Head of Finance

About the role

We're looking for an experienced and technically strong Head of Finance to lead our finance function, reporting directly to the CFO. This is a hands on leadership role responsible for delivering accurate financial reporting, strong financial controls, statutory compliance, and effective team management across the business.

You'll play a pivotal role in ensuring the integrity of our financial information, leading external audits, statutory reporting, tax and compliance activities, while providing the leadership team with reliable insights to support strategic decision making. You'll also be a key finance lead in the implementation of a new ERP system, helping shape future processes, controls and reporting capabilities.

What you'll do Finance Leadership

• Lead the day to day finance function, overseeing accounting, financial reporting, controls, compliance and team performance, while supporting the CFO in maintaining strong financial governance.
• Manage and develop the finance team, ensuring accurate reporting, effective financial controls, clear accountability and the timely delivery of key finance activities.
• Deliver accurate and insightful monthly reporting, including financial performance, balance sheet, cashflow, risk and control updates to the CFO and leadership team.
• Play a key role in the implementation of a new ERP and finance system, ensuring robust controls, efficient processes and high quality reporting capabilities are embedded throughout.

Financial Reporting & Control

• Oversee month end and year end close processes, ensuring accurate, timely and reliable financial reporting.
• Maintain strong balance sheet control, including reconciliations, journals, accruals, prepayments and financial controls.
• Lead the preparation of statutory accounts and ensure compliance with UK accounting standards and reporting requirements.
• Continuously improve finance processes, controls and reporting capabilities.

Audit, Governance & Compliance

• Take ownership of the annual external audit process, acting as the primary contact for auditors and ensuring audit readiness throughout the year.
• Ensure compliance with tax, VAT, Companies Act requirements and all relevant regulatory obligations.
• Strengthen and maintain effective financial controls, policies and governance frameworks across the business.
• Manage relationships with auditors, tax advisers and other external partners.

Treasury & Risk Management

• Oversee cashflow reporting, treasury activities and lender reporting requirements.
• Maintain robust controls around banking, payments and financial risk management.
• Support refinancing activities and funding requirements as needed.

Financial Analysis & Business Support

• Provide insightful financial analysis and reporting to support strategic decision making and business performance.
• Review profitability, margins and costs, helping identify opportunities for improvement and growth.
• Support business cases, investment appraisals and key commercial initiatives.

Systems & Continuous Improvement

• Play a leading role in the implementation of a new ERP and finance system, ensuring finance requirements, controls and reporting needs are fully represented.
• Drive automation, process improvements and efficiencies across finance operations.
• Champion data integrity, reporting accuracy and best practice finance processes.

Who you are

• A technically strong finance professional who is comfortable owning the full finance function while reporting into a CFO.
• Highly numerate, detail focused, and confident working with complex financial information.
• Strong on governance, compliance, audit discipline, statutory reporting, and financial control.
• Able to apply technical accounting judgement while maintaining practical ownership of finance processes, team priorities, and reporting deadlines.
• Confident managing a finance team and working with senior stakeholders, auditors, banks, tax advisers, and external accountants.
• Collaborative, accountable, and committed to building a high performing, well controlled finance function.

What you'll bring Essential

• ACA, ACCA or CIMA qualified with strong technical accounting expertise.
• Significant post qualification experience in a Financial Controller, Head of Finance or similar senior finance role.
• Proven experience leading and developing a finance team while overseeing the day to day finance function.
• Strong knowledge of UK accounting standards, statutory reporting, audit, tax, VAT and Companies Act compliance.
• Experience maintaining robust financial controls, balance sheet integrity, risk management and governance frameworks.
• Strong technical accounting and financial reporting skills, including board level and senior management reporting.
• Experience managing external audits, statutory accounts preparation and complex accounting matters.
• Excellent analytical, numerical and problem solving skills, with a high level of accuracy and attention to detail.
• Strong stakeholder management and communication skills, with the ability to influence at all levels.
• Experience supporting ERP or finance system implementations, process improvement and finance transformation initiatives.

Highly Desirable

• Experience in areas such as tax optimisation, R&D claims, capital allowances, international VAT or transfer pricing.
• Experience with covenant reporting, treasury management and lender relationships.
• Retail, hospitality, FMCG or manufacturing sector experience.
• Experience operating within a multi site business environment.
• Experience leading finance transformation, automation or control improvement projects.

Working at Origin

• 26 days' holiday, including your birthday off, plus flexible bank holidays
• Unlimited coffee and discounts on merchandise and partner products
• B Corp certified and proudly independent
• People first culture with meaningful, values led work
• SCA training and learning opportunities for everyone
• Enhanced family leave, sick pay, period leave, and personal days
• 5% employer pension contribution
• 24/7 Employee Assistance Programme and GP service
• Two paid volunteering days each year

Everyone is welcome at Origin. We believe diverse perspectives enrich our culture and creativity. If you're passionate about coffee and excited by this opportunity - even if you don't tick every box - we encourage you to apply. Your unique experience could be exactly what we need.