Head of Finance

Head of Finance job description & role information

For employers looking to fill a Head of Finance vacancy, the following sample position description can help you attract the best candidates for the role. By tailoring this position description according to your company's specific job requirements, you have an excellent interview tool for comparison purposes.

For job seekers looking for a Head of Finance role, this job description details what the role may involve and what skills and experience are required to give you the best chance of securing the position. It is worth noting that this job title is often interchangeable with Finance Director or CFO.

Role outline:

Reporting to the Chief Executive Officer/Managing Director (CEO) or Chief Operations Officer (COO), the Head of Finance is accountable for accurate reporting of financial results and managing the company’s financial affairs. 

Typical job duties and responsibilities:

As part of the Executive Leadership Team (ELT), the Head of Finance is responsible for the financial management of the organisation.  Depending on the size of the company and whether it is public or private, the Head of Finance performs a wide range of responsibilities. These may include, but are not limited to:

• Managing the financial reporting for the organisation. This includes monthly financial reporting, budgeting and forecasting, 5-year financial plans and all statutory financial reporting

• Providing sound financial support and insights to enable the ELT to make critical business decisions

• Presentation of financial results and insights to the Board

• Play a key role in the formulation of the business's strategy

• Managing and overseeing the taxation affairs of the organisation and liaising with the external tax firm for specialist advice

• Managing and overseeing the cash flow of the company and ensuring it has the appropriate treasury controls

• Managing hedging and foreign currencies (if relevant)

• Managing the External Auditor relationship and ensuring the organisation is compliant with accounting standards

• Managing and overseeing the company's banking and borrowing arrangements

• Managing relationships with Investors (where applicable)

• Managing and overseeing the company’s financial systems

• Investment appraisal and analysis

• Presenting results to non-finance people to understand

• Recruitment, training, mentoring and development of staff

• Overseeing Accounts Payable, Accounts Receivable, Tax, Treasury, Payroll, Financial and Management Accounting functions.

• Risk Management to ensure the business has a solid risk framework in place

• Overseeing commercial decision-making from tender analysis, margin analysis, pricing analysis etc

• Advising and implementing best practice methods to increase revenue and reduce costs

• Advising on market changes and providing strategic financial recommendations to the ELT

• Managing and tracking budget and accounting information including billing, collections, and tax information

• Reviewing all formal finance, HR, and IT-related policies and procedures

Skills and attributes

The more common skills and attributes that are most needed for this role may include:

• 10+ years' experience in a senior financial managerial position with a proven record of success

• Sound decision-making skills based on accurate and timely analyses

• Results-oriented and metrics-driven

• Exceptional time management and ability to solve problems 

• Exceptional interpersonal communication and leadership skills, with the ability to communicate and manage staff at all levels

• Ability to lead by example and demonstrate a strong sense of integrity, ethics and dependability

• Professional written and oral communication skills

• Confident in presenting results to an audience

• Strategic thinking, planning and creative problem-solving skills

• Ability to work under pressure

• Ability to collaborate with upper management to organize, plan and achieve company financial goals

• Advanced computer software skills, including Excel and financial reporting software

• Bachelor's Degree in Accounting, Finance, or related field (MBA preferred)

• Professional accounting qualifications such as CA or CPA

Salary guide:

$180 - $250k + Super + Bonus (based on a medium-sized business)

Progression:

• Managing Director

• CEO

• CFO