<p><strong>Northampton</strong><br /><strong>Exclusive Retained Search - Robert Half - Head of Finance</strong></p><p>Robert Half are proud to be exclusively retained by <strong>Miswa Chemicals Limited</strong> to appoint a <strong>Head of Finance</strong> based in <strong>Northampton</strong> in the <strong>office full time</strong>.</p><p>This role represents an opportunity for a <strong>high-performing finance leader</strong> to play a central role in scaling an ambitious manufacturing business while working closely with the owners and progressing toward a <strong>Finance Director position</strong> as the company continues its growth trajectory.</p><p><strong>The Opportunity</strong></p><p>Miswa is a fast-growing, independent British manufacturer of transportation and industrial chemical solutions with a clear ambition to scale to £50m+ revenue by FY29 while maintaining disciplined, profitable growth.</p><p>The business is seeking a high-calibre Head of Finance to manage a small finance function with a huge opportunity to expand, with aspirations toward a future Finance Director role, to lead financial strategy through its next phase of expansion. This role will suit an experienced finance leader from an SME or entrepreneurial environment who is commercially sharp, operationally grounded and comfortable partnering closely with owner-directors.</p><p> </p><p><strong>Role Purpose</strong></p><p>The Head of Finance will provide strategic and operational financial leadership, ensuring the business maintains strong financial discipline while scaling. The role will focus on delivering:</p><p><br />* Profitable and sustainable growth<br />* Rigorous financial control<br />* Strong cash flow management<br />* Robust governance and reporting<br />* Optimised funding structures<br />* Strategic readiness for future acquisitions</p><p>Working closely with the owners, the Head of Finance will strengthen profitability, build financial resilience and elevate the finance function to support long-term growth.</p><p><strong>Strategic Financial Leadership</strong><br />* Partner with the Managing Director and Board on long-term financial strategy<br />* Deliver EBITDA and cash targets aligned to the <strong>£50m growth plan</strong><br />* Lead disciplined capital allocation and investment decisions</p><p><strong>Profitability & Margin Management</strong><br />* Deliver SKU, customer and channel margin analysis<br />* Identify margin erosion and implement corrective action<br />* Support pricing governance and commercial decisions<br />* Drive continuous improvement in gross and net profitability</p><p><strong>Cash Flow & Reserve Development</strong><br />* Implement rolling <strong>6-12 month cash flow forecasting</strong><br />* Optimise working capital across inventory, receivables and payables<br />* Build and protect a meaningful cash reserve<br />* Develop structured plans to build an acquisition reserve</p><p><strong>Funding & Banking Oversight</strong><br />* Manage and optimise <strong>invoice discounting facilities</strong><br />* Oversee asset finance and commercial loan arrangements<br />* Support renegotiation of banking facilities and cost of capital<br />* Maintain strong relationships with lenders and advisors</p><p><strong>Capex & Investment Planning</strong><br />* Introduce structured ROI and payback analysis<br />* Evaluate capital expenditure proposals<br />* Ensure investment decisions align with strategic priorities</p><p><strong>Budgeting & Financial Governance</strong><br />* Lead annual budgeting and forecasting processes<br />* Oversee delivery of clear monthly management accounts and board packs<br />* Implement financial dashboards aligned to key KPIs</p><p><strong>Operational Financial Control</strong><br />* Strengthen cost discipline across operations and production<br />* Link operational metrics to financial performance<br />* Drive financial accountability throughout the organisation</p><p><strong>Finance Team Leadership</strong><br />* Lead, develop and mentor the finance team<br />* Conduct structured performance reviews<br />* Improve reporting accuracy, systems and processes<br />* Oversee payroll governance and compliance</p><p><strong>FX & Risk Management</strong><br />* Develop and manage a structured foreign exchange strategy<br />* Protect margins through forward planning and hedging where appropriate<br />* Identify and manage financial risk proactively</p><p><strong>Candidate Profile</strong></p><p>We are seeking a commercially minded <strong>Head of Finance / aspiring Finance Director</strong> with:<br />* <strong>ACCA qualified (or equivalent)</strong><br />* Proven success within an <strong>SME growth environment</strong><br />* Strong experience driving <strong>profitability and margin improvement</strong><br />* Advanced <strong>working capital and cash flow management expertise</strong><br />* Experience managing <strong>invoice discounting, asset finance and loan structures</strong><br />* Track record renegotiating banking facilities<br />* Experience preparing businesses for <strong>acquisition or investment</strong><br />* Ability to operate effectively at <strong>Board level</strong><br />* Hands-on style with strong operational understanding<br />* High integrity and discretion when working with founders/owners</p><p> </p><p> </p><p>Robert Half Ltd acts as an employment business for temporary positions and an employment agency for permanent positions. Robert Half is committed to diversity, equity and inclusion. Suitable candidates with equivalent qualifications and more or less experience can apply. Rates of pay and salary ranges are dependent upon your experience, qualifications and training. If you wish to apply, please read our Privacy Notice describing how we may process, disclose and store your personal data: roberthalf.com/gb/en/privacy-notice.</p><img src="https://counter.adcourier.com/YmhhdmluLmtvdGVjaGEuMjQxODEuMTA5MjNAcmhpLmFwbGl0cmFrLmNvbQ.gif">
<p>Robert Half have partnered with Great Tew Estate to recruit their new Financial Controller.</p><p>This is a truly unique opportunity to join one of Oxfordshire's most distinctive and diversified private estate businesses offering a rare blend of property investment, natural resources, rural enterprise and long-term stewardship, all under private ownership.</p><p>This is not a typical Financial Controller role. It offers exposure to a multi-entity, asset-rich group spanning quarrying, property investment, grain processing and construction, with genuine breadth, autonomy and strategic influence.</p><p>Reporting directly into the Finance Director, you will support an experienced finance team in a highly visible number two role, freeing up the FD to focus on strategic development across the estate.</p><p><strong>Location:</strong> Onsite, just outside the beautiful Cotswold village of Great Tew, near Chipping Norton<br /> <strong>Salary:</strong> £70,000 - £80,000</p><p><strong>The Role</strong></p><p>As Financial Controller, you will take ownership of financial reporting across a complex group structure comprising 19 entities (18 Ltd companies and 1 LLP).</p><p>This is a technically strong, hands-on role combining statutory reporting, management oversight and strategic input.</p><p><strong>Key Responsibilities</strong></p><p><strong>Statutory & Technical Reporting</strong></p><ul><li>Drafting statutory accounts for 19 entities and managing the full compliance cycle</li><li>Coordinating with external tax advisors</li><li>Managing land acquisitions/disposals and investment property accounting</li><li>Overseeing reporting currently prepared in CaseWare (with scope for system evolution)</li></ul><p><strong>Management Reporting & Team Leadership</strong></p><ul><li>Reviewing monthly management accounts</li><li>Supporting quarterly external reporting requirements</li><li>Managing a team of two Senior Management Accountants and one Junior Management Accountant</li><li>Coordinating VAT processes including partial exemption and technical returns</li></ul><p><strong>Cashflow & Strategic Support</strong></p><ul><li>Managing and overseeing master cashflow across 23 entities</li><li>Working closely with the FD in a dynamic, owner-led environment</li><li>Providing input on new projects, disposals and corporate structuring</li><li>Ensuring smooth delivery of financial information across a diversified group</li></ul><p> </p><p><strong>Why This Opportunity Is Unique</strong></p><ul><li>Exposure to a highly diversified private group structure</li><li>Broad remit spanning compliance, reporting and strategy</li><li>Significant autonomy and visibility</li><li>Stable team and long-standing finance leadership</li><li>A rare chance to work within a prestigious Cotswold estate setting</li><li>Long-term opportunity in a private, asset-backed organisation</li></ul><p> </p><p><strong>Your Profile</strong></p><p>We are seeking an ACA or ACCA qualified accountant with:</p><ul><li>Strong statutory accounts experience (multi-entity exposure advantageous)</li><li>A background in practice or complex owner-managed groups</li><li>Experience within property, land-heavy, construction, or asset-intensive businesses desirable</li><li>Confidence overseeing management accounts and leading a small team</li><li>Strong technical capability including VAT and group structures</li><li>The ability to operate in a dynamic, entrepreneurial environment</li></ul><p>This role would suit an individual looking for genuine breadth, autonomy and exposure to strategic decision-making within a long-established private estate.</p><p> </p><p>Robert Half Ltd acts as an employment business for temporary positions and an employment agency for permanent positions. Robert Half is committed to diversity, equity and inclusion. Suitable candidates with equivalent qualifications and more or less experience can apply. Rates of pay and salary ranges are dependent upon your experience, qualifications and training. If you wish to apply, please read our Privacy Notice describing how we may process, disclose and store your personal data: roberthalf.com/gb/en/privacy-notice.</p><img src="https://counter.adcourier.com/Y2hhcmxpZS5odW50ZS4xNjgyNy4xMDkyM0ByaGkuYXBsaXRyYWsuY29t.gif">
<p></p><p><strong>Location:</strong> Derby<br /> <strong>Hours:</strong> Full-time, Monday to Friday<br /> <strong>Reporting to:</strong> CEO</p><h2><strong>Role Purpose</strong></h2><p>The Head of Finance will lead the financial management, reporting and commercial analysis for the organisation. This role ensures the business has robust financial controls, accurate reporting, and forward‑looking insight that supports decision‑making, growth and operational performance.</p><p>This is both a strategic and hands‑on position, responsible for overseeing day‑to‑day finance operations while contributing directly to long‑term planning and business leadership.</p><h2><strong>Key Responsibilities</strong></h2><h3><strong>Financial Management & Controls</strong></h3><ul><li>Lead the finance function, ensuring accurate and timely month‑end and year‑end close</li><li>Maintain strong financial controls, policies and processes</li><li>Oversee balance sheet integrity, reconciliations and audit readiness</li><li>Manage treasury, cash flow, banking relationships and working capital cycles</li></ul><h3><strong>Management Reporting</strong></h3><ul><li>Prepare monthly management accounts with insightful analysis</li><li>Present financial performance to senior leadership</li><li>Develop dashboards, KPIs and performance metrics</li><li>Ensure reporting is consistent, timely and decision‑ready</li></ul><h3><strong>Budgeting, Forecasting & Planning</strong></h3><ul><li>Lead annual budgeting and quarterly reforecasting</li><li>Partner with operational leaders to build robust financial plans</li><li>Provide variance analysis with clear commercial explanations</li><li>Identify risks, opportunities and financial impacts</li></ul><h3><strong>Commercial Finance & Business Partnering</strong></h3><ul><li>Support pricing, margin analysis, cost reviews and investment decisions</li><li>Work with operations, sales and projects to improve financial outcomes</li><li>Provide financial modelling for business cases, capital spend or new initiatives</li></ul><h3><strong>Cash Flow & Working Capital</strong></h3><ul><li>Own cash flow forecasting and liquidity management</li><li>Drive improvements in debtor management, inventory and supplier terms</li><li>Monitor cash conversion and support funding requirements where needed</li></ul><h3><strong>Systems, Processes & Continuous Improvement</strong></h3><ul><li>Improve finance systems and reporting tools</li><li>Strengthen processes to support scalability and growth</li><li>Lead upgrades or transitions to new accounting/ERP systems</li><li>Drive automation and efficiency across finance operations</li></ul><h3> </h3><h2><strong>Candidate Profile</strong></h2><h3><strong>Qualifications</strong></h3><ul><li>Fully qualified accountant (ACCA / CIMA / ACA or equivalent)</li><li>Strong technical grounding in financial and management accounting</li></ul><h3><strong>Experience</strong></h3><ul><li>Proven experience in a senior finance role, ideally Head of Finance or Finance Manager ready to step up</li><li>Background within SME environments </li><li>Experience in manufacturing and engineering</li><li>Demonstrable ability to lead a finance function end‑to‑end</li></ul><h3> </h3><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><p> </p><p>Robert Half Ltd acts as an employment business for temporary positions and an employment agency for permanent positions. Robert Half is committed to diversity, equity and inclusion. Suitable candidates with equivalent qualifications and more or less experience can apply. Rates of pay and salary ranges are dependent upon your experience, qualifications and training. If you wish to apply, please read our Privacy Notice describing how we may process, disclose and store your personal data: roberthalf.com/gb/en/privacy-notice.</p><img src="https://counter.adcourier.com/SmF5LkJob2phbmkuNzIwMzIuMTA5MjNAcmhpLmFwbGl0cmFrLmNvbQ.gif">
<p>Robert Half have partnered with a long standing client to support the continued growth of their Software Development function. <br /><br />This is a great role for a candidate who truly values work-life balance and wants to work in an established team with genuine investment in 2026.</p><p><strong>Essential requirements:</strong> </p><ul><li>Hands-on experience working in a DevOps environment, utilizing infrastructure as code (IaC), automation, and CI/CD pipelines. </li><li>Solid understanding of software development principles, including design patterns, architecture, and methodologies - particularly in middleware and service integration. </li><li>Proficiency in writing and debugging code using TypeScript (Node.js) and Python. </li><li>Experience with monitoring, logging, and observability tools such as Grafana, Prometheus, and AWS CloudWatch. </li><li>Proficiency with Infrastructure as Code (IaC) tools, particularly AWS CDK and Terraform. </li><li>Exposure to unit testing, integration testing, and automated test frameworks. </li><li>Practical experience with Git-based workflows and operational methodologies such as GitOps. </li><li>Proven experience designing and developing robust, scalable serverless applications in the cloud. </li><li>Deep working knowledge of relevant AWS services; primarily Lambda, API Gateway, SNS/SQS, S3, DynamoDB, IAM and CloudWatch. </li><li>Experience integrating with managed databases such as DynamoDB, Amazon RDS (MySQL/PostgreSQL), or similar.</li><li>Practical knowledge of event-driven architectures, leveraging services such as SNS, SQS, and Lambda triggers </li></ul><p><strong>Desirable requirements:</strong> </p><ul><li>Experience working within a security framework such as PCI DSS, Cyber Essentials, and ISO 27001, ensuring compliance and security best practices are met. </li><li>Experience working with agile methodologies, collaborating in sprints, managing releases, and delivering incremental, high-quality software. </li><li>Hands-on experience with Azure services, including Resource Groups, Service Bus, Azure Logic Apps, Function Apps, API Management. </li></ul><p><strong>Package/Logistics:</strong></p><ul><li>£50,000 - £60,000 DOE </li><li>Fully remote working </li><li>30 days annual leave + bank holidays </li><li>Private Medical Insurance</li><li>7% employer pension contributions </li></ul><p>Robert Half Ltd acts as an employment business for temporary positions and an employment agency for permanent positions. Robert Half is committed to diversity, equity and inclusion. Suitable candidates with equivalent qualifications and more or less experience can apply. Rates of pay and salary ranges are dependent upon your experience, qualifications and training. If you wish to apply, please read our Privacy Notice describing how we may process, disclose and store your personal data: roberthalf.com/gb/en/privacy-notice.</p><img src="https://counter.adcourier.com/Um9yeS5LaXJrbWFuLjc0NTIxLjEwOTIzQHJoaS5hcGxpdHJhay5jb20.gif">
<p><strong>Robert Half</strong> are working with a private equity-backed manufacturing group in Stroud to recruit an <strong>Interim Financial Accounting Support</strong> professional for a key 2-3month assignment. This role will play a pivotal part in supporting audit delivery, group consolidations, and reporting deadlines during a period of change and integration.</p><p><strong>Interim Group Financial Accountant (2-Month Contract)</strong></p><p><strong>Location:</strong> Stroud - 3 days on-site<br /> <strong>Day Rate:</strong> Competitive<br /> <strong>Start:</strong> Immediate</p><p><strong>The Role</strong></p><p>This is a <strong>hands-on, delivery-focused role</strong> supporting the Group Finance function during a key reporting and audit cycle. You will play a central role in ensuring deadlines are met and processes run smoothly across multiple entities.</p><p>Key responsibilities include:</p><ul><li>Supporting and coordinating the <strong>year-end audit process</strong></li><li>Acting as a key liaison with external auditors) on <strong>group consolidated accounts</strong></li><li>Assisting with delivery of accounts aligned to a <strong>banking deadline (mid-May)</strong></li><li>Performing <strong>month-end group consolidations</strong></li><li>Producing and maintaining <strong>weekly cashflow forecasts</strong></li><li>Supporting the preparation of <strong>subsidiary statutory accounts</strong></li><li>Assisting with <strong>board packs and group reporting</strong></li><li>Proactively <strong>coordinating and chasing stakeholders</strong> across the business</li></ul><p><strong>About the Business</strong></p><p>Our client is a <strong>private equity-backed manufacturing group (~£150m turnover)</strong> operating within an engineering-led environment.</p><p>Following recent investment, the business is undergoing <strong>group consolidation and structural alignment</strong>, bringing multiple entities together into a more integrated model. This has created a <strong>fast-paced and evolving finance function</strong>, with a strong focus on audit, reporting, and delivery against tight deadlines.</p><p><strong>About You</strong></p><p>We are looking for a candidate who can <strong>hit the ground running</strong> and operate effectively in a fast-paced, deadline-driven environment.</p><p>You will ideally have:</p><ul><li>Strong experience in <strong>group finance, consolidations, and audit coordination</strong></li><li>A hands-on approach with the ability to <strong>deliver under tight timelines</strong></li><li>Experience working in <strong>multi-entity or PE-backed environments</strong></li><li>Confidence liaising with <strong>external auditors and senior stakeholders</strong></li><li>Strong organisational skills with the ability to <strong>drive processes and chase deliverables</strong></li><li>ACA / ACCA / CIMA qualification (or equivalent experience)</li></ul><p><strong>Additional Information</strong></p><ul><li>No team management responsibility</li><li>Exposure to a <strong>manufacturing / engineering environment</strong></li><li>High-impact role with immediate visibility across the Group Finance function</li></ul><p> </p><p>Robert Half Ltd acts as an employment business for temporary positions and an employment agency for permanent positions. Robert Half is committed to diversity, equity and inclusion. Suitable candidates with equivalent qualifications and more or less experience can apply. Rates of pay and salary ranges are dependent upon your experience, qualifications and training. If you wish to apply, please read our Privacy Notice describing how we may process, disclose and store your personal data: roberthalf.com/gb/en/privacy-notice.</p><img src="https://counter.adcourier.com/ZGFuaWVsLndpbGxpYW1zLjIxOTY5LjEwOTIzQHJoaS5hcGxpdHJhay5jb20.gif">
