Financial Systems Accountant

About Us

Founded in 1975 and headquartered just north-west of Cardiff, Sigma 3 Kitchens Ltd is a family-owned kitchen manufacturer, distributor and retailer with over 50 years of experience crafting high-quality kitchens. Today, it stands as the largest kitchen manufacturer in Wales, with a reputation built on exceptional product quality, craftsmanship and customer service.

Sigma 3 is proud to be the UK’s most trusted kitchen retailer on Trustpilot, with an outstanding rating of 4.9 out of 5 from more than 2,500 verified customer reviews. This recognition reflects the company’s unwavering commitment to delivering an exceptional customer experience at every stage of the journey.

The business has undertaken a significant £20 million investment in a secondary manufacturing facility in Bridgend, alongside the modernisation of its existing factory in Llantrisant. Combined with continued investment in its people, systems and production capabilities, this expansion has effectively tripled manufacturing capacity, bringing total operational space to more than 200,000 square feet and reinforcing Sigma 3’s position as a leading UK manufacturer.

Sigma 3 currently sells kitchens through six of its own retail showrooms across South Wales and in Esher, Surrey, while also supplying its national brand, Masterclass Kitchens, to over 160 independent retailers across the UK. In addition, the company partners with both boutique and national housebuilders throughout Wales and the South-West. Every kitchen is designed and manufactured in Wales, ensuring that the company’s continued national success supports the local economy.

Role Purpose

The purpose of this role is to lead Finance's involvement in the implementation of the IFS ERP system, working closely with the wider implementation team to ensure the project is delivered within agreed timeframes. Following implementation, the role will focus on realising the expected benefits of the new ERP, identifying opportunities to automate and improve Finance processes and acting as the Finance lead on wider business improvement projects, particularly across Manufacturing. The role will also provide senior-level communication and reporting on project progress, engaging with the Senior Management Team and Board throughout the implementation and subsequent improvement programmes.

The Role

• To play a Leading Role for Finance in relation to the IFS project, working with all of the leads to complete the project on time and on budget. The post holder will work with other Finance personnel on the project from time to time
• The post holder will need to acquire a working knowledge of all systems and procedures currently undertaken within the Finance department
• In addition to the above, full business processes such as procure to pay (P2P), record to report (R2R), and order to cash (O2C) will need to be fully defined and written up
• Work with all stakeholders to achieve the above
• Once IFS is implemented, the post holder will be the “IFS champion”, and will train and support other finance staff as well as associated staff from other departments
• Produce and maintain “Financial Controls and Procedures Manuals” (FCPM) for each process undertaken under IFS and regularly audit to ensure compliance. This is designed to protect the Company and its Finance staff
• Work with IT and Head of Finance (HoF) to create all of the required reports from the system, including Management reports and Financial accounts
• For this project they will need to:
  • Understand / document all current Finance Business Processes in detail ( how we do things now)
  • Understand how Finance interacts with other departments / systems (Bellerophon etc)
  • Develop the new Business Processes for the ERP system
  • Work with the IT team to develop the appropriate documentation (Invoices / Order Acknowledgments/ Delivery notes etc) required from the ERP.
  • Liaise with the Finance Team and the wither Senior Management Team to automate the Finance reports currently used (Weekly Trading Report etc)
  • Train the Finance Team on the Business Processes for the new ERP system
  • Work with other departments to train them on the Finance related Business Processes (Invoicing / Taking payments)
  • Act as the Finance Point of Contact for all Business Channel Leads in the ERP Project
  • Work the Head of Finance / GFD to develop the Management Accounts from the System
  • Work with the Senior Management Team to develop the Financial Metrics/ KPIs from the ERP
  • Specifically work with the Manufacturing Team to develop the reporting pack on Material Usage and Cost Management (linked to standard hours)
  • Work as part of the Project Team to test the system through the process
  • Act as the Final Sign off for the Finance Department as part of the overall Project Team prior to go live.
  • Monitor progress through the Go Live Stage and intervene where necessary.

Post IFS-implementation

• Using the ERP System – work with HoF to automate as many of the finance tasks as possible to support the Finance Team
• On Board New Employees - use knowledge of the system to bring in new employees to the business
• Business Improvement Projects - use ERP / Finance knowledge to suggest improvement projects that either help generate revenues, reduce stocks and free up working capital
• Manufacturing Finance - use the outputs from the ERP system to identify opportunities to reduce cost / waste. Work with the Manufacturing team to prioritise and then achieve these gains.
• Gain a full understanding of the Sigma 3 manufacturing process and to use IFS to produce standard costing across the full product range including standard minutes for all Stock Keeping Units (SKU’s)
• Adopt a “Hands-on” approach, spending significant time in both factories
• Produce management reports for the purpose of Operations Management and the Sigma 3 Senior Managment Team (“SMT”) and Board including but not limited to; Material, Labour and overhead variances
• To produce a set of weekly metrics which can be used on a “RAG” basis to measure (not limited to) Material Usage, Productivity, Variable Cost per Earned Standard Hour (“ESH”) and return on Fixed Costs
• Work closely with the procurement team and explore opportunities for product innovation and margin improvement simultaneously.

Financial planning & Analysis (FP&A)

Post IFS-implementation

• Work with Head of Finance (HoF) and Group Finance Director (GFD) to assist with the production of numerous reports distributed weekly, monthly, and quarterly to the SMT. Board and “Team of 25” (T25)
• As a T25 member, make a positive contribution to the quarterly meetings and make occasional presentations to all present
• Assist with production of quarterly Board reports including insightful commentary and graphical representations of financial results and future plans
• Play an active part in the Annual budgeting process, including working closely with HoF, sales and operational teams to form a robust sales and operational plan (S&OP), the start point of the process
• Work closely with GFD on the production and maintenance of the 5 year rolling Business Plan

Finance Team Integration

Post IFS-implementation

• Work closely with other members of the Finance team, using knowledge of all tasks and procedures to provide cover in all processes at times of sickness and/or holiday absence
• Be an active member of the Team and suggest areas where efficiency gains may be prevalent
• Challenge the “status quo” and adopt “best practice” methodology

Key Behaviours

Commercially Astute

• Has a desire and willingness to learn and to suggest and help implement changes where necessary.
• Demonstrates a strong commercial mindset, consistently seeking opportunities to reduce cost, improve value, and drive better outcomes for the business. Balances short-term savings with long-term supplier and product strategy.

Takes Ownership & Delivers Results

• Takes full accountability for outcomes, proactively identifying issues and seeing activity through to completion. Adopts a hands-on approach where needed, maintaining pace and focus to deliver measurable results.

Influential Communicator

• Confident and clear in communication, able to negotiate effectively and influence stakeholders at all levels to achieve the right outcomes.

Skills and Experience

Essential:

• Strong leadership skills with the ability to lead/influence a high profile, senior team
• Qualified accountant with one of the UK recognised Accounting bodies (CIMA, ACCA, ICAEW)
• Manufacturing experience, preferably with an operations accounting background
• Experience of being part of a team delivering ERP implementation
• Advanced MS Excel ability
• Strong analytical ability
• Cost conscious individual who will identify and help deliver efficiencies in all areas of the business
• Ability to lead/coach/mentor other personnel
• Results-driven team player
• Strong attention to detail is essential

Desirable:

• Experience of IFS software
• Experience using Business Information systems / data warehouses

This list of duties is not exhaustive and may be varied from time to time in line with business needs.