Head of Finance
Occupying a position below the board but with a huge amount of responsibility, the head of finance for a company is mainly responsible for gathering financial information from the business and reporting the data to the board. They might also be involved with decision making where finances are concerned, but they will usually have to defer to the CEO, COO or CFO, and might therefore be employed in an advisory role.
The head of finance will also be involved with forecasting, both in the company’s own activities and with regard to the region or wider world. While forecasts are not always strictly scientific, they must be informed and educated enough to make a case for the board to make spending and investment decisions on their basis.
In some head of finance jobs, there is, however, a good deal of autonomy to make decisions without daily reference to the board, within certain budgetary and projected constraints. It depends on the size and structure of the business.
Head of finance skills
As head of finance, you’ll have to be extremely adept at all manner of accountancy, bookkeeping, forecasting and reporting. Experience at a senior level within the financial department of a large business will stand you in good stead, although everyone has to start somewhere, so a specific head of finance title is not always requested, as long as you have a proven track record of financial management.
As far as qualifications are concerned, a BSc/BA in accounting or finance will often be a minimum requirement, but other related qualifications and experience will also be considered in many cases.
Head of Finance Jobs in Cleveland
Situated in the north-east of England, Cleveland is a region that has been long known for its industrial and manufacturing capabilities, and it offers a range of opportunities for those seeking Head of Finance positions.
During the 18th century, ironwork was a major part of the local economy and the ironstone used for blast furnaces on the River Tees was procured from the Cleveland Hills.
These days, Cleveland is not an officially recognised region. In the mid-1990s, the county was broken up into four unitary authorities: Hartlepool, Stockton-on-Tees, Middlesbrough and Redcar and Cleveland.
However, many people from the region still identify themselves as being from Cleveland and bodies like the Cleveland Police and Cleveland Fire Brigade carry the name today.
Much of the area is undergoing significant regeneration, and these days, the economy is mainly based in retail, technology and the service sector.
However, a few big-names in heavy industry still call the region home. For example, there's the Cleveland Bridge and Engineering Company, Teeside Steelworks and Dorman Long, which provided the steel for the Sydney Harbour Bridge, the Tyne Bridge and the Auckland Harbour Bridge.
What's more, Teesport is the country's third largest port and handles around 56 million tonnes of cargo every year, with facilities including container quays and RORO ramps.
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Head of finance recruitment at Cast UK
When looking for the right person to fill such a key role in a business, you need as relevant a shortlist as possible so you can decide on the perfect one. That’s where Cast UK comes in. We only work with recruits at senior levels, so you can be sure that any candidates who have been through our filter will be relevant and ready to make a difference. Call 0333 121 3345 to speak to one of our experts.
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