Finance Director (14 Month FTC - Maternity Cover)

The Finance Director is a key member of the regional management team (BUMT), acting in a business-wide role to proactively support the Managing Director (MD) to maximise delivered value. The Finance Director will have a deep level of operational knowledge, to enable critical review and challenge of key decisions and information across all functional disciplines within the business unit (BU).

The role leads the finance function and financial capability for the region, providing business and performance insight and challenge. The Finance Director is a steward for the business with an eye to promoting governance in the BU, and provides a business and financial control ethos. However, importantly, the Finance Director is also a catalyst for accelerating value optimization in the business, on behalf of the shareholders.

The Finance Director reports to the Regional Managing Director, with a dotted reporting line to the Group Finance Director. The role acts alongside other Finance Directors in the division, developing innovative thinking and solutions for the division and the wider finance function. The Finance Director will work with the Divisional Finance Director (DFD), communicating regularly, and providing accurate and timely information for use by the Divisional Chairman and Group Finance. The Finance Director role covers four broad elements:

Catalysing optimal business performance 

• Review and challenge new business from key operational and performance perspectives, in conjunction with the BUMT. Provide financial oversight and final recommendation which considers all key business aspects, to the MD. 
• Lead the business planning process. Review and challenge operational assumptions with the BUMT before critical decisions are taken, and for inclusion in plans and forecasts. Provide accurate and insightful financial information to support the creation and articulation of business plans. 
• Challenge and encourage the business unit to optimise value from the landbank, delivering the anticipated financial performance, but maintaining the Group’s customer centric ethos. 

A businesses strategist 

• Together with the MD, lead the development of the BU business strategy, in conjunction with the wider BUMT. Support the strategy with financial analysis. 

A financial steward 

• Work to protect the assets of the business, ensure compliance with financial regulation and ensure appropriate care and diligence is taken in the corporate governance of the region. 
• Provide critical oversight of the core finance outputs and processes operated by the Finance Manager and team. 
• Provide an overview to ensure robust financial processes and controls are consistently maintained. 
• Work with the BUMT to actively identify business risks, driving possible mitigating solutions well in advance of potential risks crystallising. Horizon-scan for potential opportunities for the business to deliver, to help shape the future of the business. 

An expert finance operator 

• Create a team of suitably qualified and experienced finance staff and develop both technical and soft skills in the team. 
• Drive the attraction and retention of key talent within the Finance function through a positive and engaging approach.

What you will do:

BU Leadership responsibilities 

• Partnering the MD on all new business decisions, including land acquisitions. Review all aspects of the scheme (e.g. LPE) with the BUMT, critically assessing if the venture is the best use of capital, in line with strategy and the Taylor Wimpey ethos. 
• Sign off the financial models, having considered financing options and cash flows, timescales, tax implications and accounting implications. Write the final recommendation to the MD which considers all aspects of the deal, including technical, commercial, sales, as well as finance elements. 
• Obtain a true understanding of costs and risks for each site, drawing on knowledge from regular site visits. With this background, provide active review and challenge of the costs incurred to date/ cost to complete projections for each site (Cost Value Reconciliations (CVR) prepared by the Commercial team). Attend P&L meetings, and, challenge whether cost excesses/savings are expected and should be recognised. Look for trends in production differences, necessary fixes and expected cost changes. 
• Working with the Production and Sales Directors, ensure the sequence of site delivery considers the appropriate risk factors, but optimises site ROCE. 

Key finance accountabilities and responsibilities 

• Drive discussion at the BUMT board, by presenting analysis, insight and interpretation of performance against business plan. Draw out the operational deliverables needed to allow the business to meet targets and optimise value. 
• Specify both business performance and financial measures, aimed at monitoring the drivers of performance. Interpret data and identify trends, making recommendations that aim to deliver an improved result. Lead frequent BUMT discussions, incorporating whether action should be taken. 
• Lead a rigorous discussion with the BUMT board around site-specific and strategic risks and opportunities facing the business. 
• Lead the forecasting process for the business, through continuous engagement with the BUMT. Review the operational assumptions with the BUMT, ensuring decisions drive optimal business value and are realistic. 
• Key partner for the new site appraisal process providing financial oversight and challenge to assumptions made. Together with the BUMT, attend site visits to review progress promoting a positive approach with site managers. 
• Ad hoc analysis to support future performance, such as analysis of the returns from specific house types, or a deep dive into production costs/ quality by specific house types. 
• Review of landbank, giving frequent visibility and challenge to the BUMT of forecast gaps or delay in planning progression. 
• Provide oversight to ensure the timely and accurate reporting of monthly management information, budgets and forecasts, tax submissions and annual statutory accounts (as required), which are prepared by the Finance Manager. 
• Review cash forecasts before submission to the Group Treasury function, for accuracy and best use of the Group’s cash 
• resources. 
• Ensure accounting is in line with the Group accounting policies outlined in the finance manual. Maintain the financial control procedures outlined by the Operating Framework and Finance Manual and manage the Controls Self-Assessment certification. 
• Proactively promote awareness of corporate governance and directors’ responsibilities. 

Other 

• Direct line manager for the Finance Manager, supporting their development, learning and advancement. 
• Responsible for actively promoting HR policies, standards and procedures. Overall responsibility for payroll and personnel administration. 
• Maintain IT security standards and adherence to the Group’s Computer Guidelines. 
• Liaise with IT director regarding business IT requirements. 

What you will have:

• Qualified ACA, ACCA or CIMA
• Considerable post-qualified experience gained from both business finance/performance roles and accounting & financial control roles. 
• Experience must include: Financial accounting and leading month end close, building or operating in a control framework, evidence of responding to and working with external auditors, providing analysis, forecasting and planning, supporting and challenging businesses to make optimal operational and performance decisions.
• Experience may include: M&A activity, business risk management, external audit, systems implementations. 
• Experience of successfully leading and developing a team is essential.
• Financial support for business deals (e.g. new contracts, M&A etc) is preferred.

Individuals seeking employments at Taylor Wimpey should know that we foster a culture of inclusion and value diversity positively which creates a better workplace and delivers stronger outcomes. We commit to treating all our job applicants and employees fairly and with respect, irrespective of background, disability or any other protected characteristic. If you require any assistance with regards to reasonable adjustments during the application process, please do not hesitate to contact us.

Checks and eligibility to work: 

To be successful in this role you must be able to prove eligibility to work in the UK and hold a full UK drivers licence.   
 
If you are successful at interview and the Company considers making an offer of employment, you may be asked to give your consent to the following pre-employment check[s] being undertaken by our third-party provider, Experian (or any other appropriate third-party provider that the Company chooses to engage).   
 
The type of checks made will depend on the role in question but may include any or all the following:

• Criminal records (DBS);
• Credit reference
• DVLA 
• Relevant qualifications

The purpose of such checks will be to assess your suitability for the role.  If it subsequently transpires that you have given incorrect, false or misleading information, your application will not be taken further.

What we will offer you: 

Taylor Wimpey is a FTSE 100 business and one of the largest residential developers in the UK, building new homes and communities across England, Scotland and Wales. We are passionate about building new homes and communities with a focus on sustainability. 
 
Our people are important to us and we want to make sure that we reward and recognise all the great work that they do. Our employees enjoy many standard benefits including access to the Taylor Wimpey House purchase discount scheme, pension (including company contributions), quality health cover, share save schemes as well as many flexible benefits such as buying additional holiday days, retails discounts, free Bupa health assessments and so much more.  Our benefits work perfectly with our culture where you feel valued as a member of a successful team.   
We offer industry leading subsidised professional training and development, which support our employees to excel and fulfil their career and personal goals in a variety of opportunities and environments. This in turn drives a strong succession of high performing customer centric leaders, really putting customers at the heart of everything we do. We embrace diversity and look to develop our people in the skills and areas they are most interested in, leveraging the qualities and appreciate the unique competencies, skills and experiences that each person brings to the company.