Group Finance Manager, Cashel Travel Ltd

Job Description

• Location: Edinburgh / hybrid working, with occasional travel as required

Cashel Travel are seeking a Group Finance Manager, who is the operational lead for the Group finance function, reporting directly to the Group Finance Director.The role has been created to restore the day to day financial management capacity that historically sat within the Financial Controller position, following the Finance Director’s progression into a broader strategic role.

The successful candidate will take ownership of the monthly reporting cycle, financial controls, cashflow and working capital management, and the day to day leadership of the group finance team. The role will be hands on and commercially focused, with responsibility for ensuring that finance supports the Group’s continued growth in a controlled and scalable way.

Key responsibilities: Financial management and reporting

• Take ownership of the monthly close process across all Group companies.
• Prepare and review monthly management accounts, including P&L, balance sheet and cashflow reporting.
• Prepare Group consolidation and variance analysis against budget, forecast and prior year.
• Ensure balance sheet reconciliations, journals, accruals and prepayments are accurate and completed on time.
• Provide clear commentary on business performance, risks and emerging trends.
• Support year-end accounts, audit requirements and external adviser queries.

Cashflow, working capital and credit control

• Maintain and improve rolling cashflow forecasting, including a 13-week cashflow view.
• Monitor daily and weekly cash positions and identify short-term funding or timing risks.
• Lead the operational focus on debtor management, overdue balances and cash collection.
• Work with operational teams to ensure invoices are raised accurately and promptly.
• Review aged debt and ensure appropriate escalation of overdue accounts.
• Plan supplier payments in line with cash priorities, agreed terms and operational requirements.

Finance team leadership

• Provide direct day to day management of the finance team.
• Allocate work, set priorities and ensure deadlines are achieved.
• Coach and develop team members, building accounting knowledge and confidence.
• Introduce cross-training so that critical tasks are not dependent on one individual.
• Create clear accountability for AP, AR/credit control, reconciliations and payroll support.
• Hold regular one-to-one meetings and support performance and development planning.

Financial controls and process improvement

• Strengthen and standardise financial controls across all Group companies.
• Develop consistent month-end, reconciliation, approval and payment procedures.
• Improve segregation of duties and evidence of review.
• Identify opportunities for automation and simplification of routine finance processes.
• Ensure finance procedures are documented and consistently followed.
• Support future finance system improvements and integrations.

Business partnering and commercial support

• Work with the Finance Director and operational management to provide useful financial insight.
• Analyse margins, profitability and cost trends across customers, tours and business areas.
• Support budgeting, forecasting and scenario planning.
• Provide financial input into pricing, supplier negotiations and commercial decisions.
• Help move the finance function from transaction processing toward proactive commercial support.

Travel / DMC-specific finance

• Oversee accounting for overseas agents and customers, deposits, staged payments and final balances.
• Understand and manage multi-currency transactions and foreign exchange impacts.
• Oversee financial processes relating to hotels, transport providers, guides, attractions and other tour suppliers.
• Support accurate accounting for deferred income, accrued supplier costs and tour profitability.
• Maintain awareness of VAT and TOMS requirements where applicable.
• Plan for the seasonal cashflow characteristics of an inbound travel business
• ACA, ACCA or CIMA qualified, part-qualified with strong relevant experience
• Proven experience preparing management accounts and managing month-end processes.
• Experience supervising or managing finance staff.
• Strong understanding of balance sheet control, cashflow and working capital.
• Comfortable operating in a hands on SME environment as well as reviewing the work of others.
• Strong Excel and accounting systems capability.
• Clear communicator who can explain finance to non-finance colleagues.
• Organised, practical and able to prioritise across multiple companies and deadlines.