Financial Controller | Harris/Glasgow

The Company

IHD was created as a way to help boost employment on the island of Harris for future generations. Beginning its’ journey in 2015, the Distillery now employs 50 permanent staff on an island with only 2000 inhabitants. The Distillery, known as the Social Distillery, was built to help create sustainable local employment and offer long-term careers for those who wish to stay and set down roots in their island home. From distilling and blending, to marketing and hospitality - there are a wide variety of skillsets and development opportunities available to local people as they create two beautiful Outer Hebridean spirits and bring them to the world.

These spirits - Isle of Harris Gin, launched in 2015 and The Hearach Single Malt Whisky, the distillery’s primary product, launched in 2023 – are recognised by commentators, the trade and consumers as products of the highest quality.

The role

IHD, having now launched its primary product, The Hearach Malt Whisky, is seeking to reinforce the capabilities of its team to support further growth with the appointment of a Financial Controller. The September launch of another expression – The Hearach Oloroso – reflects IHD’s growth ambitions.  IHD currently has a relatively small finance team in place for the size of the business and there is an opportunity to further develop the team in support of 3 key areas; development of the ERP system to fully utilise its capabilities and provide more insightful management reporting, sharpening the commercial focus of the team and supporting an increasing level of governance as the business scales.

A summary of some of the main responsibilities include:

Key Activities and Responsibilities

Financial Management

• A key contributor to the decision making process in a growth orientated company, ensuring all key decisions reflect a full assessment of commercial, financial & other key factors

Financial Stewardship

• Maintaining a high standard of stewardship in an evolving, growth orientated business, including:
• Key Business Controls – definition & operation – transaction & other
• Cash Flow Management – systematic cash flow & liquidity forecasting
• Management Accounts – systematic, accurate & relevant reporting
• Statutory Accounts – efficient & compliant audit process
• Tax – efficient, accurate returns & value added planning

Commercial Reporting & Support

Demonstrating commercial insight via:

• Commercial Reporting – commercially relevant profit/cost centre & KPI reporting across key business functions/processes
• Commercial Support – sales/procurement deal support, project VFM assessment & other ad hoc support
• Financial Planning
• Budgets - structuring the annual budget process to develop commercially relevant, challenging budgets with responsible manager “buy-in”
• Forecasts – updating forecasts, in conjunction with managers, to ensure opportunities are supported and key risks effectively managed
• Long Term Scenarios – supporting the CFO in the development of long term planning scenarios

Risk Management

• Managing the bank covenant compliance via effective planning
• Managing insurance cover, ensuring it remains relevant in an evolving business
• Reviewing, on an ongoing basis, company wide risk management effectiveness
• Stakeholder Relationships
• Developing & managing or overseeing relationships with banks, HMRC, auditors, insurers & others as required

The Individual

The successful candidate will be a fully qualified accountant with appropriate post qualification experience who has a good understanding of transaction processing and controls and is able to lead a small team in utilising an ERP system to best effect. The appointed candidate will exploit the relevant capabilities of the ERP system to provide more insightful information to support the business as it continues to develop and grow. A logical thinker with strong commercial acumen, the appointed candidate, will also help develop the wider IHD team to ensure IHD operates at a standard appropriate for a commercial, growth orientated venture with high governance standards & key stakeholder scrutiny.