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 Stevenage
Located about 28 miles (45 km) directly north of the centre of London, Stevenage was one of the new towns that were planned after the Second World War to provide new lives for those whose homes and livelihoods had been shattered in the Blitz. As with other towns such as Milton Keynes, Hemel Hempstead and Crawley, it was built on an existing village, although the infrastructure had to be upgraded. Stevenage boasted a pedestrianised town centre, the first purpose-built one in the UK, although ironically it was cars that would go on to put Stevenage on the map …
The town is well connected, with the A1(M) skirting its west side and the East Coast Mainline having a stop in the town. Luton airport is just to its west and Stansted is 16 miles (27 km) to the east. There’s a good deal of light industry in Stevenage, mainly concentrated in two industrial estates in its north-east and south-west corners, and these employ a good deal of its population.
The town has produced a number of top-ranking sportspeople in its recent history. Aston Villa, Manchester United and England winger Ashley Young was born there, and golfer Ian Poulter was born just outside the town in the neighbouring town of Hitchen. But in pole position is Lewis Hamilton, the local boy who started his career racing remote controlled cars before rising through the ranks and becoming Formula One world champion in 2008 for McLaren.
As with most of the purpose-built new towns, whose infrastructure was designed in the motoring age, Stevenage has attracted a healthy cross section of industries. With all the raw materials and finished products to move around, and a local population of around 90,000 to serve, Finance Director positions are not unusual in the town.
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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.
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