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 York
Known for its towering cathedral and tiny medieval streets that weave through the centre, York may seem old-fashioned in some places, but it offers a wealth of modern-day opportunities for those seeking Finance Director vacancies.
Of course, behind York's modern charm lies a city with a long history dating back thousands of years. Archaeological evidence has been found of a Mesolithic settlement from around 8000 BC, while there are also ruins of Roman and Anglo buildings.
Until the Industrial Revolution, York was a prominent trading town, although this dwindled in the 17th century as the city's main competitors, Leeds and Hull, began to take over.
However, the railway made it to York in 1839 and the city once again became a prominent location for the British economy. Indeed, companies like the North Eastern Railway, Rowntrees and Terry's were all based in the region during this time - and continued to be throughout the 20th century.
These days, much of York's business is in the service industry, including finance, IT and tourism. Some of the top employers in the region include Aviva, Shepherd Building Group and British Telecom.
Much of the confectionary industry has disappeared from York in the recent past, with a significant portion of production being moved abroad. However, Nestle still has headquarters and a large manufacturing and distribution facility in the city, making tasty treats like KitKats and Yorkie bars.
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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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