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 Herefordshire
Herefordshire, located in the West Midlands, is a historic English county that shares borders with Shropshire, Gloucester and Worcestershire, as well as Wales.
The region, which has largely been rural throughout its history, has an economy mainly based in agriculture - and it even gave its name to one of the world's most common breeds of cow. Over the years, manufacturing and the service sector have also grown in importance in the county.
Settlements include Leominster, Ross-on-Wye, Bromyard and Kington. The county town is Hereford; it's a cathedral city and also the only city in Herefordshire, making it a good location for those seeking Head of Finance positions.
Herefordshire has long been known as an important location for the production of cider. H.P. Bulmer, which is owned by Heineken International, is a major employer in the region. It manufactures brands including the eponymous Bulmers, as well as Woodpecker and Strongbow. Other companies with cider or ale breweries in the county include Wye Valley, Weston's and Spinning Dog.
Meanwhile, Amcor is a packaging company based in Ledbury and Cargill Meats Europe operates in the region. Other products that Herefordshire is known for include leather, nickel alloys and chemicals, while the Rotherwas Industrial Estate is home to a number of heavy and light engineering companies, as well as various other businesses.
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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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