Recruitment of Finance Manager

Transcription

1 Recruitment of Finance Manager Introduction This brief provides information on Green Future, the context, and the job description and person specification for the Finance Manager for this business. Green Future Green Future, established in 2010, is an Italian-based company that is owned by several private investors. It is a research and development company that focuses on the production of biomass-based chemical products, which can be used to produce many chemicals with a wide variety of applications in different industries. It has recently developed new technologies related to the production of such products. Since formation, the Company has financed significant R&D investments related to the production of these biomass-based chemicals, with a special focus on the production of Levulinic acid (LA), a chemical defined by the DOE (U.S. Department of Energy) as one of the 12 molecules of the future. It is also developing R&D plans and assessing the feasibility of producing LA derivatives and applications such as Ethyl levulinate and biosuccinic acid. Le Calorie s Production Facility Green Future has established an efficient manufacturing process, where it has initiated its strategy and preliminary research in Milan. 1

2 Afterwards, the shareholders have located Le Calorie s plant facility, an industrial complex based in Caserta, Italy, and realized that it would make the best place to implement Green Future s vision. Therefore, both companies went into a cooperation agreement to mainly produce LA. Now, the company is encouraged by its latest R&D results, and the performance of the production facility, to acquire some the production assets from Le Calorie to initiate production and secure its commercialization strategy. Currently, and according to their agreement, all production processes take place in Le Calorie s prototype size chemical plant facility, which spreads over a 52,000 square meters industrial site. Green Future has secured the required financing to pursue its short-term plan of acquiring the rented facility to initiate its commercialization plan. The plant is operated by professionally trained staff and receives technology support from a team of technical experts and consultants including those who are experts in LA. At the present time, the plant operates to perform a research and development program to develop design parameter values, and is set to become a fully operational production-scale facility. The production process has successfully produced LA proven through several R&D test runs, and is now being used to produce quantities for application testing by potential users. Levulinic Acid Levulinic Acid (LA) is considered a valuable building block of high importance in the bio-refinery that is available from both 5-carbon and 6-carbon sugars. It has attracted interest from a number of large chemical industry firms, and for this reason, it has frequently been suggested as a starting material and a primary chemical for a wide number of compounds used in various industries. LA is defined by the DOE (U.S. Department of Energy) as one of the 12 molecules of the future (Building Blocks) as a result of a study prepared for the DOE by NREL (National Renewable Energy Labs) called Top Value Added Chemicals from Biomass. Production of LA is variously accompanied by the production of several by-products, dependent upon the reaction technology that is being employed, to include furfural, hydroxymethylfurfural, acetic acid, formic acid and angelica lactone. 2

3 LA is a very interesting platform chemical, which can be easily converted into other chemical products with a wide variety of applications. It is, therefore, a valuable intermediate to be used by the modern chemical industry to produce useful market chemical products, such as biomass-based compounds with the following applications: Plasticizers (PVC) Fuel additives (biofuels) Solvents Resins Pesticides Herbicides Polymers Cosmetics Pharmaceutical products Anti-freeze agents Patents History Over a decade ago, Le Calorie bought exclusive rights for the production of LA in Italy from the inventor of such technology. The patents were originally based on a small pilot plant. But when this technology was implemented on the bigger prototype plant, the process was deemed unsuccessful, and a few years later, cooperation with the inventor has ended and the plant was shut down. Later, a wider team with a vast experience in the field was gathered, to include some professors and researchers from universities such as the University of Pisa and the University of Milan. Also, experienced consultants with multinational backgrounds have joined the team. Over the years, they were successful in developing new production processes and technologies. In the early 2010s, Green Future has initiated its R&D plans in Milan and developed a new technology to produce LA that was proven successful using laboratory research. Afterwards, Green Future found the appropriateness of Le Calorie s facility, which was not utilized by the time, that it had the proper equipment to implement Green Future s new technology. Therefore, the two companies got into a cooperation agreement for the production of Levulinic Acid, with the possibility to add other biomass- based chemicals to their product mix. 3

4 Nature and purpose of the role With an interim CEO who is also the representative of one of the main shareholders, a specialist team from a major European-based chemicals company who are experts in LA, and a new COO / Plant Manager, the business is now at the cusp of a step change in its journey from taking the pilot R&D project to a production facility for LA and possibly other biomass-based chemicals, and with additional investment to enable this growth, there is a need to hire a dedicated finance professional. This individual will be responsible for the financial planning and management of the organisation, the day to day financial control, and the production of financial statements. Role description The major responsibilities for this post holder are: Carry out the financial planning, budgeting and financial management of the Group companies for the Group companies (covering not only the Italian companies but also those in Malta and the Netherlands, and the required coordination between them). Handle the day-by-day financial control with the support of a Junior Accountant, and also with support from external auditors and tax advisers. Ensure the preparation of financial statements by liaising with outsourced professional companies. Prepare monthly management accounts and budget information to enable effective management of the business through relevant management and financial information. Provide timely and commercially orientated information, advice and support to the management team and to the investors. Person specification Experience of financial management of a mid-sized manufacturing / production company. Familiar with the finance issues faced by manufacturing companies. Sound experience of working in Italy but with some experience of international finance management / transactions. Familiar with operating and doing business in Italy. 4

5 Able to work in a hands-on manner in an early stage / high growth company and culture. High degree of self-discipline and self-motivation. Good communication skills (oral and written in English and Italian). Reporting arrangements The Finance Manager will report to the Chief Executive. Location The roles will be based in Milan, and the post holder will be expected to travel as required including to Caserta, Italy, and the Netherlands. Remuneration There is flexibility with regard to Finance Manager s remuneration. This will be discussed with potentially interested and suitable candidates as part of the hire process. Further information Green Future has retained Rockpools to recruit to this role. For a further discussion, please contact one of the following consultants: Mohan Yogendran Tel (0) Tel (0) Mohan.Yogendran@rockpools.com Nancy Scott Tel. +44 (0) Tel (0) Nancy.Scott@rockpools.com 5