At McLaren Automotive our vision is not only to become the iconic sports car manufacturer but also to deliver innovative technology to the automotive industry.
In order to achieve this vision, we have committed to a £50 million-pound investment into a second production facility - McLaren Composites Technology Centre (MCTC), Sheffield. This facility supports our Track 25 business plan by bringing carbon fibre manufacturing in-house, gaining greater control over the production process of our carbon fibre chassis’ in future McLaren cars as well as sharing development opportunities with McLaren Technology Centre (MTC), Woking.
Officially opened in 2018, we have now moved into MCTC and an exciting opportunity has arisen for an intelligent and driven individual to join our Operations Finance Team.
If successful, you will join a high performing, upbeat and dynamic team filled with people who have a true passion for what they do.
Purpose of the Role:
- Support the Finance Manager in managing the financial performance of MCTC and reporting against the approved business plan
- Consistently deliver relevant, accurate and timely financial information to MCTC stakeholders
- Create financial models that enable optimal business decisions to be made and ensure finance is an enabler, not a barrier to business success
- Business Partner with all levels of the organisation and hold budget owners to account for their spend and effective use of resources
Principal Accountabilities:
Business Partnering
- Collaborate with key stakeholders to regularly analyse and review programme costs vs. budget
- Continuously improve the financial tracking tools and outputs available to budget owners, driving accountability and allowing them to keep within agreed budgets
- Proactively identify, record and communicate any financial risks and opportunities to the Plant Director and Finance Manager
- Challenge budget owner assumptions to ensure the best value for money is attained and material decisions are made on both a technical and financial business case basis
- Support the Technical Change Request process to challenge assumptions and ensure that the correct level of finance approval is gained
Month-End
- Month end accounting, including posting SAP journals, accruals, prepayments and GL account reconciliations
- Own project tracking documentation and prepare monthly P&L actuals with meaningful variance analysis which is able to stand up to high levels of scrutiny and challenge
- Provide insightful commentary on the financial performance of MCTC and drivers behind variances to budget with mitigating actions
- Assist with the development and implementation of appropriate KPI’s, process and control documentation
Forecasting/ Budgeting
- Drive the preparation and commercial robustness of quarterly forecasts and input to MCTC’s strategic business plan
- Effectively challenge assumptions and model the financial impact of competing ideas
- Prepare and lead quarterly submissions for grant funding, managing external relationships with Sheffield City Region, Innovate UK and the Advance Manufacturing Research Centre
- Support the development of tools to help improve the forecasting and budgeting process for headcount, projects and P&L
Ad-hoc projects
- Due to the nature of being a dynamic and rapidly growing business, there will be opportunities to extend the scope of this role
- Deputising for Finance Manager when required
- Support the Commercial Team with supplier analysis, payment queries and GL code/purchasing group analysis
- Some travel to McLaren Headquarters in Woking (MTC), will be required
Knowledge, Skills and Experience:
- Part Qualified Accountant (CIMA, ACCA, ACA or equivalent)
- Experience working within a manufacturing/ logistics business unit or project accounting role is essential
- Experience of accounting systems particularly SAP
- Strong Microsoft Office skills, particularly Excel (Pivot tables, formulas etc)
- Demonstrate effective communication across all levels of the business by not only understanding all the detail but also being able to summarise depending on the audience
- Demonstrate a continuous improvement approach to work, including but not limited to, identifying areas for process improvements and implementing robust solutions
Attributes:
- Pro-active, passionate, confident and persistent individual
- Ability to work independently and under pressure to manage conflicting priorities and tight deadlines
- Ability to work with operational (non-financial) colleagues
- Strong attention to detail
- Team player, actively sharing best practice