Finance Business Partner

The Company

The Vintage Saga group of companies has three main operating businesses: The Auction Group (outlined below), The Retail Group (The Dormant Distillery Company Ltd and Decadent Drinks Ltd) and a bonded warehouse and cask bottling fulfilment service (Bright Spirit Ltd). Current annual turnover is in excess of £25M and the operating businesses employ over 150 staff across the UK and EU. The group board has ambitious growth plans for each of the operating businesses, and are looking to strengthen its finance team with the appointment of a Finance Business Partner for the Auction Group.

The Auction Group specialises in auctioning whisky, wine, rum and other spirits on the secondary market through its industry-leading online auction platform. Based in Perth, in Central Scotland, this exciting and fast-growing company launched in 2013 and now operates the world’s largest online whisky auction, trusted by thousands of regular investors, collectors and consumers across the globe who recognise our sector expertise, knowledge and enthusiasm. Collectively, the group oversees the auction of over 100,000 individual lots each year.

The Role

Reporting to the Group Commercial Director and based predominantly out of the Perth HQ, the Finance Business Partner – Auction Group is responsible for overseeing the financial management and controls for the Auction Group subsidiaries as well as act as a member of the operating subsidiaries management teams, providing financial management and advice to the senior management teams.

• Overseeing the integrity of the subsidiaries’ accounting systems and processes, defining and monitoring the financial controls and ensuring key balance sheet accounts are reconciled each month (AP, AR, Stock, Auction Control Accounts, VAT control, PAYE control, inter-company balances etc)
• Ensuring that the subsidiaries have robust Accounts Payable and Accounts Receivable / Credit Control processes in place and that these are being fully supported by the Group finance team
• In conjunction with Group budgeting plans, lead the annual budgeting process for the subsidiaries in conjunction with departmental / profit centre heads
• Prepare regular rolling forecasts to track the short / medium term financial outlook for the business and advise the senior management team on anticipated variances to Statutory Accounts and Group Audit
• Assisting the SMT to prepare compelling investment business cases and monitoring spend against project budgets
• Act as the Finance lead on all subsidiary-specific projects, providing finance input as required by the project manager / project scope
• Work collaboratively with other departments and members of the Group finance team to evaluate finance systems and processes as part of the Finance team’s continuous improvement initiatives
• Lead or participate in finance-related projects and initiatives to enhance overall business performance

The Individual

• Professionally qualified (CIMA, ACCA, CA or equivalent) with relevant PQE in a fast-moving commercial environment
• Experience in leading / managing a small finance team
• Advanced knowledge of financial software and ERP systems (e.g., Unleashed, Xero) and Microsoft Office applications
• Proficiency in financial modelling and forecasting techniques
• Experience of working in an audited company environment
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, especially in discussing financial data with non-financial colleagues
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills
• Ideally some knowledge of eCommerce business models

Our client is an equal opportunities employer and positively encourages applications from suitably qualified and eligible candidates regardless of sex, race, disability, age, sexual orientation, gender reassignment, religion or belief, marital status or pregnancy and maternity.