Finance Manager

Finance Manager

Latin Routes Limited is an independent tour operator with 3 brands (Latin Routes, Polar Routes & Travel Routes) that offer tailormade holidays to Latin America, the Polar regions and throughout the world. We sell directly to the public as well as to the trade, selling through travel agents throughout the UK.

We are now looking for our first Finance Manager to join the team as we move into our 11th year in business. Having started from scratch with little finance or investment, in a tiny office above a pizza shop, we have grown to become a leading brand in the market of Latin American holidays and Expedition Cruises.

As you can imagine there is a passionate, entrepreneurial spirit in everything we do. We are creative in our thinking and are always looking at ways we can do things differently to stand out amongst our competition. We undoubtedly remain as ambitious as the day we started and have big plans.

Our Brands

Latin Routes: Latin Routes is an award-winning and leading UK tour operator specialising in holidays to Latin America. We have a passionate team of knowledgeable Travel Specialists ready to help clients plan the trip of a lifetime - whether it's designing their own Truly Individual Holiday or joining one of our incredible Escorted Small Group Tours. Polar Routes:

Polar Routes is the polar expedition cruise specialist, and we partner with over 22 operators to bring clients a huge range of expedition cruises to the Arctic, Antarctica and beyond. We take great pride in our unrivalled knowledge of the ships, itineraries and these wonderful destinations. We’re on-course to become the UK’s biggest wholesaler of expedition cruises to the polar regions.

Travel Routes: Travel Routes is the newest member of the family and we have taken our Truly Individual holidays concept around the world. From incredible safari’s in Africa, tranquil beaches of Asia and the dramatic mountains of Canada, to the bright lights of the USA and more - we can now offer our clients a world of choice for designing their own holidays.

Our Vision & Mission

To be recognised as the best in what we do, by all those involved – our customers, our employees, and our partners. We understand that true success comes from nurturing the people and environments behind the business, as well as those in front of it. It's for this reason that we have clear company values that underpin everything that we do as a business, and how we act as an employer. Each of our five core values has its own team, made up of employees from across the company, and led by an appointed Value Ambassador. These teams are responsible for ensuring their value is consistently upheld and interwoven into everything we do: through actions, activities, policies and other efforts, which are regularly monitored, changed and adapted according to our ever-evolving needs. Our five core values are;

Commitment To Clients: We strive to meet and exceed our expectations with both our holidays and service.

Responsible & Sustainable: We never forget that the adventures of both staff and clients are made possible by a beautiful planet with a wealth of different cultures. We aim to operate holidays that respect and give back to the environments and communities we explore.

Collaboration & Support: We believe a company cannot grow unless those within it do. We work cooperatively to learn from one another, and we encourage and reward ambition.

Health & Wellbeing: Our greatest strength is our people, and we believe that a happy and healthy workplace brings success.
Innovation and Improvement: We bring our curiosity about the world to work and commit to new opportunities with enthusiasm. We continuously work to better our holidays and practices to grow as a business and as individuals. For more information on our values, please visit our website – www.latinroutes.co.uk/our-company-values/

The Role

As Finance Manager, you will become a vital part of the team to ensure the smooth running of the Finance department. The role will focus on the production of meaningful, timely and accurate management information to the Directors and Senior Management Team. You will also manage and develop the Finance Assistants within the business

Key Responsibilities

• Play a key role in maintaining current financial processes, accounting practices and reporting.
• Preparation of monthly/quarterly financial and management reporting
• Reporting to Senior Management Team on a regular basis
• Production of annual budgets/ P&L and cash-flow forecasting
• Preparation of annual accounts for audit and annual statutory reporting
• Day-to-day financial operations such as payroll, invoicing, and other transactions
• Complete tax returns and other statutory compliance requirements
• Complete monthly APC returns and ATOL preparation for license renewal
• Provide financial and analytical support to the business as required (ad hoc - budgets, spending, reporting etc)
• Performing ad hoc analysis pro-actively or as directed, to provide performance insights that aid growth and focus appropriate resource allocation.
• Monthly balance sheet reconciliations
• Managing a small team of finance assistants, organising their workload, connecting with them on a regular basis, carrying out appraisals.

About You

You will find an ideal candidate list below, but every point is not essential as finding the right person is most important.

• Broad financial management/accounting experience gained in an environment where you have had overall responsibility for the finance function
• CIMA/ACCA Accountancy qualifications an advantage
• You will have experience in the travel industry preferred with knowledge of ATOL reporting and preferably within a tour operator
• Dynamic team player who enjoys both the hands on and strategic aspects of management accounting
• Must be able to communicate effectively with people at all levels
• Excellent attention to detail
• Commercially astute
• Ability to be strategic with a willingness to be hands on with day-to-day tasks

The Details

The role is offered on hybrid basis. We have 2 set days at our head office in Kingston Upon Thames, currently Tuesdays and Thursdays. This enables the team to be together for collaboration and support. For the other days you are welcome to choose whether you work from the office or at home and currently most of the team choose to work from home on those days.

The hours are 42.5 per week, predominantly Monday-Friday. Shifts during the week will be 9am – 5:30pm, with 45 minutes for lunch. There may be the occasional requirement to flex the working times in order to manage workload or responses from overseas partners.

In return you will receive a competitive basic salary and employees will also receive holiday and travel perks..

There is a bright and vibrant atmosphere in our office and the team regularly socialise both at company events and informally. We are looking for someone who would be looking to be involved with this side of company life. Our office is located within a 5-minute walk of the shops, bars and restaurants of Kingston Town Centre.

Apply

If you like the sound of the above and would like to apply for the role of LFinance Manager. Please send your CV with an introductory covering email to jessica.dennison@latinroutes.co.uk