The role of Finance Director will support the Managing Director to provide leadership in driving profitable growth, ensure execution of the operating plan and unlock commercial and cost minimisation opportunities to further improve the business. The role is a key member of the A-Star Testing Group with responsibility for uplifting finance capabilities to a mature/large cap level.
PRINCIPLE DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES
Commercial Finance
- Shared responsibility with the Managing Director to deliver annual budgets
- Identify commercial and cost rationalisation opportunities.
- Drive the creation of synergies with other companies in the group and track the success against targets
- Manage working capital, with particular focus on DSO improvement in the first 12 months.
- Lead pricing and margin reviews and develop plans that lead to improved profitability.
- Evaluate capital expenditure proposals to ensure sound business decisions which facilitate corporate objectives and assess the results of completed projects against those objectives.
Governance/Compliance
- Ensure adoption of and adherence to global policies including accounting and global compliance policies (delegation of authority, AML, ABC, Sanctions etc.).
- Responsible for the management of all local statutory and tax obligations
- Execute the transition to IFRS for internal reporting (currently under Local GAAP and UK GAAP).
- Ensure annual audit deadlines are met and monthly reporting is reduced to 3 – 4 days.
- Support the implementation of regional treasury/cash management solutions
Financial Planning and Analysis
- Preparation of periodic reporting packs with insight, risk and opportunity assessment for the region.
- Ownership of the annual budget and forecast process identifying risks and opportunities.
- Preparation of business cases for large investments and new opportunities.
- Internal reporting
People
- Provide leadership, direction and management of the company’s finance team including the back off ice in India.
- Reorganise and professionalise the finance team.
- Transition towards a partially centralized finance delivery model.
System Implementation / Process
- Drive local adoption of the Group’s new financial consolidation, reporting and planning platforms.
- Integrate and expand if required the scope of the back office to other companies in the region
- Drive ongoing process improvement across the finance function
General
- Undertake other duties in line with skills and experience as requested
- Be compliant with all Group Policies and Procedures.
QUALIFICATIONS and/or EXPERIENCE
- Tertiary qualifications in Accounting/Business/Finance (or related field)
- CPA, ACCA, or equivalent professional qualification is highly desirable.
- 7 years + senior level financial management experience including planning, taxation, compliance and reporting.
- A clear understanding of the professional, ethical and legal responsibilities relevant to the position and demonstrated ability to maintain compliance, manage risks and promote corporate governance.
- Commercial acumen, an understanding of growth strategies with strong awareness of the bottom line.
- People development, experience leading diverse teams across multiple geographies
REQUIRED SKILLS
- Sound decision making skills based on accurate and timely analysis
- Attention to detail
- Negotiates with influence
- Leading change and innovation
- Excellent leadership and communication skills.
- Adapts approach, goals and methods to achieve solutions and results in dynamic situations
- Business Planning, ability to lead the development of clear and logical business plans that support the goals of the business
- Analytical Thinking, carries out in depth and complex analysis
- Build and maintain effective relationships
- Professional presentation
- Achieves goals and meets agreed deadlines
- Teamwork and cooperation
- Positive and flexible attitude
- Ability to maintain a high level of privacy and confidentiality
- Flexibility to work across multiple time zones
