Shanks Group Finance Director

Shanks Group, prior to its merger with Van Gansewinkel to form Renewi, was a leading international waste-to-product business. The Finance Director (FD) position at Shanks was a pivotal role, responsible for the overall financial health and strategic direction of the company. While specific individuals holding the FD role may have varied over time, the responsibilities and influence remained consistent.

Typically, the Shanks Group FD was a member of the executive leadership team, reporting directly to the CEO. This placement underscored the importance of finance in guiding business decisions. The FD's core duties encompassed a wide range of financial activities, including:

• Financial Reporting and Compliance: Ensuring accurate and timely preparation of financial statements in accordance with international accounting standards (IFRS). This included annual reports, quarterly reports, and other regulatory filings. They were also responsible for maintaining strong internal controls to safeguard company assets and prevent fraud.
• Financial Planning and Analysis (FP&A): Leading the development of the company's financial plans, budgets, and forecasts. This involved analyzing market trends, competitor activity, and internal performance data to identify opportunities for growth and efficiency. The FD played a key role in evaluating potential investments, mergers, and acquisitions.
• Treasury Management: Overseeing the company's cash flow, debt management, and foreign exchange risk. This required managing relationships with banks and other financial institutions, as well as optimizing the company's capital structure.
• Investor Relations: Communicating with investors, analysts, and other stakeholders about the company's financial performance and outlook. This involved participating in investor conferences, preparing presentations, and answering questions from the investment community.
• Tax Planning and Compliance: Ensuring compliance with all applicable tax laws and regulations in the various countries where Shanks operated. This involved developing tax-efficient strategies and managing relationships with tax authorities.
• Leading the Finance Team: Building and managing a high-performing finance team, including controllers, accountants, and analysts. This involved recruiting, training, and motivating employees to achieve their full potential.

Beyond these core responsibilities, the FD also played a strategic role in shaping the company's overall direction. They were often involved in developing and implementing strategic initiatives, such as expanding into new markets or launching new product lines. Their financial acumen was essential for evaluating the feasibility and profitability of these initiatives.

The FD at Shanks Group needed to possess a strong combination of technical skills, leadership abilities, and business acumen. They typically held a professional accounting qualification (e.g., ACA, ACCA, CIMA) and had extensive experience in a senior finance role, ideally within the waste management or environmental services industry. Strong communication and interpersonal skills were also essential, as they needed to be able to effectively communicate with a wide range of stakeholders, both internal and external. Furthermore, the FD had to be adaptable and resilient, capable of navigating a constantly evolving business environment.