Finance Director

We are looking for a new Finance Director to join our successful, family-owned-and-run retail business, Pavers. This is the most senior finance role in the company and will be based at our head office in York but can include an element of home working, flexible hours, and/or working from our satellite offices if desired.

We were founded in Yorkshire by a Scotswoman so keeping tight control of our finances is very important to us. As the Finance Director you will oversee all financial activities, reporting, budgeting, forecasting, ensure long-term financial stability, and provide leadership in strategic planning. You must be comfortable providing insightful regular and ad-hoc financial reporting, and be meticulous, detail-orientated, and highly accurate, but able to deploy these skills in a collaborative manner as part of a friendly team. You will also be responsible for managing the Purchasing and Procurement department, as well as developing a newly formed Data Insight team.

We are growing rapidly across multiple brands and sales channels. Balancing the drive to maximise financial performance and growth, whilst providing the data insight required by the business, and maintaining robust financial controls, cost discipline, and ensuring compliance with regulatory requirements, is at the heart of what success looks like in the role.

Pavers has been trading for over 50 years and is a highly profitable and fast-growing family business with a strong balance sheet and a turnover well over £200m. We also own the Jones Bootmaker, Herring Shoes, and Padders / Van Dal footwear businesses', remain acquisitive, and employ over 1900 people. We were recently recognised as one of the Top 5 employers in Retail (Best Companies), are Carbon Neutral, have donated more than £2m to charity in the past 5 years, and are imminently undertaking a significant expansion and modernisation of our York head office., Manage all aspects of financial operations, including financial planning, analysis, accounting, treasury, tax, and all budgeting and forecasting.
Lead and mentor the finance, data insight, and procurement teams, fostering a culture of high performance, collaboration, and continuous improvement
Ensure accurate and timely financial reporting in compliance with all statutory requirements
Develop a centralised Data Insights function providing consistent, reliable reporting and insight to all business departments
Guide, monitor, challenge, and oversee all departmental cost/revenue decisions
Actively oversee, monitor and report on all financial decisions within the business
Oversee cash flow management, working capital, currency and liquidity to support business growth and operational needs
Lead the implementation of financial systems and processes to improve efficiency and accuracy
Oversee internal controls and financial governance to safeguard company assets and ensure the integrity of financial information
Lead the Purchasing and Procurement department to maximise value received
Advising, guiding, and questioning all key business decisions
Oversight of, and responsibility for, all audit, tax, and banking relationships
Managing M&A processes and integrating acquisitions
Helping and advising family shareholders as appropriate

An experienced qualified executive with a proven track record of driving consistent financial performance in complex, growing organisations (ACA, ACCA, CIMA, or equivalent)
Minimum of 10 years of experience in a senior finance role, with at least 5 years in a leadership position within a retail or omni-channel environment.
Be a strong leader who motivates their team
Can think strategically as well as be operational when required.
Already have a successful track record delivering growth and profitability within high-performing businesses of £150m turnover plus.
Demonstrated experience in strategic planning, budgeting, forecasting, and financial modelling.
Strong understanding of working capital management, cash flow forecasting, and capital allocation, financial control and governance, investment strategy, and managing complex financial regulation and reporting requirements in the UK , Republic of Ireland and International markets.
Have a deep knowledge of 'best practice' and a willingness to work cross-functionally. Have excellent communication and stakeholder management experience and be capable of managing complex partnership dynamics.
Be agile and show commercial initiative with an ability to quickly gain followship, mobilizing teams by bringing the right people together and understanding what needs to be delivered.
Is gritty, resilient, candid, and operates with honesty, integrity, and a willingness to share learning and knowledge
Champions personal and team development
Adapts quickly to change and juggles conflicting demands calmly when under pressure
Has a passion for footwear, a sense of humour, and a general drive to just get things done!

We are passionate about providing comfort and happiness to our customers, and we make sure to employ people who are as passionate as we are. We always look for happy, confident, upbeat people, and we provide great jobs in a supportive family environment for them. We know that without our colleagues there is no business, and so the better we look after you, the better service you will provide our customers. We always try and do the right thing by our people., We strive for diversity of thinking across the business and believe strongly in supporting our local communities. In 2018 we donated over £2.2m to establish the Pavers Foundation, with the specific purpose of providing grants for causes important to all our colleagues in the areas of health, education, and community. In terms of the environment, we are constantly seeking to reduce our impact. Since 2021 we have been fully carbon neutral, and we also have one of the largest solar arrays in the North-East of England on our warehouse generating clean energy. Because every year we give a percentage of our annual profits to our Foundation, our overarching aim is to be financially successful, but to achieve this in an environmentally and socially responsible manner.

Benefits/Package:

Salary: £Generous plus LTIP, annual profit related bonus scheme, PMI cover, car allowance, death in service plus:

Generous Staff Discount
Holiday Entitlement (Increases with service)
Company Contribution Pension
Access to RetailTRUST (Wellbeing Support)
Access to RetailCURE (Financial Support)
Access to the Pavers Foundation: an employee-led grant application and charitable giving scheme