Head of Finance

**About The Role**:
As Head of Finance, you will be responsible for embracing the financial planning, forecasting, reporting and analysis for a fast-growing private equity backed company. Are you ready for a new journey?

Reporting directly to the CFO, the role will work closely with Operations, Marketing and Sales functions to drive the growth of the business.

As Head of Finance you will be hands on and highly varied, taking overall responsibility for:

- Working closely with the outsourced Management Accounts team
- Commercial finance activities, providing commercial insight and analysis of results, identifying underlying trends and challenging the business on performance
- Budgeting and Forecasting
- MI Reporting suite development
- Group wide financial controls
- Cashflow management
- Driving improvements to internal reporting and systems
- Support the strategic planning and strategic initiatives of the company, including acquisitions, by providing financial planning and modelling skills
- Support, partner and challenge the Marketing and Operations teams with financial issues including providing financial training.
- Partner with other senior internal stakeholders including the CEO and CFO
- Ad-hoc projects to support the CFO
- Involvement with any ongoing M&A activities as well as investment appraisal
- Management of Audit, Banking and shareholder relationships

**Key accountabilities**:

- Responsibility for ensuring the accurate and timely production of management reports, including an analysis of sales, key direct costs: labour, ingredients, maintenance as well as other operational expenditure
- Take ownership of performance management for the business including identifying and reporting KPIs which are linked to company strategy and drive positive actions
- Form integral part of the Marketing and Operation functions for the business whilst adopting a partner / challenger role in evaluating business plans.
- Ensure integrity of financial data supplied by outsourced accounting team to other areas of the business and to external stakeholders.

**About You**:
**Skills Required**:

- Proactive in building relationships and comfortable working cross-functionally and liaising with senior management.
- Strong commercial focus with the ability to understand business strategy, identify and interpret financial trends
- Ambitious, proactive and forward looking with the drive to continuously improve
- Ability to work to a high level of detail and accuracy
- Excellent modelling, analytical and data handling skills
- First class communication skills (both written and verbal) including ability to work with people from a non-financial background
- Ability to combine technical strength and knowledge with flexible and pragmatic approach required in a commercial environment
- Good Excel skills relevant to the interpretation and manipulation of detailed financial information, and presentation to internal and external interests.
- Ability to meet demanding deadlines
- Fully Qualified ACA/ACCA/CIMA with minimum 5 years PQE
- Experience in the Hospitality sector
- Experience of working with Zonal desirable

There is an excellent opportunity to join a highly ambitious business as they embark on a period of growth and redefined strategy

Working under a highly experienced CFO, you will be mentored, developed and guided, providing you with an opportunity to progress into a Finance Director role in due course.

**About Us**:
Gusto is a premium casual Italian restaurant chain backed by Palatine Private Equity. We have 14 restaurants, with locations mainly around the North of England and the Midlands. Our newly opened 14th restaurant in Oxford takes the brand into the South East. Further expansion is planned across the UK. Contemporary dishes are freshly prepared on site and accompanied by an extensive drinks menu, with a focus on quality food, drink and service across the estate.