Management Opportunity: Finance Director (part-time)

• Sheffield
• Wednesday 27 January 2021

Management Opportunity: Finance Director (part-time)

About Vertebrate Publishing

Vertebrate Publishing is an award-winning independent publisher based in Sheffield. The company currently employs sixteen staff, with many opportunities for growth in the outdoor adventure market.

We have ambitious expansion plans and have doubled staff numbers over the last two years. The title list reaches 300 titles and we aim to produce 50 new titles each year as we expand the range of climbing, mountaineering, off-road running, cycling and wild swimming books. The distribution process is very complicated, involving online retailers, direct sales through the website and sales by authors, as well as the traditional routes of books shops and outdoor stores.

The current team is very hard-working, passionate and ambitious and would benefit from the experience of a part-time Finance Director who has managed a business of the size we wish to become. With such a complicated and fast-paced business, we are used to operating very effectively in dealing with day-to-day issues but would benefit from the time and resource to take a more strategic view in some areas and the creation and management of appropriate systems and processes.

This is a new appointment for Vertebrate and will take over some of the responsibilities from the company’s two directors and owners. The successful candidate must have the maturity and experience to manage a small team including a Financial Analyst and the Office Manager/Bookkeeper.

In addition, the ideal candidate will have a strong interest in the outdoors and knowledge of current issues and opportunities. We have good representation in climbing and running and are looking to build our representation in cycling and long-distance walking.

Areas of responsibility

The Finance Director will be responsible personally, or through direct reports, for the following activities and must be capable of completing or supervising these.

Financial Reporting

• Overseeing the preparation of monthly management accounts on accrual basis
• Preparation and regular updates of annual budgets for P&L, cash flow and balance sheet
• Reconciliation of actuals and forecasts on a monthly basis and reporting of key KPIs and variances to the board
• Sales forecasting by individual title, determining timing and number of print required and stock management

Financial Strategy

• Developing a profitable, sustainable and consistent portfolio of titles
• Balancing long-term investment with immediate cash requirements
• Maximising value of current portfolio of titles by developing clear digital and international strategy
• Ensuring most efficient channel distribution

Book Investment

• Ensuring accurate financial models that demonstrate financial returns for investment in each new title and highlighting risks and sensitivities
• Administration, recording of all investment decisions and incorporation into the company’s cash flow and P&L forecasts
• Regular review of book launches and sales to verify accuracy of forecasts and feedback variations on to future investments

Financial Analysis

• Growth sectors and subject areas
• Book pricing/contribution/margin
• Timesheets and production efficiency
• Channel margins and contribution
• Digital margins and pricing (ebooks, POD and audio)

Skills and Experience Required

• Qualified accountant (ACCA or CIMA)
• Experience at a senior level within a small business (20–50 people) that required both managing direct reports and hands-on activities
• Accurate, timely and efficient production and interpretation of management information
• Recognition of the importance of data at all levels in the business and relentless questioning and analysis of all numbers
• Ability to identify and contribute to the key financial and commercial issues, proactively in addition to requests from stakeholders
• Ability to communicate with all levels of a business and work well under pressure
• Ideally publishing experience or other business with similar characteristics

Candidate Requirements

Vertebrate’s values are to be reliable, bold, agile, energetic and sustainable, and we are looking for these in a candidate.

As a relatively small, privately owned business we have limited resources, and career progression will only come through the growth of the business. We can’t compete with large companies in this area but are certain that we can offer the right chance of making a real impact on our business and will have huge day-to-day variety in the job.

The position is permanent, based in our offices in Sheffield combined with home working, and, as a member of the company’s board, will report directly to the two owners.

A CV and expression of interest should be emailed to company director Stephen Ross before 12 February: stephen@v-publishing.co.uk