Finance Manager

JOB PURPOSE

We are seeking a Manager - Finance to play a critical part in maintaining the financial health of our startup by ensuring accurate cost estimates, strategic pricing, and effective financial management throughout our e-commerce marketplace. By incorporating competitor analysis and business planning into the finance role, we gain a strategic edge, fostering informed decision-making, robust financial planning, and a resilient business model in the competitive landscape of home design & build e-commerce marketplace. Additionally the person needs to be collaborative and should employ a multifaceted approach in optimising UI/UX, designing custom reports, integrating financial systems, analysing data, and refining workflows to contribute significantly to the financial health and operational success of the Aalaya's e-commerce marketplace.

• Competitor Analysis
• Conduct thorough competitor analysis to identify strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats in the home design & build e-commerce market.
• Analyse competitor pricing strategies, product offerings, and customer engagement to refine the startup's competitive positioning.
• Business Plan Creation
• Develop comprehensive business plans that outline the startup's mission, vision, and financial strategies for sustainable growth in the home design & build sector.
• Incorporate market research, financial projections, and risk assessments to present a compelling and strategic roadmap.
• Strategic Positioning
• Utilise competitor analysis findings to strategically position the startup in the market, identifying unique selling points and areas for differentiation.
• Align business plans with market dynamics, ensuring adaptability to industry changes and emerging trends.
• Financial Projections
• Integrate detailed financial projections into business plans, outlining revenue forecasts, cost structures, and profit margins.
• Provide stakeholders with a clear understanding of the startup's financial trajectory and potential return on investment.
• Risk Mitigation Strategies
• Identify potential risks through competitor analysis and market trends, and incorporate risk mitigation strategies into business plans.
• Anticipate challenges and outline proactive measures to navigate uncertainties in the e-commerce space.
• SWOT Analysis
• Conduct SWOT analysis to systematically evaluate the startup's internal strengths and weaknesses, as well as external opportunities and threats.
• Use SWOT insights to fine-tune business plans, emphasising strengths and addressing areas of improvement.
• UI/UX Optimization
• Work closely with developers to enhance the user interface and experience of financial processes within the e-commerce platform, ensuring user-friendly interactions for financial tasks related to Aalaya's line of business.
• Customised Reports Design
• Design and implement tailored financial reports that cater to the unique requirements of the e-commerce marketplace business, providing stakeholders with real-time and accurate insights into project finances.
• Seamless Financial System Integration
• Collaborate with the development team to seamlessly integrate financial systems within the e-commerce platform, fostering a cohesive and efficient ecosystem for managing housing construction transactions and data.
• Financial Data Analysis
• Analyse financial data derived from the e-commerce platform to extract meaningful insights, enabling informed decision-making and strategic planning for the housing construction startup.
• Workflow Optimization
• Establish and maintain streamlined financial workflows, ensuring efficiency in processes related to budgeting, cost tracking, vendor management, and other financial aspects critical to the success and growth of the startup.
• Budgeting and Cost Estimation
• Develop comprehensive budgets for house construction projects, considering materials, labour, permits, and overhead costs.
• Conduct detailed cost estimations to provide accurate financial forecasts for each project phase.
• Vendor Management
• Source and evaluate quotes from various suppliers and contractors for construction materials and services.
• Negotiate favourable terms and establish cost-effective partnerships to optimise project expenses.
• Product Pricing Strategy
• Analyse market trends and competitor pricing to determine competitive yet profitable rates for building material products.
• Implement pricing models that balance affordability for customers while ensuring the viability and sustainability of the business.
• Breakdown of Costs
• Categorise costs into direct (materials, labour) and indirect (permits, administrative) expenses for transparent financial tracking.
• Utilise cost breakdowns to identify areas for cost optimization and efficiency improvements.
• Earned Value Analysis (EVA)
• Implement Earned Value Analysis techniques to assess project performance against the budget and schedule.
• Monitor project milestones, identify deviations, and take proactive measures to ensure financial objectives are met.
• Profitability Assessment
• Evaluate the overall profitability of each business vertical by comparing actual costs against estimated budgets.
• Adjust pricing strategies and cost structures based on vertical performance to enhance overall business profitability.
• Financial Reporting
• Design and generate reports that provide a clear overview of financial performance, cost structures, and pricing strategies.
• Communicate financial insights to key stakeholders, aiding in informed decision-making.
• Viable Selling Rates
• Determine optimal selling rates by factoring in production costs, market demand, and competitive positioning.
• Regularly reassess and adjust pricing strategies to maintain competitiveness and financial sustainability.
• Regulatory Compliance
• Stay informed about local building codes and regulations to ensure that all construction activities adhere to legal requirements.
• Factor regulatory compliance into cost estimations to avoid unforeseen expenses.

PERSON SPECIFICATION

Qualifications, Experience & Knowledge

• Qualified Cost Accountant with significant practitioner experience in a startup ecommerce business environment.
• 10+ years of overall experience with a minimum of 5 yrs of relevant experience in a startup.
• Experience of contributing to the development of financial strategy.
• Solid knowledge of MS Suite, CRM & Accounting Softwares

Skills & Abilities

• Budget / Financial Management - highly developed skills in financial management and good business acumen. Excellent knowledge of data analysis, forecasting and financial models.
• Problem Solving & Decision Making - ability to analyse complex situations and have the courage to make difficult decisions and implement them.
• Relationship Building - ability to build and maintain constructive relationships with key internal and external stakeholders.
• Communication - highly developed communication with strong presentation and interpersonal skills.
• Data driven - ability to define and track KPIs that really matter to the business.
• UI / UX - ability to define required custom financial reports
• Ability to contribute at strategic and operational levels across multiple business streams.
• Ability to work with the senior leadership team to organise, plan and achieve financial goals for the business.
• Ability to read markets based on supply and demand.

Personal Qualities

• Strong commitment to organisation values and ethos.
• Ability to demonstrate Aalaya's values of excellence, transparency, care and innovation.
• Self motivated and confident in own ability to achieve results
• Personal integrity and honesty.
• Customer focussed
• Team player able to work collaboratively within the group and across business units / functions.