Incisive Financial Controller – UK and Channel Island Managed Pub Estate

UK and Channel Island Managed Pub Estate

Monitoring Performance and Driving Improvement

Our client, The Liberation Group (www.liberationgroup.com), is a vertically integrated brewery and pub group, with two breweries (Butcombe in the UK and Liberation in the Channel Islands), three distribution centres, circa 40 managed pubs, and circa 70 tenanted sites, operating across the South West and Channel Islands. They operate across four divisions – UK brewery & distribution, managed pubs, tenanted pubs and Channel Islands brewery & distribution. The management team are backed by Caledonia Investments plc (www.caledonia.com) who are LSE listed.

Caledonia invested in Liberation Group in 2016 and since then have invested significantly in pub acquisitions and developments, in addition to a new UK distribution centre and bottling line. They have further funds available for investment in pubs this year and the ambition is to grow the business organically and through further pub developments and acquisitions in the South West.

This senior role will be the engine room of finance for the Division, based at the operational HQ in Bristol, but covering the managed pub estate, comprising pubs, dinning and accommodation businesses, in both the UK and Channel Islands. Responsible for driving and managing performance through the production of MIS and monthly management accounts in a meaningful and timely fashion. The remit also covers the business planning and budgetary control cycle/aspects in addition to the monitoring of performance trends and commercial analysis – it is vital that the Executive Team are provided with strong control and robust reporting during an exciting period of investment-led, organic and acquisitive growth in the estate.

The requirement is therefore strategic, tactical and operational in its breadth. There is a need to provide commercial support and challenge to the Divisional MD and Ops Managers, monitoring key drivers and KPI’s, improving efficiency protecting/maintaining margin, etc. You will drive both systems and process improvement, developing a can do/value-add finance culture that enables business development and delivers equity value growth for the plc investors.

Technical capability is a given - commercial acumen is the key. It is likely that you are a proven Financial Controller with previous exposure to multi-site retail, leisure, food, hotel or related sectors. You love the thrill of the commercial chase but in a controlled enterprising way. You set, but can re-prioritise, a disciplined financial agenda i.e. you ensure that the weekly, monthly and annual budgets are owned by you and the Executive Team and performance monitor the outputs to ensure their delivery. You understand the importance of volume throughput, food and wet margins, occupancy levels, and return on investment capex. You balance delegation with personal action and believe in the benefit of a well-managed team.

If you are interested, please contact Tom O’Neill with a full CV, quoting ref 4565/INT.