Head of Finance

Page Executive; City of London; On-site; GBP 80,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading company in the UK's high-speed railway sector seeks a Head of Finance to oversee financial governance and reporting. This pivotal role involves leading a team, engaging with stakeholders, and ensuring the integrity of financial operations as the company embarks on a significant growth journey.

Benefits

Competitive salary

Bonus scheme 17.5%

28 days holiday plus bank holidays

Employee Assistance Programme

Mental Health & Wellbeing support

Life Insurance

Pension Scheme with employer contributions

Private Medical Insurance via BUPA

Cycle to work scheme

St Pancras discount card

Qualifications

• Professional accounting qualification required.
• Extensive experience in audit and financial governance.
• Proven leadership experience in finance teams.

Responsibilities

• Ownership of financial governance and audit processes.
• Lead a team of 6 in financial accounting matters.
• Engage with stakeholders including auditors and HMRC.

Skills

Leadership

Stakeholder Engagement

Financial Governance

Audit Processes

Strategic Thinking

Emotional Intelligence

Education

Professional Accounting Qualification (ACA, ACCA, CIMA or equivalent)

Job description

• Join our client at a pivotal time of industry-wide transformation.
• Reporting into the CFO

About Our Client

Our client, London St. Pancras Highspeed, owns and operates the UK's only high-speed railway and the stations along the route - St. Pancras International, Stratford International, Ebbsfleet International and Ashford International - connecting London to some of Europe's most exciting cities.

London St Pancras High Speed has very clear growth ambitions. Its strategy is to drive growth on the HS1 infrastructure and encourage modal shift towards rail travel, with faster, greener and more comfortable travel.

They have an incredible opportunity to grow the train paths on the line, with not only the 2 current Train Operators planning to grow, but also with several prospective Train Operators who have announced their intention to launch a high-speed service between London and the continent as early as 2029

Job Description

As a member of the Senior Leadership Team, you will take ownership of financial governance, audit processes, internal and external financial reporting and control, technical accounting as well lead on projects to create value for the company, playing a crucial role in ensuring the integrity and success of their business.

The role is reporting directly to the CFO and is in charge of a team of 6. This is a hands up role in an ambitious company with a significant growth agenda and a complex, fully develop balance sheet. This role is responsible for all financial accounting matters, protecting the company while getting ready for a transformational growth. With the support of the senior finance business partner, this role is also key to maximising the opportunity within asset management and stations and traction electricity.

Internally, you will be working very closely with the CFO, the treasurer and the Head of FP&A, as well as the rest of the Senior Management Team and Executive Leadership Team. You will attend the Audit Committee, as well as the Board when relevant. Externally, you will engage with numerous stakeholders, including auditors, HMRC, financial advisors, the DfT, main suppliers and the train operators.

The Successful Applicant

To thrive in this role, you will bring:

• A professional accounting qualification (ACA, ACCA, CIMA, or equivalent)
• Extensive experience in audit processes, financial governance, and tax advisory management in a similarly complex group of companies.
• Expertise in financial instruments and large-scale balance sheet management is a must.
• Proven leadership experience, with a track record of mentoring and developing talented and diverse finance teams. Low ego, leads by example and operated with unquestionable integrity.
• Strong emotional intelligence, enabling effective stakeholder engagement and team leadership. Is a high and positive energy within the team.
• Self-starter and drive for result, ensuring the finance team delivers and meet tight deadlines, drives efficiency, streamlines processes and is able to bring the best out of the team.
• Experience in rail or infrastructure is not a requirement, but the successful candidate will show an interest in our business and what we are trying to achieve. We care about making journeys better and bringing people together in a way that gives them more time and is more sustainable for the environment and we would like our new Head of Finance to want to be a part of this.
• Excellent communication and strategic thinking skills, with the ability to influence senior stakeholders.

What's on Offer

• Competitive salary.
• Bonus scheme 17.5%, target driven.
• A generous holiday entitlement of 28 days plus bank holidays with the ability to purchase an additional 3 days.
• Employee Assistance Programme (EAP) - confidential support 24/7 at times of need.
• Mental Health & Wellbeing - from virtual GP appointments to menopause and mental health support, you can rest assured that your wellbeing is their priority.
• Life Insurance - five times your salary.
• Pension Scheme - employer contributions start at 8% and capped at 12%, the more you contribute the more they will.
• Group Income Protection.
• Private Medical Insurance via BUPA - cover for employee and family.
• BUPA rewards - discounted gym membership.
• Health Shield cash plan.
• St Pancras discount card - for you to enjoy discounts with participating retailers from coffee, to food to a little retail therapy.
• Enhanced maternity and paternity pay - a little extra to help you spend quality time with your little ones.
• Cycle to work scheme.