Finance Manager, Rural Estates

Main purpose of role

The Grosvenor Family Office is responsible for the management of operational and advisory support services, including activities focused on heritage and conservation. Part of the Family Office, the Grosvenor Rural Estates teams are responsible for the long-term stewardship of four rural estates.

This role supports the Family Office and Rural Estates through:

• Business partnering operational teams
• Operational and financial reporting and control
• Cash management
• Risk and internal controls
• Ad-hoc projects

Key responsibilities    

Management and Financial Reporting

• Prepare monthly and quarterly management accounts, budgets, forecasts and cash flow analysis to predetermined timetables and to a high degree of accuracy
• Ensure that assumptions underpinning budgets and forecasts are appropriately challenged and critically review the financial performance against these metrics
• Work closely with budget holders to provide insightful, value-added reporting that is aligned to business activity and strategy
• Approve purchase orders and invoices daily
• Assist with the preparation of annual accounts under UK GAAP
• Provide data and analysis for incorporation into tax returns by the Tax team

Leadership and Teamwork

• Provide frequent assistance, guidance and training to colleagues in the estate management, building services, sporting, forestry and conservation teams as well as other non-finance departments             
• Action problems and issues as they occur; escalating to senior management when necessary
• Manage the workload of more junior members of the team and provide day to day hands on support
• Encourage collaborative working, sharing of ideas/best working practises and open communication

Financial Control, Systems and Risk Management

• Ensure the efficient, timely and accurate input of data into accounting systems
• Ensure financial controls are adhered to and keep procedure guides up to date
• Ensure existing accounting systems meeting reporting and control requirements and support system development and process improvement
• Oversee the accurate production of statutory returns e.g. VAT returns, ONS returns etc
• Carry out necessary due diligence work on new tenants, contractors etc.

Cash Management and Funding

• Maintain rigorous control over cash-flow and overall working capital, making effective use of the services provided by the FO treasury team
• Processing ad-hoc payments

Value Add, Projects and Strategy

• Undertake ad-hoc project work as required
• Always provide a helpful, friendly and efficient service and ensure information is provided to non-finance personnel in an accessible format
• Ensure the Rural Estates finance team and operational leads engage with the FO tax team so as to optimise tax matters for the business

General Duties

• To continuously develop and improve
• To comply with company policy and best practise in security, legal and regulatory compliance
• To carry out duties, within the relevant legislation at all times and be familiar with the terms of all current legislation relevant to the role
• To ensure H&S responsibilities are fulfilled, including:
• To have responsibility for personal safety and the safety of others
• To ensure that all H&S responsibilities are fulfilled and that safety and welfare is maintained
• Plan enough time for work to be done in a healthy and safe way
• To assume delegated authority to take aversive/proactive action where appropriate to prevent a potential situation escalating to an accident or health and safety failure
• To complete any other duties as required from time to time

Essential skills and attributes

Qualifications

• ACA qualified accountant with 2+ qualified years experience

Skills

• Highly numerate and logical with strong appraisal skills
• Highly proficient with Microsoft applications including Excel, Outlook and PowerPoint
• Excellent communication (written and verbal) and interpersonal skills
• Able to build relationships with internal and external stakeholders
• Attention to detail and dedication to providing quality, error free work to tight deadlines

Attributes

• A desire and ability to learn is essential
• Professional, discrete and maintain confidentiality at all times
• Leads by taking responsibility, being positive and tackling challenges with enthusiasm
• Work well with others by building positive relationships, working with integrity, being direct and straightforward whilst respecting and considering others
• Work well in teams by building team spirit, delivering team goals and being flexible
• Manage knowledge by researching new idea ideas and capturing new learning
• Share knowledge by communicating with focus, simplicity and clarity and be able to differentiate fact from opinion
• Adapt to change by being able to deal with uncertainty, accept new ideas and drive and communicate change
• Plan and organise well by developing processes, setting standards and monitoring performance. In addition, be able to prioritise your own activities and time
• Apply expertise and skills by keeping up to date with specialist knowledge and demonstrate business and financial awareness
• Deliver results to a high standard whilst meeting financial targets and deadlines

All employees must uphold the Common Thread value of the Grosvenor Estate:

• Integrity, be honest, fair and open
• Trust, be loyal, reliable and deliver on commitments
• Respect, be inclusive, straightforward, collaborative, caring and thoughtful

Key performance indicators

• Delivery of budgets, management accounts and other reports to deadline and error free
• No recorded breaches of internal financial controls
• Positive feedback from customers and stakeholders

Additional information

• The role will be part of a busy and fast paced finance department where meeting tight deadlines is key to success. May have to work additional hours to meet a deadline
• Access to extremely sensitive information therefore absolute client confidentiality and discretion is required
• A full driving licence is required due to the location of the office
• Regular travel required to one of the locations listed under ‘other locations’ (other Finance Managers in the team will also cover one ‘other location’)