1. ROLE PURPOSE

The Head of Finance is the senior financial leader of Masala Bazaar, responsible for:

• Financial strategy and control
• Accurate reporting and compliance
• Cash flow protection
• Profitability visibility
• Governance of the entire finance function

This role ensures the Managing Director always has clear, reliable financial insight to make business decisions.

This is not a bookkeeping role. It is a leadership, control, and decision-support role.

2. PRIMARY ACCOUNTABILITY (NON-NEGOTIABLE)

The Head of Finance is fully accountable for:

• Accuracy of all financial reporting
• Timely production of management accounts
• Cash flow visibility and protection
• Compliance with UK tax, VAT, and statutory rules
• Strength of financial controls across stores and head office
• Performance and discipline of the finance team

If finance information is late, unclear, or incorrect — this role owns it.

3. CORE RESPONSIBILITIES

A. FINANCIAL LEADERSHIP & STRATEGY

• Act as financial partner to the Managing Director
• Translate business activity into clear financial insight

Support:

• Store performance improvement
• Cost optimisation

Lead annual budgeting and financial planning

Build long-term financial stability for the group

B. MANAGEMENT REPORTING & PERFORMANCE ANALYSIS

Oversee preparation of:

• Monthly management accounts
• Store-level P&L
• Margin analysis by category
• Labour-to-sales ratios

Ensure reports include:

• Clear commentary
• Root-cause analysis
• Recommended actions

Present financial performance to MD in simple, decision-ready format

C. CASH FLOW & WORKING CAPITAL CONTROL

• Maintain daily visibility of cash position
• Approve weekly cash flow forecasts

Control:

• Payment timing
• Supplier exposure
• Bank balances

Ensure business always has sufficient liquidity to trade and grow

D. FINANCIAL GOVERNANCE & INTERNAL CONTROL

Design and enforce strong finance controls across:

• Purchase-to-Pay
• Sales reconciliation
• Stock adjustments
• Expense approvals

Ensure:

• Segregation of duties
• Clean audit trails
• No undocumented transactions

Prevent fraud, leakage, and control failures

E. MULTI-STORE RETAIL FINANCIAL OVERSIGHT

Monitor:

• Daily sales vs deposits
• Store margin performance
• Wastage and shrinkage indicators

Identify underperforming stores early

Work with Ops and Buying to correct issues

F. TAX, VAT & STATUTORY COMPLIANCE (UK)

Ensure full compliance with:

• UK VAT regulations
• PAYE / NI / pension rules
• Corporation tax requirements

Oversee:

• Accurate submissions
• Timely filings
• Audit readiness

Liaise with:

• External accountants
• Auditors
• HMRC advisors

Zero penalties is the expected standard.

G. BANKING, FUNDING & FINANCIAL RISK

Monitor:

• Covenants
• Interest costs
• Financing risks

Support funding for:

• New stores
• Refits
• Expansion

H. TEAM LEADERSHIP & DEVELOPMENT

Lead the entire finance function from Bangladesh

Define:

• Clear responsibilities
• Performance standards
• Reporting discipline

Train and develop team capability

Build succession within finance structure

Maintain a high-integrity, high-discipline culture

I. SYSTEMS, AUTOMATION & PROCESS IMPROVEMENT

Improve finance systems and reporting tools

Reduce:

• Manual errors
• Delays
• Inefficiencies

Drive:

• Automation
• Standardisation
• Scalable finance processes

J. RISK MANAGEMENT & ESCALATION

Identify financial risks early, including:

• Cash shortages
• Margin erosion
• Compliance breaches
• Fraud indicators

Escalate immediately to Managing Director

Maintain transparency at all times

4. KEY PERFORMANCE INDICATORS (KPIs)

• Monthly accounts delivered accurately and on time
• Clear visibility of store profitability
• Stable, well-managed cash flow
• Zero compliance penalties or audit failures
• Reduction in unexplained variances
• Strong finance team performance