Head of Finance - 6 month FTC

RM Education Limited; Abingdon; Hybrid; GBP 60,000 - 100,000; Full time

Job description

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Overview

Would you like to help enrich the lives of learners around the world?

At RM, we've been pioneers of education technology since 1973. We provide technology and resources to the education sector, supporting over 10 million students worldwide. We work with over 28,000 schools, nurseries, and education trusts in 115 countries to deliver customer-centric solutions that improve education outcomes.

What we do helps learners at all stages of their lives, from preschool to higher education and professional qualification; we partner with schools, examination boards, central governments and other professional institutions to enrich the lives of learners.

RM Group operates through three businesses: Technology (Managed Services, Software and Infrastructure for Schools), Assessment (Software and Services) and TTS (Educational Resources).

We are seeking an experienced and strategic Head of Finance to oversee and manage the financial operations of the company. As the leader of the finance department, you will be responsible for ensuring the financial health and integrity of the organisation by leading budgeting, forecasting, reporting, and financial analysis. This role requires a hands-on, detail-oriented leader who can think both tactically and strategically to support the company's growth and operational goals.

This role is hybrid, with a requirement to visit our office in Abingdon, Oxfordshire twice monthly.

Responsibilities

• Financial Strategy & Planning: Develop and execute the company's financial strategy in alignment with overall business goals. Provide strategic insights to the executive team on financial performance, market trends, and growth opportunities.
• Budgeting & Forecasting: Lead the annual budgeting process and quarterly financial forecasting, ensuring alignment with company objectives. Monitor and adjust financial plans as needed to meet evolving business conditions.
• Financial Reporting: Oversee the preparation of monthly, quarterly, and annual financial statements. Ensure compliance with accounting standards and regulatory requirements. Provide detailed analysis of financial performance, highlighting key insights and potential risks.
• Cash Flow & Working Capital Management: Manage the company's cash flow, liquidity, and working capital to ensure sufficient resources are available to meet operational and growth needs. Implement efficient cash management practices.
• Leadership & Team Development: Lead, mentor, and grow the finance team. Foster a collaborative, high-performance culture. Provide guidance on financial modelling, forecasting techniques, and analysis.
• Financial Compliance & Risk Management: Ensure all financial operations are following legal regulations and internal policies. Identify potential financial risks and work with other departments to mitigate them.
• Mergers & Acquisitions (M&A): Lead financial due diligence and support the M&A process, including valuations, integration, and strategic post-deal analysis.
• Stakeholder Communication: Communicate financial performance and insights to internal stakeholders and external partners (investors, auditors, regulatory bodies).
• Process Improvement: Continuously assess and improve financial processes and systems to increase efficiency and accuracy.

Qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree in finance, Accounting, Economics, or a related field; CPA, CFA, or MBA preferred.
• ACCA or CIMA Qualified.
• Strong experience in finance, with significant experience in a leadership role.
• Proven experience in financial management, budgeting, forecasting, and strategic planning.
• Strong knowledge of financial regulations, accounting principles (GAAP), and financial reporting standards.
• Advanced proficiency with financial software (e.g., ERP systems, Excel, financial modelling tools).
• Exceptional leadership, communication, and interpersonal skills with the ability to influence and collaborate across departments.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving abilities with a keen attention to detail.
• Experience with fundraising, investor relations, and financial due diligence processes is a plus.

Preferred Skills:

• Knowledge of international financial reporting and tax compliance, especially if the company operates globally.
• Experience of managing the company's cashflow forecasting.

Experience in scaling businesses or leading financial functions in high-growth environments.

What's in it for you?

At RM we have My Work Blend @RM which provides office-based colleagues with multi-location and hybrid working options. As well as your office base, you can spend a proportion of your time working at other locations that suit your role and your life, including home, other offices, customer sites, distribution centres or on the move. We encourage you to discuss arrangements for this role with your potential line manager during the recruitment process.

As well as a competitive salary and our core benefits package which includes private medical healthcare, life assurance and a Group Personal Pension Plan with higher contribution levels available, some roles are also eligible for a performance-related bonus. There are lots of voluntary benefits too. You could buy additional annual leave, join our dental plan, sign up for a health assessment, or take part in our cycle to work scheme. You could even earn yourself an extra bonus for successfully recommending a friend or family member for a position within RM.

To better reflect the society that we serve, we're committed to building a diverse workforce and creating an inclusive and welcoming environment for all. To achieve this, we create teams of talented people from different backgrounds and experiences and strive to be a business where our people can bring their whole selves to work. We also want to make the recruitment process as inclusive as possible for everyone. Should you require additional support with your application or through the interview process, please contact us at [e-mail].

Unfortunately, we are unable to offer visa sponsorship for this role.