Head of Commercial Finance

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Job Introduction

Craft, Creativity and Community - we are Company of Cooks These are our values, and they go far beyond corporate waffle. In fact, they set the tone for everything we do. Company of Cooks have been working with some of the UK's most cherished venues since 1996, delighting customers and clients alike with great food and drinks, brilliant service and an absolute focus on the details that make good restaurants, cafes and bars, great ones. In October 2019 the company was brought into the CH&CO family. The completion of the deal saw Company of Cooks become the group's go-to operators in heritage and performance venues, art galleries and destinations. We are excited to be recruiting for a Head of Commercial Finance to work with us in Leisure.

Location: London
Reporting to: Commercial Finance Director
Salary: £70,000 - £80,000 per annum depending on experience

About the Role:
We are looking for an experienced and commercially driven Head of Commercial Finance to lead and develop our finance team. In this key role, you will provide accurate financial insights, ensure robust reporting, and support strategic decision-making. You'll play a vital part in driving efficiencies, enhancing processes, and supporting business growth.

You'll work closely with Finance Directors, Operational Directors, and Business Development teams to ensure we maximise profitability, optimise working capital, and make the best financial decisions for the business.

Key Responsibilities:

Financial Leadership & Control:

• Deliver timely and accurate monthly management accounts across the Leisure sector with clear visibility of financial performance.
• Ensure accuracy in income accounting, including accrued and deferred revenue, with clear reporting on outstanding debt.
• Oversee working capital management, driving improvements in cash flow, billing, and debt recovery.
• Identify and implement process improvements to support growth and streamline financial operations.

Strategic Business Partnering:

• Partner with key stakeholders, including Commercial Finance Directors and Operations Directors, to maximise revenue and profitability.
• Support business development teams in identifying, tracking, and appraising sales pipeline opportunities.
• Provide financial insights for strategic decisions, business cases, and bid development.
• Collaborate with operational teams to manage contract profitability and ensure cost control.

Performance Monitoring & Reporting:

• Ensure clear and concise financial information is presented to leadership teams to drive business performance.
• Develop and report key performance indicators (KPIs) relevant to the business.
• Undertake contract profitability analysis, identifying risks and opportunities for improvement.
• Deliver detailed financial analysis and ad-hoc reporting to support senior management requests.

Team Management & Development:

• Lead and develop a team of qualified accountants and studiers, ensuring they deliver accurate and timely management accounts.
• Drive a culture of collaboration, accountability, and continuous improvement within the team.
• Provide coaching, mentorship, and professional development support to team members.

Process Improvement & Compliance:

• Drive process improvements to enhance efficiency, improve financial controls, and support governance standards.
• Maintain strong balance sheet controls and oversee financial governance processes.
• Ensure compliance with internal financial procedures and proactively identify risks.

The Ideal Candidate:

• Fully qualified accountant (CIMA/ACCA/ACA/CIPFA) with substantial post-qualification experience.
• Proven leadership experience managing a finance team.
• Strong commercial acumen with the ability to influence and support stakeholders at all levels.
• Advanced Excel skills with experience in financial modelling and analysis.
• Excellent communication skills with the ability to present complex financial data clearly and concisely.
• Experience in contract catering, hospitality, or a similar fast-paced commercial environment is desirable.
• Confident in driving process improvements, managing budgets, and contributing to strategic business growth.

What's in it for you?

Working with Company of Cooks has its perks People are at the heart of everything we do, so we've developed a range of benefits to keep you happy.

• Personal Development and Training opportunities
• Life assurance scheme
• Pension scheme
• Holiday allowance
• Private medical eligibility
• Eye care
• A great wellbeing strategy - including access to our Employee Assistance Programme, salary finance
• Family friendly support
• Regular social events and communication with our leaders
• A holiday purchase scheme
• Volunteering days
• Professional subscriptions
• Recognition schemes and people awards
• Long service awards
• Access to some great high street discount vouchers

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