Head of Finance

Job Description

Rhug Estate, near Corwen in North Wales, is a family-owned organic farming and food business.

Alongside the organic farm, the Estate runs a farm shop, Café Rhug, a bistro, takeaway and

drive-through, a meat cutting plant supplying wholesale and premium customers in London and

beyond, Rhug Wild Beauty (a COSMOS-certified organic skincare brand sold through leading

retailers and spas), green energy interests, and wider estate and property management. The

Estate holds Soil Association organic certification and employs up to 100 people.

The Estate is entering a period of change and growth, including land and property transactions,

expansion of its food and skincare brands in the UK and overseas, and investment in systems. It

now needs a senior finance leader to give the owner and management team clear, timely

financial information and to take ownership of the finance function across the group.

Purpose of the Role

The Head of Finance will lead all financial matters across the Rhug Estate businesses. The role

combines strategic leadership — planning, funding, tax, and major decisions — with hands-on

control of reporting, cash, and compliance. The Head of Finance will act as a trusted adviser to

the owner, turning the numbers into practical insight about where the business makes and loses

money.

Key Responsibilities

Financial leadership and strategy

• Act as the senior financial adviser to the Owner and the Estate and General Manager attending management and board meetings.
• Lead annual budgeting and rolling forecasts for each business unit and set clear financial targets and KPIs.
• Evaluate investment, pricing, and expansion decisions, including new sales channels, overseas markets, and capital projects, with robust business cases.
• Liaise with the company accountant for advise on the financial and tax implications of land and property sales, tenancy and contract farming arrangements, and other Estate transactions, working with the Estate's agents, solicitors, and accountants.
• Develop the group structure and intercompany arrangements so that each business's performance is clear.

Management information and reporting

• Deliver accurate monthly management accounts for every business unit within 10 working days of month end.
• Provide departmental profit and loss, including labour cost by department, gross margin, and wastage, for the farm shop, café, bistro, takeaway, drive-through, and cutting plant.
• Produce product and sales analysis, including fast and slow sellers, with clear charts and commentary.
• Maintain a monthly 13-week and 12-month rolling cash flow forecast.
• Present the numbers in plain English, with recommendations, not just figures.

Cash, banking, and funding

• Manage day-to-day cash, working capital, supplier terms, and debt collection.
• Alongside the General Manager, own relationships with the Estate's bankers and lenders, and manage borrowing facilities and covenants.
• Identify and secure funding, including grants and Welsh Government farm support schemes alongside the senior management team.

Controls, compliance, and tax

• Maintain strong financial controls, authorisation limits, and stock control, including livestock and cutting plant stock.
• Oversee VAT, PAYE and payroll, corporation tax, and the year-end process, and manage the relationship with external accountants and auditors.
• Work with advisers on capital gains tax, inheritance tax, and estate planning matters where they affect the businesses.
• Ensure compliance with Companies House, HMRC, and other statutory requirements.

Team and systems

• Lead, develop, and support the direct reports.
• Review and improve finance systems, including the accounting software, EPOS, Shopify ecommerce, and payroll, so that reporting is fast and reliable.
• Work closely with operations, sales, marketing, and Rhug Wild Beauty to embed financial discipline across the Estate.

Person Specification

• Senior finance experience in a multi-site business, ideally in food, retail, hospitality, or agriculture.
• A strong track record of producing timely, insightful management accounts and cash flow forecasts.
• Practical, hands-on approach, and comfortable running a small finance team in a growing business.
• Sound knowledge of UK tax, including VAT and corporation tax.
• Excellent communication skills, with the ability to explain financial information clearly to non-financial managers.
• High integrity, discretion, and sound judgement.
• Qualified accountant (ACA, ACCA, or CIMA) with substantial post-qualification experience.
• Experience of farming, estates, or rural businesses, including livestock accounting and
• Experience of meat processing, food manufacturing, or consumer brands.
• Experience of property and land transactions and related tax.
• Experience of e-commerce and international sales.

Terms

Reporting to

The Owner and the Estate and General Manager

Direct reports

Finance Manager and accounts team

Location

Rhug Estate, Corwen, Denbighshire. This is an on-site role, with travel to London and elsewhere

as required.

Hours

Full-time — 5 days per week to be confirmed

£ 50,000 plus package for the right candidate (to be confirmed), plus pension, holiday, and other benefits

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