relationships Excellent communication skills (oral and written), able to present complex or technical financial information clearly and effectively Credible at senior levels, able to influence and negotiate effectively Able to analyse complex issues and provide practical and creative solutions Strong finance, reporting and risk management system experience capable of simplifying and improving the Trust’s reporting processes, ensuring they are efficient, flexible and provide a platform for organisational growth Strong awareness to the link between operational issues and financial performance Able to work collaboratively and flexibly to deliver outcomes, but able to challenge if needed A keen eye for detail with exceptional technical financial skills Qualifications and experience: ACA qualified (or equivalent qualification) Commercially minded with the experience needed to help drive the strategic direction of the Trust and contribute to its mission and growth objectives Proven hands-on experience of managing all areas of a finance function and ideally experience of their application in a multi-geography, multi-currency organisation Demonstrable track record of innovation, improvement and managing process and system change to successful outcomes Demonstrable track record in reporting and explaining financial matters to non-financial audiences Salary & Benefits: We offer a competitive salary and a performance-based bonus. Our hours are 37.5 per week with 28 days paid holiday plus bank holidays and a generous pension scheme. Our head office is in London, close to Blackfriars and Waterloo stations, we offer travel card loans, a cycle to work scheme, company away days and a 24-hour Employee Assistance Helpline. Joining the Carbon Trust provides an opportunity to work alongside some of the leading practitioners in the low carbon arena so if you are excited by this opportunity and would like to join us please follow the link to our application page. Closing date: 1st April 2020. We are an equal opportunities employer, value diversity in our workforce and make our decisions based on your skills and experience. We can only accept applications from those who can prove their eligibility to work in the UK. No agencies or publications.