Job Introduction
Listed on the main market of the London Stock Exchange, MJ Gleeson plc is one of the fastest growing housebuilders in the UK. The Group has a strong financial position and a unique business model with continued opportunities for sustainable growth.
The Group comprises 2 trading divisions, Gleeson Homes and Gleeson Land. Gleeson Homes specialises in low-cost house building, providing new homes in the North of England and the Midlands for the people who need them most. We deliver this through 3 Divisions, each of which comprises 3 Regional Offices. Over 80% of our customers are first time buyers and around two thirds are key workers. 4 out of 5 of our homes are built in the most deprived areas of the UK. Gleeson Land specialises in promoting land, securing attractive residential planning consents on land mainly in the South of England, which is supplied to other housebuilders to meet their increasing need for high-quality consented sites.
As we continue to grow, new opportunities are being created. We are, and expect to continue to be, a company which can provide a range of development opportunities to those within our team who are keen to progress and capable of doing so.
Role Responsibility
In order to support the continued growth of the business, Gleeson Homes is looking for a Finance Manager to lead the management accounts production for our North West Division. The role will be based in our Sheffield Head Office (offering hybrid working arrangements) and reporting into our Homes Financial Controller, with occasional travel required to our Regional offices sufficient to build and maintain good relationships within those teams.
The Finance Manager, supported by an Assistant Management Accountant, will be required to take responsibility for the full production of the P&Ls of each of the Regional offices within the Division, as well as Divisional Overheads. This will involve liaising with the operational side of the Division, an attention to detail in the transactional postings and preparation of the management accounts, and an ability to clearly explain results to senior, non-financially minded colleagues.
The Finance Manager will also have a role supporting the Divisional Finance Business Partner (FBP) in some commercial aspects of the Division. This will include support in the budget setting and forecasting processes, some exposure to build & sales meetings and other ad hoc support as requested by the FBP.
The successful candidate will be an enthusiastic individual, able to both deliver to deadlines and manage their own workload. They will also need to support the development of the Assistant Management Accountant working in their Division, alongside other team members, including apprentices. We continue to seek to improve our processes and expect the successful applicant to be someone with the knowledge and experience to proactively support that.
Whilst the Finance Manager will have responsibility for their Division, they will be an integral part of the finance team which is centrally based at Head Office. An element of the role will therefore also involve responsibility for certain relevant tasks which span the three Divisions, working alongside the other Finance Managers and wider accounts team.
The Main Responsibilities
- Responsibility for producing the P&L of the North West Regional offices and Division
- Responsible for maintaining the accuracy of certain Balance Sheet elements, including inventory, accruals, prepayments and fixed asset registers for their Division
- Significant involvement in the budget process for the North West Regional offices and Division, as well as monthly P&L and Cashflow forecasting
- Understanding variances between reported and budgeted results and communicating these internally as appropriate, and driving change informed by this data
- To work closely with the Finance Business Partner and Operational teams to ensure that the Divisional results and forecasts are fully understood and owned in the Division
- Ad hoc analysis as required by the Financial Controller, Finance Director, CFO and the wider business
- Training and development of more junior team members
The Ideal Candidate
- A qualified accountant (e.g. ACA / ACCA / CIMA)
- The role may suit someone with a management accounts background looking to step up
- Ability to work collaboratively – support the team to deliver against deadlines, ask questions, and get involved in projects as required
- ‘Hands on’ attitude to the transactional part of the role
- Attention to detail, ensuring that monthly reporting is both accurate and complete
- Experience of working to tight timescales, whether in practice or month end reporting in a larger business or Plc environment
- The successful applicant must be able to demonstrate that they are confident and clear when presenting financial information in a way which is understandable to those from other backgrounds
- A confident IT user with strong Excel skills and an ability to pick up new IT systems quickly. Previous COINS and Power BI experience would be advantageous
Package Description
- Generous holiday entitlement of 26 days per annum + bank holidays
- Choice of company car or car allowance
- Discretionary Bonus Scheme
- Holiday Buy Back Scheme
- Company Pension Scheme
- Private Medical Insurance Scheme
- Healthshield membership
- Life Assurance Scheme
- Share Purchase Plan
Why Gleeson?