Finance Director
In business, every major financial decision a company makes has a profound effect on its profitability, or even its survival. Big decisions about expansion, restructuring, new product ranges, setting up in new territories and the really tough decisions like mass redundancies all need to be financially justified to the company, shareholders and sometimes the public. It’s the finance director’s job to oversee those decisions.
Finance director jobs are usually part hands-on financial analysis and decision making, and part overseeing a team of finance managers, departmental managers and accountancy departments. As a board member, they will have plenty of sway, but must also be in charge of implementing company-wide policies from a financial standpoint. They will know when to sit down and crunch the numbers themselves, and when to delegate the tasks to trusted lieutenants who can deliver sound, evidence-based figures on which to base those key decisions.
The skills required of the finance director
Clearly, the role of finance director is reserved for those who are highly experienced in overseeing the financial matters of large organisations. You won’t necessarily need to be a director already, but you will have to have proved that you understand business economics inside and out, and that you have had to make tough financial decisions and seen them through, gathering evidence, presenting your case and analysing results.
You’ll also be a great communicator and negotiator, as you’ll often be meeting with banks, shareholders, other board members and managers to both listen and to instruct on financial decisions. Many businesses require a BA in finance, accounting or business before this role is considered.
Finance Director Jobs in Milton Keynes
Situated in Buckinghamshire, Milton Keynes is a new town that was designated in 1967. At the time, it was selected due to its more-or-less equal distance from Birmingham, London, Leicester, Cambridge and Oxford.
Before it was a new town, however, Milton Keynes was a village - and one with an intriguing history. Early settlements in the area date back to the Iron Age, while other inhabitants over the centuries included Romans, Normans and the Anglo-Saxons.
Today, Milton Keynes comprises a number of communities. Bletchley, for instance was an important location during the second world war - it was home to the Government Code and Cypher School, where Alan Turing (often called the father of computer science) helped to crack the Enigma code. Meanwhile, Bradwell Abbey was a Benedictine Priory and was an economic hub prior to the Dissolution of the Monasteries.
For anyone seeking Finance Director opportunities, there are a number of big names that call the region home. These include The Open University, Abbey National, Buckingham Foods and Argos. Coca-Cola has a large manufacturing site in Milton Keynes, producing Capri-Sun and Monster Energy products, as well as bulk products for distribution to companies like McDonald's.
In addition, organisations that promote sustainable energy - such as the National Energy Foundation and the National Home Energy Rating Scheme are located in Knowlhill, along with the National House Building Council, a number of law firms, graphics design companies and warehousing facilities.
Popular locations
Finance director recruitment at Cast UK
At Cast UK, we understand how difficult it is to find high-calibre candidates to interview for critical roles like this. That’s why as an agency, we have always focused on the upper echelons of business, namely executive and managerial positions. So if you’re looking for the perfect finance director for your organisation, call 0333 121 3345 and we can deliver exactly those A1 candidates you’re looking for.
If you are a finance director or have a CV that proves you’re ready to become one, we want to hear from you – as do some fantastic businesses up and down the country. Please register with us by following the link below.
Contact us