Finance Manager

We are recruiting for a Finance manager for a role based in Oldbury, Birmingham.

Key Responsibilities of the Finance manager role

1. Day-to-Day Accounting & Bookkeeping

• Take full ownership of internal accounts in their entirety, ensuring everything is recorded accurately.
• Manage day-to-day transaction processing, bank reconciliations, and expense management.
• Implement robust processes to ensure all business expenses are documented with correct receipts and properly pushed through the business.

2. Commercial Credit Control

• Proactively manage the accounts receivable ledger to maintain a healthy cash flow.
• Chase outstanding payments via regular telephone calls, emails, and monthly statements.
• Confidently issue warnings to delinquent clients and initiate/manage claims through our credit insurers when necessary.

3. Rebates & Commission Management

• Manage, track, and reconcile customer-specific rebate structures, ensuring correct accruals and payouts.
• Accurately calculate and process monthly commission payments for the sales team.

4. Forecasting, Pricing & Strategic Advice

• Provide regular and accurate cash flow forecasts to help manage working capital.
• Analyze product costs, overheads, and target profit margins.
• Advise the CEO on strategic buying decisions (e.g., bulk stock procurement) and calculate minimum viable selling margins to maximize profitability.

5. Tax, Compliance & External Accountant Liaison

• Act as the primary point of contact for our external accountants.
• Prepare information and collaborate with the external team for VAT returns, year-end financials, and corporate tax compliance.
• Keep up to date with UK tax regulations regarding expenses to ensure the business extracts value efficiently and compliantly.

The Ideal Finance manager: Requirements & Qualifications

• Software Expertise: Must be an absolute Xero expert. Deep familiarity with its reporting, bank feeds, and add-ons is non-negotiable.
• Experience: 3+ years in a similar Finance Manager, Financial Controller, or Senior Bookkeeper role. Experience within wholesale, distribution, or import/export is a strong advantage.
• Credit Control Skills: Excellent communication and negotiation skills. You must be comfortable picking up the phone to chase money and assertive enough to enforce payment terms.
• Commercial Mindset: You understand the mechanics of business margins (cost vs. sell price) and can provide actionable advice to the CEO rather than just reporting the numbers.
• Independence: the finanace manager needs to be highly self-motivated. You are comfortable being the sole finance person in the business and taking absolute accountability.

What We Offer for the finance manager role

• A competitive salary (dependent on experience).
• The opportunity to be a pivotal player in a growing, green-tech business.
• Direct access to and collaboration with the Founder/CEO.
• Pension scheme and career growth potential.