Head of Finance

Making Science Group; United Kingdom; On-site; GBP 80,000 - GBP 120,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading digital acceleration company in the UK seeks a Head of Finance to oversee financial management and reporting operations. This role requires proven experience in a senior finance position, exceptional financial planning skills, and a strong UK accounting background. The successful candidate will manage day-to-day finance tasks, ensure compliance, and present key financial updates to the Board, all while contributing to a dynamic corporate culture that encourages growth and innovation. Join and lead a team committed to excellence and transformation!

Benefits

25 days of holidays plus bank holidays

Flexible working hours

Discounts in shops, restaurants, and hotels

International team interactions

Subsidized training and free language classes

Qualifications

• Proven experience in a senior finance role (Finance Director / Senior Finance Manager) with broad end-to-end responsibility.
• Confidence presenting financial updates to senior stakeholders and Board-level audiences.
• Strong grasp of finance operations and controls.

Responsibilities

• Lead financial management with strong controls and accurate reporting.
• Oversee cashflow management, ensuring financial stability.
• Manage day-to-day finance operations and maintain compliance.
• Prepare Board packs, financial summaries for leadership review.

Skills

Financial reporting and planning skills

Cashflow management

Interpersonal skills

Organisational skills

Attention to detail

Education

UK Accounting background

Job description

Career Opportunities: Head of Finance (1638)

Requisition ID1638-Posted -United Kingdom

Making Science is an international digital acceleration company with over 1,200 experts across 15 markets, including Spain, Portugal, Mexico, Colombia, France, Italy, the UK, Ireland, Sweden, Denmark, Norway, Finland, Germany, Georgia, and the USA. As a proud consulting partner of Local Planet — the world’s premier network of independent media agencies — we deliver a suite of digital, technology, and performance marketing services to a global clientele. Our expertise spans digital marketing and MarTech, software and cloud solutions, artificial intelligence, and SaaS, all underscored by a relentless pursuit of innovation.

Making Science was ranked 15th in the FT1000: Europe\'s Fastest-Growing Companies 2023. Committed to making a positive impact, Making Science actively engages in various ESG initiatives. We’ve joined forces with the Climate Pledge, the United Nations Global Compact, and Pledge1%, dedicating resources and efforts to support non-profit organizations. Through these endeavors, we are committed to driving meaningful change for a brighter, more sustainable future.

As part of its commitment to innovation, Making Science offers its clients end-to-end capabilities required for consulting, development, integration, and maintenance of advanced IT solutions. Our global network of delivery hubs not only fosters job growth but also serves as an incubator for cultivating top-tier tech talent, fueling projects that accelerate transformation and modernisation.

Our team is composed of digital native professionals, who have a wide knowledge in the different stages and disciplines of the digital transformation: Digital Strategy, Infrastructures, Software Development, Creativity and UX/UI Design, Digital Marketing, and Big Data.

Making Science is People Centric, and we actively bet on our employees! We believe that they are the key to any successful business, and therefore, our greatest asset. We strive to provide daily learning opportunities for those who work with us and their colleagues. It is also really important that they enjoy what they do, and have positive experiences. We want our employees to feel proud of their accomplishments, and that they belong to a company that is in constant growth, because each person’s contribution is essential to achieve our success.

We believe in the power of diversity and the value of inclusion.At Making Science, our unique experiences, backgrounds, and perspectives are what drive our innovation and success. We are dedicated to providing an equitable hiring process and an inclusive work environment where all individuals are respected and feel they belong. Join us and bring your whole self to work!

We are seeking an experienced and hands-on Finance Director to lead the financial management of the Company, ensuring strong financial control, accurate reporting, and insightful performance analysis to support strategic decision-making.

This role combines leadership-level responsibility (Board reporting, budgeting, forecasting, performance management) with operational oversight (AR/AP, cashflow, VAT, payroll support). The Finance Director will play a key role in strengthening financial processes, maintaining compliance, and supporting the ongoing development of the Company and its international network.

🎯 What we’d like you to do

• Financial Management & Reporting
• Take overall responsibility for the financial management of the Company
• Ensure finance policies, processes and systems are efficient, robust
• Manage the monthly management reporting cycle
• Produce and present clear, accurate and timely financial reporting
• Prepare and manage Annual budget and Quarterly reforecasts
• Monitor, track and report on key income streams (Trademark Fees, Referral Fees, Client Fees, Indirect Income, Dividends)

• Cashflow, Treasury & Banking
• Oversee cashflow management to ensure the Company maintains strong financial stability
• Manage bank transactions, payments, reconciliations and cash forecasting

• Day-to-Day Finance Operations
• Ensure the timely and accurate processing of: Accounts Receivable (invoicing, credit notes, debtor tracking and collections)
• Accounts Payable (supplier invoice approvals, posting, payment runs)
• Staff expenses (review, approvals and processing)
• Bank reconciliations: ensuring completeness and accuracy
• Ensure strong controls and a reliable audit trail across all finance activity

• Statutory Accounts, VAT & Compliance
• Manage the preparation and submission of quarterly VAT returns
• Liaise with external independent accountants and advisors to review and finalise the statutory annual accounts
• Ensure timely delivery of year-end reporting requirements and maintain accurate documentation

• Board Reporting & Stakeholder Management
• Attend Board meetings and present financial updates
• Prepare Board packs, financial summaries and supporting analysis for leadership review
• Build and maintain strong working relationships with key internal and external stakeholders, including network agency Finance Directors
• Maintain strong collaboration with third parties including accountants, advisors and service providers

• Joint Ventures & Network Agency Support
• Manage the collection of Joint Venture financial information
• Assist in collecting, reviewing and summarising annual governance surveys from network agencies

• Payroll, HR Administration & Business Operations
• Manage monthly payroll processing and compliance, including RTI, pension administration and employee benefits
• Maintain employee records including holidays, absences and timesheets
• Support HR processes including: New starter administration and documentation (right to work, onboarding); Drafting employment contracts (as required); Maintaining HR templates and staff handbook
• Ensure compliance with relevant regulations (employment law, right to work, visas, health & safety), liaising with external bodies where needed
• Manage the relationship with the Company’s outsourced IT provider and support effective operational coordination

🔊 What we’d like you to bring

• Proven experience in a senior finance role (Finance Director / Senior Finance Manager) with broad end-to-end responsibility, and UK Accounting background
• Strong financial reporting and planning skills (management accounts, budgeting, forecasting, variance analysis)
• Excellent grasp of day-to-day finance operations, controls, and cashflow management
• Confidence presenting financial updates to senior stakeholders and Board-level audiences
• Strong organisational skills with the ability to manage multiple deliverables under deadlines
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills, with the ability to work effectively across an international network
• Proactive, solutions-focused mindset with strong attention to detail

Perks of joining us

• 25 days of holidays (plus bank holidays)
• We care about a healthy work-life balance. You can count on having flexible working hours (start at 9am +/- 1 hour and finish accordingly) and 1 day a week where you can work from home AND 2.30pm finish on Fridays
• Up to 10% discount in shops, restaurants and hotels in the West End
• The opportunity to meet our international team with our Ambassadors Program
• Regular team socials to get to know your peers better!
• Feedback is part of our day to day lives. We recognize a job well done through a continuous feedback model.
• You will never stop learning with us: subsidized training, free language classes, learning capsules, an e-learning platform and many more.
• Do you know someone that fits in Making Science? Refer them, and you can get a bonus if they’re hired!
• Work comfortably and follow your own style because we don’t have a dress code.
• Be a part of a dynamic, adventurous and professional team with people you’ll grow fond of!
• Challenge the future with us - Join our Making Science team!