Group Finance Manager
Are you a dynamic, motivated, qualified accountant who wants to lead and oversee a finance team?
Do you have a passion for understanding business performance, and for communicating that performance
to a wider business audience?
Do you have strong attention to detail, an inquisitive mindset, and a naturally structured approach to
organising yourself and your team?
…if so, then this role could give you the potential to grow and develop within an ambitious, technology
focused, growing business.
About the Business
Sanctuary is a leading supplier of people and services to the public and private sector, specialising in Health
and Social Care. We have an ambitious strategy to grow our profitability over the next 3 years, leveraging our
marketing leading credentials and strong client relationships. We’re developing new client‐centric technology
solutions and expanding Internationally. We require an experienced finance manager to drive the robust and
accurate reporting of financial results and future budgets.
Sanctuary is recognised across the industry as being a leader in its markets. Established for over 15 years and
employing over 200 people, the head office is in the centre of Ipswich. We are regularly shortlisted for local
and national awards, having won the EADT Business of the Year in 2017, the Best Client Service award at the
National Recruitment Industry Awards in 2020, the Best Public Sector Recruitment Agency at the National
Recruitment Industry Awards in 2019, and being one of the top 15 largest companies in the region (Grant
Thornton Suffolk Limited 100, 2019).
We're savvy enough to recognise that it's the people who make our organisation work and that's why we
invest in all our staff, to help them develop inspiring and enjoyable careers.
You will be working in a team geared towards performance with an open corporate culture that values the
contribution of every individual.
We can offer you an exciting, fast‐paced working environment, a culture of teamwork and the opportunity to
play a vital role in our plans to be the UK's largest Health and Social Care recruitment and outsourced service
provider.
About the Role
We’re looking for an individual to lead, manage and control the daily operations of the finance function,
reporting directly to the CFO, and overseeing a team of four qualified/ part qualified accountants.
The role will have responsibility for the timely and accurate production of monthly management accounts and
associated cost centre reports, as well as board reporting, including insightful commentary to explain business
performance.
You will own the annual budget process across the group, as well as any ad hoc forecasting throughout the
year, and will work closely with the wider business to ensure forecasts are robust, timely and are produced
taking in to account future strategic activities.
The role will have responsibility across the breadth of the finance function including management account
production, accounts payable, general ledger, cashbook, and fixed assets, as well as ensuring the group’s
compliance with relevant taxes, ownership of external reporting and the day‐to‐day relationship with auditors
and other stakeholders, both internal and external.
You will be the finance contact point for the wider business and will provide support and guidance on financial
matters to ensure a clear understanding of results as well as good governance.
You will oversee robust controls and develop efficient processes across the breadth of activities owned by the
finance team. You will lead the culture of continuous improvement across the team to ensure the capture and
reporting of data is completed in the most efficient manner whilst maintaining high levels of accuracy.
The role offers future growth and longevity, with opportunities to take on greater levels of accountability and
responsibility as you progress in the role.
About you
To succeed in the role, you will have:
A relevant accountancy qualification (ACA/ACCA/CIMA)
Experience of managing a team within a fast‐paced commercial environment
Working knowledge of UK taxes, across Corporation Tax, VAT, and PAYE (including P11Ds and PSA
reporting), with a particular focus on payroll taxes and related employment status (critical within a
recruitment setting)
Experience of Sage 200 & Sage 50
Familiarity with both management and statutory reporting requirements, and experience of running a
year end audit process. Furthermore, experience of consolidated accounts, divisional/ subsidiary
reporting, and foreign exchange reporting
A strong financial background, with experience of building financial budget and forecast models, and
an understanding of business financial performance; revenue, costs and profitability
Drive and determination to go above and beyond, instilling a high‐performance culture, through
leading by example; demonstrating a proactive and hands‐on approach to your work, owning, leading,
and completing tasks to a high standard
A desire to progress and develop as an individual, taking on new challenges, and comfortable
researching commercial/ technical points of detail.
Strong analytical skills with the ability to analyse results and understand the business drivers that
underpin performance
A proven ability to work in a collaborative manner with multiple teams and to work credibly with
senior leaders.
Excellent communication skills, presentation skills, and people skills, with an approachable and team
orientated attitude, forming strong personal relationships, both internally and externally
Intermediate/advanced Excel skills
Salary: £50,000 to £53,000, dependent on experience
