Finance Manager - Edinburgh

Souter Investments - Finance Manager

W&A is delighted to have been retained by Souter Investments to recruit a Finance Manager to join their Edinburgh city centre based team.

The Business

Souter Investments is the private family investment office of Stagecoach Group co-founder and Scottish entrepreneur Sir Brian Souter. 

Their primary focus is on private equity investments in unquoted companies, where they can invest either on their own, or with partners but they also make selected allocations to quoted markets, real estate, and funds.

To date, they have invested over £500m in over 90 unquoted companies over the last 15 years. Over £250m is invested in their current portfolio of more than 40 businesses which vary by size and industry.

The Role

Reporting to the Head of Finance, the position would be ideally suited to someone who is keen to work in a small finance team at the heart of the business.

The core of this position will revolve around quarterly and annual compliance work whilst incorporating many ad hoc projects, data analysis, high level planning and the provision of information for the investment team and stakeholders. 

Key Responsibilities

• Accounts preparation for a range of corporates, partnerships and trusts within the group structure using Microsoft Business Central, Sage, Xero & Excel
• Day to day cashflow management, processing and review of payments and maintaining integrity of banking controls
• Preparation of annual statutory accounts information for presentation to, and liaison with, auditors
• Preparation of corporation and personal tax information for presentation to and communication with external tax advisers, together with review of returns and ensuring sign-off within the team
• Provision of company secretarial services across the group
• Preparation of VAT returns, including a group, partial exemption return
• Liaising with bank including bi-annual reporting requirements
• Data gathering, reporting and interpretation of investments. 
• Undertaking of ad-hoc duties and projects

About You

• Professionally qualified (CA or ACCA)
• Experience of working in a small to medium sized accountancy firm and/or in industry with exposure to a broad range of tasks or experience in a similar environment
• Experience of Microsoft Business Central advantageous
• Strong Excel skills essential
• Although transaction volumes are relatively low, investments in unquoted entities tend to be complex and a thorough understanding of double entry bookkeeping is required
• Self-sufficient, well organised, able to multi-task, prioritise and work to deadlines, excellent attention to detail and managing requests from different stakeholders
• As part of a small finance team it is key that you are happy to be hands-on in your approach, have a “can do” attitude and are always looking to add value whenever possible

To apply, or for more information please contact our retained consultant Guy Gracie, on guy@wilkinsonandandassociates.co.uk. Any direct or third-party applicants will be forwarded to our retained consultants, Wilkinson & Associates.