Finance Director Direct and Indirect Costs
16 days ago
Oxford
As the Finance Director Direct & Indirect costs this role will report directly to the CFO. This role serves as a key member of Senior Leadership Team and Finance Leadership team. A high-profile position with full responsibility for circa 400m of corporate costs (200m direct and 200m indirect) this role will be a key strategic partner with the Executive Leadership Team to manage corporate costs and ensure robust cost reporting control optimisation and return on investments. Responsible for generating insights by applying a financial lens to business decisions and assessing opportunity and risk by being a thought partner to key executive leaders across the organisation. You will act as a strategic co-pilot to the Executive Vice President of Operations Chief Technology Officer CFO T&F Group HR Director and Other ELT. The role is a strategic business partner to the VP Commercial Finance; Academic and Finance Director - Consumer & Corporate shaping the direction of the business through data-driven insight rigorous financial stewardship and strong Finance Business Partnering. This role requires a forward-thinking commercially astute leader with deep experience in managing large complex matrix businesses and influencing across functions to drive sustainable growth and profitability. We believe that great things happen when people connect face-to-face. Thats why we work in-person with each other or with customers and partners three days a week or more. When youre not spending time together in one of our offices or other workplaces like at conference you get the flexibility and support to work from home or remotely. The successful candidate will be able to utilise our balanced working model. We ask that candidates live within a commutable distance of our offices to ensure that as a balanced worker they can make it to our office locations to collaborate as required. There is an expectation for a minimum of 3 days per week in-person time in our office in Milton Park Oxfordshire. This role is open to candidates based in the UK. You must have the right to live and work in the UK. Closing date for applications: 17th October 2025. Key Responsibilities and Accountability: • Full P&L ownership of both Direct and Indirect costs across T&F accountable for margin cost investment decisions and cash conversion that drive long-term value creation., • Provide insight and analysis to support the business and senior management with understanding direct and indirect cost drivers and performance against budget, • Establish the appropriate review and reporting mechanisms for direct and indirect costs to ensure tight cost control and that risk and opportunities are identified and shared with the relevant stakeholders including headcount and employee productivity metrics., • Work closely with business stakeholders and finance colleagues to deliver the annual planning cycle process with high-quality accurate indirect cost forecasting incorporating the T&F value drivers, • Proactively manage all Risk and Opportunities across identify potential areas for cost rationalisation, • Lead the corporate cost team of 5 with an expected 2-3 direct reports ensuring highest standards of performance Driving growth and development by actively mentoring team members., • Build strong internal networks and be the principal contact on all direct and indirect cost related performance and planning for ELT members including the Executive Vice President of Operations Chief Technology Officer CFO Chief Content Officer & Other ELT, • Support HR leadership team to design develop and report on headcount and employee productivity metrics provide accurate and timely information to support the HR Planning process in line with business goals., • Support the IT leadership team with building business cases tracking spend and reporting on ROI ensuring the correct treatment is being followed for the capitalisation of IT staff costs and recognition of SAAS spend. Help lead the CIC process internally for sign off., • Ensure that T&F is maximising procurement opportunities by supporting the execution of procurement policies and frameworks, • Support tender processes negotiations benchmarking and other procurement initiatives to ensure financial impacts are fully understood and evaluated., • Prepare robust financial models business cases and data driven analytical tools for direct and indirect cost investments, • Proactively seek opportunities to automate processes and to drive process improvements working closely with the Finance Operations team to embed system-based solutions Qualifications : Professional Qualifications • Professional accountancy qualification (e.g. ACCA ACA CIMA) with substantial post-qualification experience., • Extensive leadership experience () in Finance Commercial or General Management roles ideally with full P&L responsibility in a global matrixed environment., • Advanced analytical capabilities with strong numerical aptitude and attention to detail, • Excellent understanding of working capital management and its key levers, • Comprehensive knowledge of O2C and R2R processes, • Experience in cost management and optimization, • Proven leadership skills in managing large teams through challenging matrix environments, • People-first management style with ability to delegate effectively, • Talent development focus - developing and maturing team skill-sets, • Ability to motivate teams and drive a culture of customer centricity, • Excellent communication and presentation skills across all organizational levels, • Strong influencing and negotiation capabilities, • Ability to explain complex financial issues succinctly and clearly, • Experience managing global stakeholder relationships across different time zones, • Holistic business knowledge with understanding of operational complexities in large multinational organizations, • Experience with matrix organizational structures, • Mature judgment with evidence-based decision-making approach, • Self-starter mentality with ability to work independently, • Curious outlook - asking the right questions of the right stakeholders, • Flexible and agile mentality to respond to changing priorities, • Excellent organizational skills to manage varied workload, • Ability to prioritize effectively in fast-paced environments, • Advanced Excel proficiency, • Experience with financial planning systems (TM1 or similar), • Strong technical aptitude with awareness of evolving technology, • Passion for high-quality data and its role in decision-making, • Commitment to transparency in decision-making processes, • Acts as positive role model for organizational culture and values, • Open to continuous personal development and new approaches, • Detail-oriented while maintaining strategic perspective Additional Information : What we offer in return: • An excellent work/life balance with a fantastic flexible working culture, • 25 days annual leave per year plus an extra day off for your birthday, • 3 additional discretionary days off during the holiday season at the end of the year, • 4 paid volunteering days each year, • Company funded single cover private medical insurance, • Employee assistance programme offering 24/7 well-being support, • Share Match Plan that matches every share purchased with two free shares., • Pension scheme We want all our candidates to shine in our recruitment process. Please let us know if there is anything we can do to ensure you are able to show us your best self. This could include having the application form in a different format more time for questions or anything else please ask us we are happy to be flexible! Please contact ___