Finance Director - Audio Reproduction

Finance Director – Audio Reproduction

Based: High Wycombe office / hybrid

Term: Permanent

Salary: Negotiable + bonus + car allowance + benefits

About the company:

Audio Reproduction (AR) is a division of Focusrite Group plc, consisting of major brands including Martin Audio, Linea Research, Optimal Audio and TiMax.

Martin Audio, Linea Research, Optimal Audio and TiMax are sister brands within Focusrite Group's Audio Reproduction division — a British music and audio technology group. Together they cover complementary parts of the professional, commercial and theatrical audio markets:

Martin Audio is a renowned UK loudspeaker manufacturer, best known for its Wavefront Precision line arrays used on major concert tours and festivals (such as British Summer Time in Hyde Park), alongside product lines including TORUS, FlexPoint, ADORN, CDD Install and the newer BlacklineQ series. It serves the live sound and installed sound markets.

Linea Research, headquartered in Letchworth Garden City, UK, was formed in 2003 by a team of experienced professional audio specialists. It designs high-power Class D amplifiers, digital signal processors, audio networking and control software (including the System Engineer 8 platform). Its technology is behind the iKON amplifier series that powers Wavefront Precision line arrays, and it also supplies OEM amplifier modules to audio companies worldwide. Focusrite acquired Linea Research in 2022.

Optimal Audio is a Focusrite Group-launched brand focused on commercial/installed audio — offering zone controllers, digital paging systems and intuitive WebApp control for everyday commercial venues such as restaurants, bars and retail spaces, positioned around the idea of “commercial audio done differently.”

TiMax was acquired by Focusrite in December 2023 as part of UK-based Sheriff Technology Limited (trading as OutBoard). TiMax pioneers immersive sound experiences, specialising in audio and show control technology through its SoundHub and TrackerD4 products, serving entertainment, events, branding, themed environments and exhibition spaces. Its solutions are frequently used for Broadway and West End shows, and it collaborates closely with Martin Audio on immersive and spatial audio installations.

Collectively, the brands span the full stack of a professional audio system -loudspeakers (Martin Audio), amplification/DSP/control (Linea Research), commercial/installed audio (Optimal Audio) and immersive spatial audio/show control (TiMax) — all under the Focusrite Group umbrella alongside brands such as Focusrite, ADAM Audio, Novation and Sequential.

About the role:

The Audio Reproduction (AR) Finance Director will be responsible for financial reporting and internal controls within the AR division, covering global markets and all brands within the division. The role owns the creation of budgets, reforecasts and three-year plans for the business to required Group timelines, and ensures compliance with Group policies, including interaction with and support Group, external tax, internal audit and external audit, requirements and timelines.

The role also requires a commercial focus to support the various functions within the AR division on compliance and due process, including liaison and regular interaction with the sales teams to support resilient sales growth. The role holder will build and maintain strong relationships with all key stakeholders and ensure that timely and accurate management reporting is available to key decision-makers, and that well-controlled and efficient transaction processing for accounts receivable and accounts payable is in place. The role will act as a business partner to the sales and R&D teams, helping with commercial decision support.

The role holder will also be responsible for the financial reporting and internal controls of the entities within the AR division, and for tax compliance across the division's legal entities — working with external tax accountants and Focusrite Group Finance to ensure timely and accurate submissions.

This role reports directly to the AR Division MD and sits within both the Audio Reproduction leadership team and the Global Finance leadership team. The role holder will manage a team of approximately 4 in the UK, across 2 production sites.

Essential functions and major responsibilities:

• Monthly management reporting delivered accurately and on time
• Effective and efficient internal controls
• Responsible for the financial reporting and internal controls for all entities within the division
• Oversight of statutory filings and tax compliance for the same entities
• Business partnering with division functions
• Experience of working in a manufacturing environment and strong product costing / standard costing experience
• People management and development of the division's Finance teams

Management Reporting

• Preparation of monthly financial reports for the AR division and Focusrite Group
• Submission of monthly results and commentary to Group Finance on a timely basis
• Ownership and preparation of quarterly reforecasts
• Ownership and preparation of the annual budget and three-year plan
• Strong internal controls in place across the record-to-report process

Finance Transaction Processing

• Efficient accounts receivable process, with clear KPIs monitored and easy to use for customers
• Efficient accounts payable process, with clear KPIs
• Effective and efficient intercompany transaction process in place across geographies and brands, ensuring compliance with transfer pricing policies
• Strong drive for process improvement, ensuring processes are fit for purpose and can support the growth of the company

Statutory and Tax Compliance

• Manage the relationship with auditors, ensuring timely resolution of queries and that data supplied to support statutory accounts filings is accurate and on time
• Oversee tax computations and filings, working with external tax consultants, ensuring corporate and indirect taxes are compliant with local regulations

Business Partnering

• Work with AR division management teams to support commercial forecasts and budgets
• Support ad hoc investment projects and analysis
• Financial planning for long-term strategic ambitions
• Ensure robust return-on-investment metrics are in place
• Provide any additional ad hoc support to division or Group teams as required

People Management

• Manage and develop a UK team of 4, with close liaison with Focusrite US teams supporting AR division brands
• Part of the AR division leadership team and the Global Finance leadership team

About you:

• Qualified Accountant - ACA, ACCA, ACMA
• Preferably 7+ years' post-qualification experience
• Experience of working in a manufacturing environment and strong product costing / standard costing experience
• Experience working in a multi-national listed company operating in a fast-paced environment
• Self-starter able to manage a complex agenda, with good people management skills
• Commercially astute
• Excellent organisational skills, with a track record of process improvement
• Strong problem-solving and analytical skills
• Effective communication and influencing skills, with the ability to build strong stakeholder relationships
• Experience working within ERP systems including implementation of ERP systems