Contract Type: Permanent Contract.
Location: Hybrid role - Requirement to travel to the office in Melton Mowbray at least once per week. Travel required for company wide activities and team meetings.
Salary - From £50,000.00, dependant upon skills and experience.
Primary Job Purpose
Manage the day-to-day financial activities for business support provider Oxford Innovation Advice (OI Advice), which includes managing the partly remotely-based finance team of 4. It is envisaged this will be approximately 75% of your role. You will work closely with your line manager, the Finance Director for OI Advice and enjoy being a business partner to the business which currently manages 15 business support projects.
Manage the day-to-day financial activities for Oxford Innovation Finance (OI Finance), a sister company of OI Advice. This division helps raise finance for SMEs through managing an Angel Network and its own EIS and SEIS Funds. The division has no dedicated finance team, due to the low volume of transactions, so support is provided by other parts of the Group. It is envisaged that this will be approximately 25% of your role. For this part of your role, your line manager will the Group CFO (who is also the Compliance Officer for OI Finance, which is an FCA registered firm).
Although there are two companies for which you will have Finance Management responsibilities, both companies work closely together and are part of the SQW Group of companies. Most responsibilities are common to both companies including responsibility for implementing and maintaining robust financial systems and controls to support compliant and efficient financial operations.
Beyond financial oversight, the Finance Manager will build and maintain strong relationships across the business, acting as a trusted advisor to both finance and non-finance colleagues. You will collaborate closely with internal teams and external partners to drive financial efficiency, transparency, and strategic decision-making.
We are seeking an experienced, commercially astute, and relationship-driven Finance Manager who is passionate about optimising financial processes, enhancing operational performance, and supporting business growth. Your expertise in financial management, stakeholder engagement, and strategic insight will be pivotal in ensuring the company's long-term success and sustainability.
Main Areas of Responsibility
As the finance lead for Oxford Innovation Advice (OI Advice) and Oxford Innovation Finance (OI Finance), you'll collaborate with teams across both companies. While this hybrid role focuses mainly on supporting OI Advice, you'll be connected to the Melton Mowbray office, OI Advice's main location. Your key responsibilities will include the following, unless stated otherwise, for both divisions:
Financial Management & Reporting:
Full ownership of the P&L, Balance Sheet, and Management Reporting, ensuring accuracy, timeliness, and strategic insight.
Delivery of monthly financial reporting and analysis, providing commentary on financial performance and KPIs to maximise the strategic impact of the finance function.
Ownership of variance analysis, identifying key drivers and recommending improvement areas.
Project & Budgeting Support
Assist OI Advice's Project Accountants with ongoing project budgeting, forecasting, and operational reporting, ensuring data accuracy and presentation of findings to the Finance Director (FD).
Support the OI Advice FD and, for OI Finance, the Group CFO in coordinating and, where appropriate, leading the annual budgeting and reforecasting process for both divisions.
Provide financial modelling for project-related analysis.
Cash Flow & Compliance
Oversee and manage cash flow, including accounts payable, receivable, and payroll costs.
Prepare and submit statutory and regulatory filings, including drafting VAT returns (Partial Exemption rules apply to OIA) and collaborating with external providers for Corporation Tax submissions.
Support the Finance Team during external project audits, ensuring compliance with payroll evidence and other financial records.
Assist the FD/Group CFO in compiling and reporting annual updates for longer-term strategic plans.
Operational Leadership & Team Development
Act as a business partner across departments, ensuring finance is effectively integrated into decision-making.
Super-user for finance software, ensuring smooth system operations and driving efficiencies.
Lead, mentor, and develop the Finance Team (4 direct reports), fostering a high-performance culture.
Represent Finance in monthly operations management meetings for OI Advice, providing updates on performance to the operations leadership team.
Process & Policy Compliance
Ensure compliance with financial policies, regulations, and internal controls.
Support the FD / Group CFO with the preparation and execution of the annual audit.
Monitor and oversee the organisation's Net Zero financial commitments.
Manage and reconcile timesheets and payroll journal processes.
For OIF, provide supporting financial required for FCA regulatory filings.
Additional Responsibilities
Review financial guidance documents to ensure ongoing compliance.
Monitor timesheet entries to ensure accuracy.
Conduct ad hoc financial analysis and support strategic initiatives as required.
Job Related Qualifications
Relevant Technical Qualifications
CIMA/ACCA finalist or newly qualified or QBE
Skills & Experience:
Proven leadership experience, including team management and development.
Able to work remotely while staying engaged; willing to travel across England for meetings.
Strong communicator and business partner with non-finance teams.
Analytical with a logical problem-solving approach.
Resilient under pressure, managing high workloads and deadlines.
Self-motivated, proactive, and able to work independently.
Focused on process improvement and enhancing financial reporting.
Highly organized and adaptable, supporting the FD and Group CFO in driving performance.
Technical Knowledge:
Management Accounts preparation, payroll cash flow management, budgeting, and forecasting.
Expertise in contract/project accounting, managing complex and high-demand projects.
Advanced Excel skills and proficiency in financial reporting software.
Familiarity with integrated accounting systems (knowledge of Access Dimensions and Focal Point is an advantage).
About Us
Oxford Innovation Advice is a fast-growing company focused on innovation and mutual respect, delivering strong results in a dynamic work environment. Part of SQW Group, we also offer flexible office spaces for tech start-ups, angel investment networks, co-investment fund management, and consultancy services across the UK, Europe, and Asia.
We are an equal opportunities employer and welcome applications from candidates of all backgrounds.
Our closing date for applications is Friday 25th April 2025. We reserve the right to appoint prior to this date, therefore applications should be submitted as soon as possible.
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