Senior Financial Controller & Founders Associate

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About the Company:

Over the past few years, Code First Girls has become the largest provider of free coding courses for women and non-binary individuals. We've already provided more than 200,000 free learning opportunities and, by working with our company partners, we're getting more women into tech roles, boosting diversity and social mobility in the tech sector. Excitingly, we are also already operating our programme in a number of international regions, and have plans to expand on this in the near future.

About the Role:

We are looking for a Senior Financial Controller & Founders Associate to join our senior leadership team and contribute to the financial management and strategic direction of the company. This is a high-impact role that will be instrumental in shaping the future of our business.

Job Overview:

You will work hand-in-hand with the CEO / Founder, using your background in finance to drive strategic decision-making as Founders Associate, whilst taking ownership of the company's financial operations - promoting business growth with an entrepreneurial mindset. You'll collaborate with senior leadership to set clear goals and deliver actionable insights that help shape the company's direction. You will be a trusted advisor to the CEO for a variety of tasks, projects and general company operations, responsible for presenting clear and reliable financial information to non-financial stakeholders at board meetings to aid in company decision making. You will guide teams across the business to ensure alignment with overarching company goals. This is an ideal opportunity for someone who thrives in a fast-paced dynamic environment, is results-driven, and enjoys leading from the front in a high-growth company.

• Financial Leadership: Oversee the preparation and management of monthly, quarterly, and annual reporting, ensuring accuracy and compliance with applicable regulations and accounting standards.
• Strategic Planning: Collaborate closely with senior leadership to drive strategic planning and goal setting. You will think proactively to identify areas for growth and improvement, while shaping financial strategies to meet the company's ambitious goals.
• Board Reporting and Presenting: Present reliable, clear, and concise financial information to the board of directors and other key stakeholders, ensuring that complex financial data is translated into actionable insights for non-financial leaders.
• Growth Strategy: Work closely with senior leadership and the CEO to develop and execute financial strategies that support the company's scale-up objectives. Provide data-driven recommendations that promote sustainable, profitable growth.
• Budgeting & Forecasting: Develop and manage comprehensive budgets, forecasts, and long-term financial plans. Provide variance analysis and recommend adjustments to ensure financial goals are met.
• Process & Reporting Improvements: Bring a strong desire for continuous improvement by optimising financial processes, reporting methods, and internal controls. Drive efficiency and effectiveness across the finance function.
• Cash Flow & Treasury Management: Monitor and manage cash flow, ensuring that the company has the tools / models to assess liquidity to support its growth ambitions while maintaining a strong financial position.
• Compliance & Reporting Requirements: Ensure compliance with external reporting requirements (e.g., regulatory filings, tax filings, audit requirements) and stay up-to-date with changes in regulations and industry best practices.
• Internal Controls & Compliance: Establish and maintain robust internal controls and ensure that financial operations are compliant with both company policies and legal/regulatory requirements.
• Team Leadership & Development: As a senior leader, you'll be in a position to shape and grow the finance team. You'll be responsible for mentoring, developing, and empowering team members to drive high performance.
• Cross-Department Collaboration: Work closely with other departments, guiding them with financial insights and support as company strategy is executed from the top down. Ensure that financial data is integrated seamlessly into all business functions.
• Ad-hoc Projects: Take the lead in ad-hoc projects including facilitating new product launches, or other strategic initiatives.

Key Requirements:

• Experience: 5-7+ years of experience in financial control, accounting, or finance management, ideally within a scale-up or high-growth B2B business. Experience in developing strategy and supporting business growth at a senior level is essential.
• Qualifications: ACA, ACCA, CIMA, or equivalent accounting qualification.
• Strategic Thinking: Strong business acumen and ability to think strategically. Must be able to develop and execute financial strategies that align with and drive the company's overall business goals.
• Dynamic & Adaptable: The ideal candidate will be comfortable in a fast-paced, constantly evolving environment. You must be adaptable, proactive, and able to manage competing priorities with a high degree of flexibility.
• Financial Reporting & Analysis: Experience in creating reliable forecasting tools for company growth and cash management, to help ensure going concern and enable the board to make timely decisions, as well as presenting financial information in a way that is clear, concise, and actionable for non-financial audiences, especially at the board level.
• Process Improvement: Demonstrated passion for continuous improvement in financial processes, reporting systems, and internal controls to enhance operational efficiency.
• External Reporting Knowledge: A strong understanding of external company reporting requirements, such as tax regulations, FRS102 and UK GAAP standards, and compliance matters. Experience with CRM's like Hubspot is highly valued.
• Leadership: Proven leadership skills with experience managing and mentoring teams. A hands-on leader who will actively engage with and support team members.
• Communication Skills: Excellent interpersonal and communication skills, with the ability to influence and advise senior leaders and cross-functional teams.
• Attention to Detail: A keen eye for detail with an unwavering commitment to accuracy in financial reporting and analysis.

What We Offer:

• Employee share options demonstrative of your leadership potential
• Annual leave: 20 days + 7 days over Christmas + 1 Special Occasion Day (+ 8 bank holiday days). Optional: Buy or sell 3 days of holiday, 1 Giving back day, option to work 2 days over the festive period and get additional days back.
• Parental leave: 16 weeks full pay for the primary caregiver, 6 weeks full pay for the secondary caregiver. Phased return to the office for the primary caregiver (work for 4 days at full pay for 2 months).
• Flexible working: Our working hours are 9.30am - 5.30pm Opportunity to work from abroad for up to 90 days a year.
• Free CFGdegree education: After working at CFG for 6 months you are able to take our 16 week CFGdegree, in areas like Data, Python, and AI worth £10,000 of education
• 6% matched pension: CFG will match your pension contribution up to 6%
• Length of service: After 3 years you get an extra day of annual leave, 2 extra days at 4 years and 3 extra days at 5 years (and 5+ years). After 5 years a 2-month sabbatical, first month paid, 2nd month unpaid is available.
• Mental health support: Free access to Spill, which offers employees free workplace support therapy sessions.