Direct message the job poster from Yorkshire Garden Centres
Head of People and Culture at Yorkshire Garden Centres
Following a period of expansion and subsequent restructuring of finance roles and responsibilities within YGC Group and its wider ownership Group, Yorkshire Garden Centres is recruiting for its first full-time Finance Director. The Finance Director will work closely with the Managing Director and the Senior Leadership team, as well as the Group CFO, who is employed by YGC Group’s parent company and sits on the board of YGC Group.
The Yorkshire Garden Centre group
Yorkshire Garden Centres (“YGC”) is the trading name of two principal businesses:
* TGC (2015) Ltd, the operator of four garden centres, being Tong, Tingley, Otley and Bingley. TGC (2015) is wholly owned by YGC Group.
* YGC Partners Ltd, the operator of garden centres at York and Scarborough and Pennine nr Huddersfield. YGC Partners is a joint venture between the shareholders of YGC Group Ltd and a third party investor.
The seven sites are a mixture of freehold and leasehold, all of which have been acquired or built (in the case of Tingley) over the last 9 years. All sites are consistently branded and are run by the Head Office team, based at Tong Garden Centre.
The YGC portfolio is a mixture of destination and community-based garden centres, with a strong focus on high-quality restaurant and children’s play to complement its core retail offerings in gardening, leisure, giftware, and food.
Recognised locally, regionally, and nationally, we are so proud of our award-winning business. We are proud to be an employer who values employee contributions, creates a supportive environment, and celebrates individual and team success. Recent award wins include: 2024: Yorkshire Sustainability Excellence, 2024 Retail Company of the Year at the HR Awards.
With a current year turnover of c.£33m and EBITDA of c.£3m, the Group is expected to grow to c.£44m turnover and EBITDA of c.£6.0m within 3 years.
The Role
You will report directly to the Managing Director.
You will run a finance team of c.10 people, predominantly based at Tong. The existing Head of Finance, who has been in the role for 9 years, will be your direct report.
Your role will include the following areas:
* Lead the Finance team to provide timely and accurate information regarding the financial performance and position of the business. Implementation and maintenance of robust systems and processes will be a key part of this.
* Attend monthly board meetings for both YGC Group and YGC Partners to present the monthly management information pack and Finance Report for both companies.
* Lead the annual budgeting process.
* Effective and accurate cashflow forecasting and management.
* Work with the Head of People & Culture to ensure control of company staff cost budgets.
* Preparation of year-end accounts for audit, including consolidation of other group subsidiaries within YGC Group.
* Ensure the accurate and timely payment of VAT, NI, and corporation tax.
Funding
Whilst the Group CFO has overall responsibility for the relationship with our debt funders, you will provide support to the CFO in fulfilling that role, for example, the production of covenant and other analysis, and attendance at meetings with funders.
You will be responsible for day-to-day banking, including management of trade finance facility, foreign exchange, card facilities, and any other treasury-related roles.
Commercial Insight and Analysis
* Provide strong financial insight to deliver optimal EBITDA performance across all areas of the business.
* Work with the Commercial team to provide reports/insights to improve gross margins.
* Work with the People & Culture team to provide reports/insights to ensure wage cost efficiencies.
* Identify cost-saving opportunities, including key overhead lines such as card processing, IT, and business rates.
IT and Systems
* Management of the Group’s small IT function to ensure IT provision for the Group remains fit for purpose.
* Identification of development areas and presentation of findings to the Board, along with suggested areas of investment required.
Working alongside the Managing Director and other Board members, you will provide input in the following areas:
* Capex
* Control of the Group Capex budget
* Assessment of returns on all material new projects
* Identify new and favourable Capex projects to the board
M&A
At times, the role may involve supporting the MD and Group CFO in the following areas:
* Analysis of potential M&A opportunities for the board and any other relevant stakeholders;
* Delivery of M&A transactions through to Completion; and
* Integration of new acquisitions into the YGC Group.
Location of role
Whilst the role will largely be based at the Head Office in Tong, there will be opportunities to work from home and to work from other sites in the YGC Group.
Rewards and Benefits
* Permanent, full-time role
* Potential equity opportunity
* Bonus
* Salary sacrifice electric car scheme
The Successful Applicant
The ideal candidate will have a background within a similar sized growing SME, and have a proven track record in a finance leadership role. Retail/hospitality experience is highly desirable, but not essential. You will have strong commercial acumen, drive, and ambition, with the ability to be hands-on and work with a dynamic leadership team. Excellent communication skills are essential as well as good IT knowledge. Strong attention to detail and a collaborative management style is essential.
You will have the ability to manage, develop, and mentor a finance team of 10 to ensure high levels of financial control as well as providing value to the commercial side of the business. This role would be suitable for an existing Finance Director or an experienced Head of Finance/Financial Controller looking for their first step into a Finance Director role.
You will be naturally calm under pressure and enjoy working in an entrepreneurial, privately owned business.
Seniority level
* Director
Employment type
* Full-time
Job function
* Finance and Sales
* Industries
* Horticulture
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