Finance Director

Salary: Dependent on experience

Annual Leave entitlement: 25 days (plus 10 bank holidays)

Working hours: Full time – Permanent (Flexible arrangements, including condensed or compressed hours, may be considered)

Location: Ratho, Edinburgh / Hybrid-working

Reporting to: The Finance Director will report to the Chief Executive

Closing date for applications: Friday 7^th of February 2025

Please send CV and covering letter to: Careers@foodanddrink.scot with the title of the job you are applying for in the subject line.

First stage interviews for this role will be held in person on Monday 17^th of February 2025, with second stage interviews held on Monday 3^rd of March 2025.

JOB SUMMARY

To support the ongoing growth of the organisation, to ensure that as we grow we remain effective, efficient and compliant and to represent the financial function at the most senior level in the business. Scotland Food & Drink is seeking an experienced Finance Director.

This is an exciting opportunity to join the business and play a key role in the continued success of an expanding and critical part of the organisation and will be a key appointment, joining our Senior Management Team.

Scotland Food & Drink currently implement a hybrid working policy with a mixture of days in the Head office in Ratho and working from home.

ABOUT THE ROLE

• Take ownership of and be accountable for all financial and business management matters for the organisation
• Develop and deliver the business’s strategic finance plan, including approach to treasury management, establishing best practices and investigating, diagnosing and proposing solutions where appropriate
• Preparation and interpretation of management accounts.
• Take a lead role in the business’s Finance and Audit Committee and attending Board meetings as required.
• Undertake a review of financial processes, procedures and systems, implementing recommendations to ensure optimum efficiency.
• Undertake management of the business’s IT provision, ensuring adequate resources to ensure systemic efficiency, security and compliance (note that this involves line management of IT staff and significant ICT knowledge is not a role requirement).
• Ensure appropriate levels of delegated authority are established and that compliance with these levels is maintained.
• Manage regulatory financial requirements such as audits and statutory accounting.
• Develop and own our business performance reporting, with ownership of business operations such as process improvement, business planning and facilities management.
• Represent the business in financial matters with key stakeholders, such as Scottish Government, Enterprise Agencies and regulators. This aspect of the role may include work with or chairing internal or external working groups, committees or boards.
• Management and development of a small team (size and roles tbc), appraising staff skills requirements and ensuring the provision of appropriate training and personal development.

ABOUT YOU

• Fully qualified accountant with, ideally, at least 5 years' post-qualification experience.
• Experience of working within or alongside public sector advantageous.
• Experience of preparing statutory accounts for not-for-profit organisations preferred.
• Experience of financial systems and process design essential.
• Experience of risk management and review essential.
• Experience of systems and, processes appraisal and improvement.
• Ensure adherence to corporate governance standards, regulatory requirements, and internal control frameworks.
• Collaborative team player with exemplary interpersonal and influencing skills.
• Highly motivated individual with the ability to work at pace with significant autonomy at the most senior level.
• An ability to forge strong internal relationships with fellow senior colleagues, with those you directly manage and the wider staff body.
• An ability to drive change in organisational processes and culture which is embraced by colleagues.
• Attention to detail and the ability to develop smart operating structures which allow the staff team to deliver to their optimum.
• An instinct for reputation management and ability to multi-task at speed in a busy environment.
• Good understanding of and an affinity towards the Scottish food & drink sector would be welcome but not prerequisite.

Please note that the responsibilities and tasks listed are not exhaustive and may be subject to change or additional duties as required by the organisation. The role may evolve over time based on business needs and priorities.

WORKING AT SCOTLAND FOOD & DRINK

Scotland Food & Drink is the industry leadership organisation tasked with driving responsible growth for the sector. We are also a membership organisation with over 400+ companies at our heart.

Working with us gives you an opportunity to be part of one of the most exciting and innovative industries in Scotland.

Our culture and our people are core to delivering our diverse and collaborative work. We have work/life balance as one of our core values and we have a benefits package offering a pension scheme, 35 days holiday (plus your birthday), enhanced MAT and Paternity benefits, a flexible working policy and a cycle-to-work scheme. As well as opportunities to socialise and attend industry events and dinners.

We believe working with us should be a hugely positive experience, our core values are:

Ambition - we are passionate about making a difference.

Collaboration - our impact comes from harnessing the individual strengths of    our people and our partners, forging a strong team spirit. We have each other's backs

Respect - we all set the tone, taking personal responsibility for our actions,

embracing empathy and generating a world class external reputation.

Balance - work is important, life is everything. Success is doing both well.

We are also an equal opportunity employer, and we recognise that diversity and inclusion is a journey, and we are committed to learning, listening and evolving to become more diverse, equitable and inclusive.