Full job descriptionPermanent
Bedford
Hours - Flexible 15 hours per week
Pro-rata £60,000-£75,000


Our client are a long established independent firm of surveyors and property professionals. Offering a personal service to their customers.
Currently investing into developing the business, their people and technology, they are looking for an experienced part-time Finance and IT Director. This opportunity will play an important role in the next stage of the businesses development.

This is a varied senior position combining financial oversight, practice management, technology implementation and business improvement.

Our client recognise that a significant part of the position will be project based and therefore there can be flexibility in how the 15 hours per week are worked across the year. At certain points, greater involvement may be required to deliver a particular project, balanced by reduced hours at other times.
Working closely with the Partners, the Finance & Practice Director will take responsibility for overseeing the financial and administrative functions of the practice and will provide senior oversight to the Practice Manager and administration team.

An important element of the position will be to help our client modernise and improve the systems and processes that support the business, particularly through the implementation of new IT systems, automation and the effective use of Artificial Intelligence (AI).

Key responsibilities
*Oversee, review and improve the firm’s financial management, reporting and controls.
*Provide their Partners with clear and meaningful management information to support business decisions.
*Oversee budgeting, forecasting, cash flow and commission calculations.
*Review financial performance and identify opportunities to improve profitability and efficiency.
*Work alongside our clients external accountants and other professional advisers as required.
*Help the Partners and department heads better understand the financial performance of different areas of the practice.
*Support longer-term financial and business planning.
Management and Operations
*Provide senior oversight and support to the Practice Manager and administration team.
*Work closely with the Partners to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of the practice.
*Review existing working practices and identify opportunities to simplify, automate and improve processes.
*Help establish appropriate systems, controls and management information as the business develops.
*Lead agreed business improvement projects from initial review through to implementation.
*Ensure that new processes and systems deliver practical and measurable benefits to the business.
Technology, Systems and AI

This will be a key part of the position.
We are looking for someone who has a genuine interest in how technology can improve a professional services business and, importantly, has the ability to turn ideas into practical improvements.
Initially, this is expected to include:
*Leading the review, selection and implementation of a new accounts and financial management system together with a major upgrade of the Practice Management system.
*Reviewing how our clients existing systems operate and integrate.
*Identifying opportunities to reduce duplication, manual data entry and unnecessary administration.
*Working with our external IT advisers and software providers to introduce new systems successfully.
*Identifying practical opportunities to use AI and automation across finance, administration and the wider practice.
*Developing and implementing AI-supported workflows to reduce repetitive work, improve access to information and enable professional and administrative staff to work more efficiently.
*Establishing appropriate processes and controls around the adoption of new technology.
*Encouraging effective adoption of new systems across the practice.
*Ensuring that investment in new technology delivers genuine efficiency and business benefits.
The Person

The successful candidate might currently be working as a Finance Director, Finance Manager, Practice Director, Financial Controller or senior accountant, or may previously have held a senior full-time role and now be looking for a high-quality part-time position.

*Strong financial and commercial experience.
*Experience of preparing, interpreting and presenting management accounts and other financial information.
*The ability to communicate financial issues clearly to business owners and non-financial managers.
*Experience of improving business systems and processes.
*Experience of successfully implementing new financial or business systems.
*Confidence in leading projects from initial review and specification through to implementation.
*A strong interest in technology, automation and the practical application of AI within business.
*The ability to oversee and support an established administrative team.
*Good commercial judgement and the confidence to challenge constructively.
*An organised, pragmatic and hands-on approach.
*The ability to balance strategic thinking with practical implementation.
*The confidence to work directly with the Partners of an established professional practice.

Please let us know if I need to make reasonable adjustments to our process, please let me know about how I can best support you and make the adjustments that may be needed.
Altitude-Recruitment acting as an Employment Agency and Employment Business.