Finance Director

Blair West are delighted to be supporting SMD with the appointment of a new Finance Director. SMD is a Newcastle-headquartered engineering business designing and manufacturing subsea equipment and services for energy, offshore wind and telecoms.

Working closely with the on-site executive team, alongside parent company, the successful candidate will drive financial and commercial insight, challenge decision-making, and help maximise performance across a complex, project-based engineering environment operating on an international scale. It operates in the UK and Shanghai as part of CRRC Group.

• Lead the financial & economic strategy and forecasting, highlighting performance levels, efficiency, and resource allocation, and recommending any changes necessary.
• Financial reporting to CEO, shareholders and banks.
• Preparation of year end accounts, liaison and relationship management of business auditors.
• Cash flow management.
• Support the business with financial monitoring and reporting as well as providing information for decision making.
• Support CEO with development of business strategy.
• Develop, implement and monitor functional policies, systems and standards across the business.
• Leadership and development of all teams within the Finance Director’s remit.
• Represent the company by networking in the local business community.
• Establish effective working relationships with external bodies as necessary.

• Broad commercial and finance leadership and management experience, ideally with experience at Director level.
• A suitable PQE (ACA, ACCA or CIMA) able to lead a small, stable finance function.
• A team focus with good communication skills.
• Confidence managing a variety of internal and external stakeholders.
• Strong strategic and commercial skills to enable effective guidance of the future direction for business as well as excellent financial analysis and control abilities.
• A commercially astute approach with excellent negotiation skills.
• Excellent presentation skills.
• The ability to deal with and resolve issues quickly and effectively
• Demonstrable experience in an international environment, familiarity with Chinese parent company would be an exceptional advantage.
• Familiarity with a listed environment and plc reporting requirements.
• Experience working with industrial/technical company with strong experience across project based accounting & cash flow management.

• Flexible, hybrid working arrangements.
• Participation in senior management bonus scheme.
• 25 days annual leave plus public holidays.
• Pension (3% employer 5% employee) company will match up at 6%.
• Life assurance.

Blair West is an equal opportunity employer. We embrace diversity and inclusion at every stage of the recruitment process. We are committed to fairness, equality, and ongoing diversity training for our team to give our candidates and clients a feeling of belonging during their experience with us. If you require reasonable adjustments at any stage during their experience with us, please speak to their consultant.