Job Description:

Bring your financial expertise closer to the business

Perhaps you advise farming and rural business clients in practice and would welcome the opportunity to take ownership of one business’s finances. Or you already work in industry, understand the commercial realities of machinery, vehicle sales, haulage or storage, and have a keen interest in farming or horses.

This opportunity offers the chance to work directly with the owners of an established family business, combining hands-on financial management with a meaningful role in its commercial development.

Westmoore Recruitment is partnering with GM Stephenson Ltd to recruit a Finance & Commercial Manager across its agricultural machinery sales, storage and farming activities.

A role with ownership and influence

You will become the Directors’ key finance contact, helping them understand performance, plan ahead and assess opportunities for the business.

Around 60% of your role will focus on core finance, ensuring accurate accounts, effective controls and clear visibility of cash flow. The remaining time will involve commercial analysis and improvement projects—from machinery pricing and stock management to evaluating new storage sites, energy projects and funding options.

You will manage and develop a Finance Assistant, with support and mentoring from the Directors as you build your understanding of the business.

Where you will make a difference

• Give the Directors a clear view of performance: produce monthly management accounts, explain the numbers and turn your analysis into practical recommendations.
• Keep the business looking ahead: manage budgets, rolling forecasts, a three-year business plan and a 13-week cash-flow forecast.
• Strengthen commercial decisions: analyse pricing, margins, stock ageing, capital expenditure and potential investments.
• Improve systems and information: lead the introduction of integrated stock management and develop reporting that supports the company’s growth and future e-commerce activity.
• Own the finance function: oversee Xero, financial controls, ledgers, payroll, VAT and statutory requirements, coordinating year-end work with external accountants.
• Contribute at Board level: present financial results and project updates, working closely with the Directors, bankers and other professional advisers.

The experience you will bring -

We are open to two routes into this role.

From accountancy practice

You will have experience supporting agricultural, farming or rural business clients and a good understanding of the people and commercial challenges within the sector. You may be an Accounts Senior, Client Manager or Accounts Manager ready to move into industry and see your advice through into day-to-day decisions and results.

Alongside accounts preparation, you will need practical experience of management accounts, budgeting, forecasting and advising business owners.

From industry

You will have a finance background in agricultural machinery or farming, haulage, HGV or car sales, or storage, together with a keen personal interest in farming or horses. You will understand the importance of cash flow, margins and financial control in an operational business.

Whichever route you bring, you will need:

• A recognised accounting qualification or strong equivalent experience.
• The ability to produce complete monthly management accounts and reliable forecasts.
• A sound working knowledge of VAT, payroll and statutory financial requirements.
• Strong Excel skills and experience using Xero or a comparable accounting system.
• Confidence explaining financial information and constructively challenging business decisions.
• A practical approach, with the willingness to work through the detail and improve how things are done.
• The ability to support and develop a Finance Assistant.

Why consider GM Stephenson?

This is an opportunity to take responsibility for a finance function and help shape the decisions it supports.

You will work closely with the owners, see the impact of your recommendations and gain exposure to a varied business spanning machinery sales, storage and farming. There is scope to improve systems, strengthen reporting and contribute to commercial projects, alongside delivering the financial foundations the business needs.

For someone who enjoys finance, understands rural business and wants broader responsibility, it offers a varied and influential next step.

Interested?

For a confidential conversation, contact Becki at Westmoore Recruitment.

Westmoore Recruitment is working in partnership with GM Stephenson Ltd and is acting as an employment agency for this permanent appointment.