Head of Finance

Sewell Wallis is partnering with a well–established Logistics business based in Berkshire, near Slough, to recruit an experienced Head of Finance.

This role offers the opportunity to reshape the finance function by enhancing reporting, strengthening financial controls, and evolving the team from a transactional service to a commercially focused, value–adding business partner.

This is an exceptional opportunity to make a tangible impact within a well–established organisation, leading meaningful change while working alongside a fantastic team with extensive expertise in business transformation and organisational change.

The successful candidate will be a qualified accountant with a proven track record of leading finance functions within a large, multi–entity organisation, managing a finance team of approximately 30 people. You will be an inspiring and influential leader with a passion for driving transformation, capable of engaging an established team and fostering a culture of continuous improvement.

You'll ideally be practice trained with a strong technical background, exposure to a large multi–entity business, and considerable experience in the logistics, distribution, manufacturing or engineering industries, as you will need substantial lease and asset accounting experience.

What will you be doing?

• Lead the finance, accounting, payroll, and reporting functions, driving sales growth, profitability, financial performance, and delivery of strategic business objectives.
• Provide leadership, coaching, and development for finance teams, fostering a high–performance culture built on accountability, continuous improvement, employee wellbeing, and values.
• Oversee the preparation and submission of monthly management accounts, annual statutory accounts, tax computations, budgets, forecasts, and profit plans, ensuring accuracy, timeliness, and compliance.
• Own and manage the end–to–end external audit process, including tax reporting, while acting as the technical expert on accounting standards, tax regulations, and financial governance.
• Maintain a robust financial control environment by ensuring effective accounting systems, internal controls, policies, procedures, and compliance with local and group requirements.
• Drive financial planning, cash flow management, budgeting, forecasting, and KPI reporting to support operational decision–making, identify risks and opportunities, and improve business performance.
• Build strong cross–functional partnerships with internal stakeholders, divisional controllers, group finance teams, auditors, and tax advisors to deliver accurate financial reporting and continuous process improvement.
• Champion exceptional customer service, lead strategic and ad hoc business improvement initiatives, and support the Finance Director with key projects that enhance organisational growth and operational effectiveness.

What skills are we looking for?

• Qualified Accountant
• Strong technical knowledge, ideally practice trained (understanding of IFRS16, IFRS15, IAS2, IAS36, IAS37 and FRS102)
• Experience with asset and lease accounting is essential
• A strong people manager who can develop and motivate large teams
• Previous experience in a large, multi–entity/group environment
• Must have consolidation and intercompany experience
• Experience using Business intelligence and AI tools would be desirable
• Experience working as a Group Financial Controller, Head of Finance or Finance Director for at least 5 years.
• The drive and enthusiasm to make change within the organisation, the confidence to challenge the status quo, and to come in with a positive can–do attitude.

What's on offer?

• Salary of 100,000
• 20% bonus
• Company car/allowance
• Medical Insurance
• Company Pension
• Hybrid working – approx. 3 days on site
• Parking available on site

Send us your CV below or contact Inci Evcil for more information. Only if your application matches the required criteria will you receive a call or email to discuss the role further.

To apply please send your CV, quoting our reference and specifying which website you saw this position advertised on. Due to the high volume of applications please accept that if we have not responded to your application within seven days, your application has not been successful. Sewell Wallis is a specialist recruitment company with a vast amount of experience in our industry we offer permanent, temporary and interim recruitment support for accounting and finance, human resources and business support positions. We recruit at all levels within finance from Purchase Ledger Administrator and Credit Controller level through to Financial Controller and Director positions. With offices in Sheffield and Leeds, we are well situated to cover all of South Yorkshire, West Yorkshire and Manchester. Please visit our website for more information on accountancy and finance jobs and human resources or business support positions.