Chief Operations Officer

Chief Operations Officer
Newcastle Upon Tyne                                                                   £Excellent plus bens and LTIP

My client is a privately owned consumer products business supplying wholesalers and distributors across the UK and USA. With a range of niche innovative products they have enjoyed considerable growth and success in the last few years. The owners of the business seek to appoint a qualified senior financial professional with operational and commercial experience to support the CEO in delivering further profitable growth and to crystalise shareholder value.

The successful candidate must have strong financial and analytical skills, be experienced in managing finance and operations teams that trade across international boundaries, be comfortable in an SME environment with a customer-focused culture and bring the gravitas and respect necessary to represent the company with Board and external stakeholders.

Ideally the candidate will have experience of an exit but and have the knowledge and ability to develop and present key metrics to Board and external stakeholders and command the respect of a strong team working under their direct control to deliver the business performance and targets.

The COO will work alongside the CEO, directly managing all non-sales activity, to ensure that the business operates at optimum efficiency from a cash and profit perspective whilst respecting the company’s customer-focused culture.

Key Responsibilities:
• Lead and develop a high class added value finance function where reporting is timely and accurate
• Provide insightful commercial/ financial management information and KPI’s as the finance business partner to the CEO
• Effectively manage working capital and cash
• Manage and motivate all “non-sales” teams within the business (operations, purchasing, HR and customer service)
• Encourage and facilitate outstanding teamwork both within areas of direct control and with sales teams
• Build strong links with external stakeholders (advisers, potential investors, banks, auditors, HMRC etc)
• Work closely with the Board and Senior Management to deliver sales volumes within agreed customer service levels and optimisation of cash and profit
• To provide strategic input to the company in all non-sales areas, working with the CEO and Board to ensure continuous improvement in key business metrics and optimise shareholder value
• To provide strategic input and direct assistance to the international team in all non-sales areas
• Ensure compliance with all financial, health and safety, HR and environmental legislation