General Manager

About the Role

Reporting to the Director, you will take responsibility for overall business management, including business planning, sales performance, financial control, procurement, inventory and installation delivery.

This role combines strategic planning with hands-on leadership. You will coordinate staff, suppliers and installation contractors to ensure customer commitments are met, resources are used effectively and the business achieves its agreed objectives. You will also lead the overall operations and commercial performance of L Express Carpet Ltd’s carpet and flooring sales, installation and consulting business.

The General Manager translates the Director’s business objectives into practical plans, manages people and resources, and maintains effective controls over sales, expenditure, stock, project delivery and cash collection.

Key Responsibilities

1. Business Planning and Performance

• Prepare annual business plans, operating budgets and resource proposals for the Director’s approval.
• Set operational priorities and communicate responsibilities and performance expectations to staff.
• Review financial and operational results against agreed targets and implement corrective actions.
• Assess business opportunities and present recommendations supported by costs, expected returns and operational requirements.

2. Financial and Commercial Management

• Take responsibility for business performance against approved budgets.
• Monitor sales revenue, gross margins, overheads and cash-flow forecasts.
• Oversee quotation and pricing processes, taking account of product costs, installation costs and required margins.
• Review aged receivables, customer payment arrangements and overdue balances, and coordinate timely collection.
• Review purchasing commitments, supplier payments and expenditure within delegated authority.
• Work with the company’s accountant and administrative staff to maintain accurate records and timely financial reporting.

3. Sales and Business Development

• Establish sales priorities and monitor enquiry conversion, quotations, confirmed orders and customer retention.
• Develop relationships with customers, referral partners and other relevant business contacts.
• Oversee marketing activity and evaluate its contribution to enquiries and sales.
• Negotiate commercial terms within approved limits.
• Resolve significant customer issues and identify improvements to service delivery.

4. Operations and Installation Delivery

• Oversee the workflow from customer enquiry and quotation through purchasing, delivery, installation and invoicing.
• Coordinate staff, suppliers and installation contractors to achieve agreed schedules and quality standards.
• Monitor job progress, outstanding work, cost variations and completion documentation.
• Ensure changes to customer requirements are documented, priced and approved appropriately.
• Address delays, quality concerns and resource constraints, escalating significant issues to the Director.

5. Procurement and Inventory

• Oversee supplier selection, purchasing arrangements and delivery performance.
• Balance stock availability with working-capital requirements.
• Maintain effective procedures for receiving, recording, storing and issuing stock.
• Review slow-moving stock, product wastage, shortages and stock discrepancies.
• Evaluate supplier pricing, product quality and reliability, and recommend improvements.

6. People Management

• Plan staffing requirements and recommend recruitment or changes to responsibilities.
• Recruit within approved authority and oversee induction and training.
• Set clear objectives, allocate work and conduct regular performance reviews.
• Address performance concerns and promote effective communication across the business.
• Maintain clear accountability between employees and external service providers.

7. Risk, Safety and Business Controls

• Maintain operational procedures for purchasing, quotation approval, payment collection and record keeping.
• Oversee workplace and installation-related safety processes, including contractor coordination and incident reporting.
• Monitor operational risks and implement practical controls.
• Coordinate with external advisers on accounting, employment, insurance and other specialist matters.
• Escalate material financial, contractual, safety or reputational issues promptly.

8. Reporting to the Director

• Provide a monthly report covering financial results, cash flow, overdue accounts, sales pipeline, stock, work in progress and staffing.
• Explain significant variances and recommend corrective action.
• Seek approval for decisions outside delegated authority.
• Track implementation of agreed business priorities.

Decision-Making Authority

Within approved budgets and written delegations, the General Manager may allocate resources, manage routine expenditure, negotiate trading terms and make day-to-day operational decisions.

Borrowing, major capital expenditure, commitments outside approved budgets and material changes to business strategy require the Director’s approval. Specific financial and employment approval limits will be documented separately.

Person Specification

Essential

• At least five years of relevant management experience, including responsibility for operations, financial performance and staff.
• Practical experience in budgeting, cost control and commercial decision-making.
• Demonstrated ability to coordinate multiple business functions and improve operating processes.
• Strong customer relationship, negotiation and people-management skills.
• Ability to interpret financial reports and use business information to make decisions.
• Effective communication, organisation and problem-solving skills.

Desirable

• A qualification in business, management, finance or a related discipline.
• Experience in flooring, building products, distribution or a comparable sales-and-service business.
• Experience managing suppliers, inventory, contractors or project delivery.
• Experience improving business systems or management reporting.