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 Ipswich
Situated in the county of Suffolk, Ipswich is a lovely place, located on the River Orwell. It's a thriving community, with a stunning waterfront and many historic buildings. Plus there are a number of opportunities for those seeking Head of Finance vacancies.
As one of England's oldest towns, Ipswich has a history that dates back to the Roman Empire when a fort was built in the vicinity.
The town really began to form, however, during the Anglo-Saxon period and during the seventh and eighth centuries it was an important trading port with Scandinavia and the rest of Europe. The nearby Sutton Hoo archaeological site has been an extremely important place for those interested in studying the life and culture of ancient Britons from this period.
Ipswich was granted its first charter in 1200 and for the next four hundred years, it carried on as a market town and trading hub. During the 1600s it was also a common port for those boarding ships and sailing to the New World.
During the Industrial Revolution and well into the 20th century, Ipswich was known for agricultural manufacturing, with enterprises ranging from sugar beet processing through to motorised lawnmower production.
Today, many of the industrial buildings have been converted to offices and flats, although the port still sees millions of tonnes of cargo pass through every year.
Much of the local economy is now based in the service sector and IT. Adastral Park is a massive business park, home to BT's global innovation and development centre, while other tech companies with offices in the area include Fujitsu, Ericsson, Cisco, O2 and Nokia Siemens.
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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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