Head of Finance

**Role Purpose**:
Team Mission

To be the Finance & Governance business partner of choice, delivering safely, responsibly and sustainably for the benefit of all our stakeholders and in support of the strategic growth of the business to deliver operational advantage.

Objectives

The Head of Finance will lead all Financial reporting and performance management within the German business, ensuring compliance with Group Finance strategy, policy and procedures, to enable and drive business performance. This role will have a dual reporting line to the business MD as well as the Sector Financial Director (International Sector). The critical requirements are to ensure appropriate stewardship and control of the finances of the business, and partnering with the business to develop and implement the QinetiQ German business strategy. This is a high profile role, both in financial leadership as well as driving delivery of the of the QinetiQ German business strategy, with significant opportunity for positive impact and driving outcomes. We are therefore looking for a high quality self-starting individual, who can work with business and operational stakeholders across the business to ensure a robust and quality finance function that is supporting and driving business growth. The business objective is to grow revenues to c.€60m with good profit margins, within 4 years.

**Key Accountabilities**:
Accounting and reporting

1. Ensure controls are in place, reviewed and managed on an ongoing basis to ensure appropriate stewardship of the financial affairs of the business in accordance with Group Finance strategy, policy and procedures

2. Accountable for business reporting of results, ensuring appropriate cost collection, revenue recognition and production of accurate monthly management accounts

3. Based on a good understanding and relationship with operational stakeholders, take responsibility for the development of robust forecasts, managing risks and opportunities to deliver against those forecasts

4. Ensure the business is compliant with financial reporting both locally and in translation to IFRS in the UK, ensuring all mandatory internal and external reporting requirements (statutory accounts, tax requirements) are met in a timely fashion

5. Review of the processes and interfaces to deliver accounting transactions - where appropriate seek to improve, either through the implementation of enhanced processes and/or by way of system improvements

6. Work collaboratively as part of the local leadership team to ensure there is an environment of financial responsibility with monthly financial reporting and budgetary control, including Balance Sheet integrity

7. Identify and support the business with commercial opportunities to enable growth ambitions, leveraging internal and external insight to balance risk and reward in a competitive market

8. Lead on Financial support in key business activity across the full value chain, from winning new work with integrated support to new bids, delivering programmes on time, quality and cost, and the strategic development and management of investment business cases to support long-term growth

9. Act as a strong and visible leader, leading the local finance team as well as an overall business leader, partnering with the business MD to shape and deliver on the strategic ambitions of the business

Key Competencies
- Financial Acumen: strong financial technical acumen with demonstrated experience to lead a business finance function
- Commercially astute: ability to commercially assess, challenge and contribute to investment decisions and other key financial judgements on behalf of the business
- Results Orientated: focused on improvement of business results
- Strategic thinker: ability to think long-term and beyond immediate area of responsibility, requiring critical analysis and integration of information and the ability to develop action-oriented plans
- Financial Control: ensuring compliance with Group mandated policies and procedures and local regulatory requirements
- Customer-oriented: serving and building value-added relationships with customers whether internal or external
- Collaboration and Influence: working effectively with, and influencing internally and externally for positive impact on business performance
- People and Organisational Development: developing the long-term capabilities of others within their team
- Excellent analytical communication and influencing skills: ability to effectively communicate with all levels of the organisation, regulators, auditors and other technical advisors

Experience & Qualifications
- Chartered accountant qualified or equivalent, with significant demonstrable post-qualification experience (+10 years) in a senior finance role within a commercial environment
- Detailed understanding of German accounting standards, tax and accounting law, and a good understanding of reporting translation to IFRS
- Experience in working across geographies /