Finance Director, Nicholls Countryside Construction Limited

Nicholls Boreholes Ltd.; England; On-site; GBP 70,000 - 100,000; Full time

Job summary

A growing construction and manufacturing firm in the United Kingdom is seeking a Finance Director to enhance the financial processes. The ideal candidate will be a qualified accountant with significant experience in the sector and strong management skills. This full-time role offers the chance to work in a dynamic team focused on quality and innovation.

Qualifications

• At least 3-5 years Finance Director level experience.
• Experience in construction, renewables or related manufacturing sector.
• Hands-on approach with a small finance team.

Responsibilities

• Maintain financial integrity and corporate governance.
• Manage financial and project costs.
• Prepare year-end statutory accounts for audit.
• Prepare budgets, forecasts, and cash flow analysis.
• Manage and develop finance personnel.

Skills

Financial and commercial experience

Strong management skills

Cost accounting skills

Clear communication

Ability to prioritize

Education

Qualified Accountant – CIMA, ACA or ACCA

Tools

SAGE accounting system

Job description

The group is seeking an FD with sound financial acumen and broad commercial experience, ideally gained within the construction and related manufacturing sector.

This permanent appointment seeks to continue with the ongoing development and enhancement of the Group's financial processes.

The position is Full-time and office based.

‘Nicholls’ is a fast‑growing, privately‑owned business based in West Sussex, founded in 2002. The business was established, owned and is run by its founders Ben and Richard Nicholls. Having grown significantly over the last five years it now employs over eighty staff.

The 3 distinct but inter‑related operational divisions of the Group of Companies comprise:

• Nicholls – Boreholes & Ground Source (www.nichollsboreholes.co.uk) which designs, installs and maintains pioneering renewable and sustainable solutions. Including water boreholes, river sourced and open loop Ground Source Heat Pump Systems for domestic and commercial clients.
• Nicholls Construction (www.nichollsltd.com) a multi‑award‑winning specialist construction division specialising in country house renovation and newbuild development with a modus operandi of ‘creating beautiful homes for their clients’.
• Nicholls Licensing & Consulting (www.nichollslc.co.uk) provides specialist licensing and regulatory consultancy to commercial and residential clients to achieve the Water mitigation solutions required to achieve their objectives.

The owners are passionate about quality, innovation, client relationships and creating an enjoyable and rewarding place to work.

Candidate

The Finance Director will work alongside the principals in all facets of the business and must have the gravitas for such a position, to provide the principles and senior management team with experience and technical knowledge to develop their strategies, by providing detailed management information to enhance the decision‑making process.

The incumbent will have a small, dedicated finance team, but will equally need to be fully hands‑on, balancing both the strategic and commercial elements along with the day‑to‑day finance responsibilities.

The successful candidate will ideally be a qualified accountant (although senior experience within our sector will be considered), must have strong financial and commercial experience working within the construction, renewables or related manufacturing sector and ideally have at least 3‑5 years Finance Director level experience operating within the sector.

Salary, performance pay and benefits TBD – subject to experience and will be dependent on company performance and your personal targets.

This role is a fantastic opportunity for a motivated and proactive individual with good organisational and communication skills who can multitask in a team‑based environment.

Key Responsibilities

• Maintaining financial integrity and good corporate governance
• Financial and project cost management
• Develop and deploy KPI’s through a collaborative approach
• Prepare year‑end Statutory Accounts for audit
• Supervision of the company accounts and robust controls and reconciliations
• Assist with the development of the Companies’ Business plan
• Lead and implement the adoption of the upgraded SAGE accounting system to SAGE 200
• Preparation of budgets, forecasts, and cash flow analysis & monitoring
• Oversee and manage the business’s ITC infrastructure
• Managing and developing the existing finance personnel
• Conversant with all Corporate taxes (including R&D claim process)
• Conversant with company secretarial processes
• Review of commercial contracts – as required
• Identify opportunities to enhance profitability
• Implement cost/value management initiatives in each division
• Help develop and maintain a pricing matrix for new sales opportunities
• Preparation of the monthly management accounts
• Create systematic profitability analysis by division and project
• Drive efficiencies in the reporting process
• Ad‑value by bringing in fresh ideas, innovation and best practice from previous experience

Qualifications

• Qualified Accountant – CIMA, ACA or ACCA
• Clear communicator with all business stakeholders
• Strong management and cost accounting skills
• Ensure all financial reporting of business is completed, accurate and in a timely manner
• Experience gained within a SME / Private Business ideally £15‑£50m T/O
• A hands‑on approach, comfortable with operating as part of a small finance team of 3‑4 staff
• Ability to prioritise and manage workload
• Able to work independently, proactive and self‑motivated

What’s important to us

• Live Our values – Excellence, Teamwork, Professionalism, Pride, Commitment and Fun
• Communication and collaboration
• Organisation of resources
• Be proactive and always plan ahead

Seniority level

Director

Employment type

Full‑time

Job function

Finance and Sales