Finance Director - 12 month FTC

The Business A dynamic and well-established organisation operating within the service sector is seeking a Finance Director to join their finance leadership team on a 12-month maternity cover contract. The business is known for its commitment to operational excellence and providing high-quality services across multiple brands. With a UK head office in Lancashire, this company operates a shared services model to support its core operations and ensure consistency in financial management. The Role As the Interim Finance Director , you will be responsible for providing financial leadership across key functions, including Management Accounting, Financial Control, Treasury, and Regulatory Reporting. You will deliver high-quality financial services to the UK businesses and shared service functions, ensuring accurate reporting and driving efficiencies across the group. Key Responsibilities: Oversee the financial operations of UK businesses and shared services, delivering regular financial reports and insights. Lead the standardisation of financial reporting and management accounts, recommending and implementing improvements where needed. Maintain a strong financial control environment across the group, ensuring alignment with global financial policies. Engage with both internal and external auditors, ensuring timely and accurate audit deliverables. Provide consolidated reporting for actuals, forecasts, budgets, and statutory accounts, ensuring compliance with group policies. Manage balance sheet reconciliations, cash flow forecasting, and identify financial risks and opportunities. Lead and develop the finance team, promoting a high-performance culture and ensuring effective succession planning. Support the transition to a shared services model, fostering collaboration and best practice across the group. The Candidate Profile We are seeking a commercially astute and strategically minded finance leader with a proven track record in senior financial roles. Experience in the service industry is highly desirable, though not essential. Key Skills and Experience: Fully qualified accountant with significant post-qualification experience. Strong leadership skills with the ability to motivate and develop a high-performing team. Deep knowledge of accounting standards, financial controls, and regulatory frameworks. Strategic thinker with a proven ability to improve business processes and deliver efficiencies. Experience with financial systems (ERP) and financial reporting tools. Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, able to influence at all levels. Commercially aware, with the ability to identify opportunities to improve revenue and profitability. Strong analytical and organisational skills, with excellent attention to detail. Knowledge of the service industry regulations and financial environment is preferred but not essential. Benefits: 25 days annual leave (rising to 28 after 5 years) plus bank holidays Private medical cover and life assurance Pension scheme Staff travel discounts Ongoing professional development and in-house training Flexible working, with hybrid options available Employee well-being programmes, including mental health support Onsite parking and restaurant facilities If you are a forward-thinking finance professional with a passion for driving change and delivering results, we’d love to hear from you. Apply now for this exciting opportunity to make an impact in a leading organisation.