FINANCIAL DIRECTOR / CFO

THE ROLE

Reporting to the CEO the FD/CFO will be accountable for both Finance and IT.

They will join the Board and be involved in the operational leadership of the business, contributing to both strategic development and day-to-day business management.

They will be the champion of driving profitability in the business - this is as much about making  good investments in sites, systems, people and marketing as it is on cost control. They will be a business partner to all parts of the business.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

·        Create a first class financial and management reporting environment with particular attention to developing exceptional cashflow, working capital and forecasting models

·        Maintain efficient and robust financial systems and controls necessary to produce timely and accurate business reporting and analysis for all stakeholders from Board to individual sites, including weekly and monthly business performance, balanced scorecards, KPI delivery and banking covenants

·        Managing cash and banking to ensure the business has enough cash for growth and sufficient headroom

·        Creating a plan and managing the implementation of IT systems to support the operations of the business

·        Continuous development and implementation of the company’s internal finance and business systems appropriate to address on-going business growth

·        Ensure that finance works in conjunction with other functions across the business

·        Delivery of annual planning processes, including annual budgeting

·        Commercial analysis in support of both strategic and tactical business decision-making including roll-out strategy, product innovation, pricing decisions and marketing activity

·        Ensure that all external reporting obligations are met with auditors, lending banks, HMRC and Companies House (including Company Secretarial responsibilities)

·        Ensure business system risks are properly assessed and managed.

·        Board lead on business procurement and negotiation for key spend areas, including consumables, utilities and insurance, working closely across internal departments and building strong relationships with suppliers

·        Play a lead role in the execution of major financial transactions such as refinancing, site acquisitions and debt finance

Until now there has been limited internal finance resource with the majority of financial requirements being outsourced. It will be part of the FD’s role to assess the suitability of these arrangements and decide if it is appropriate to build internal resource as an alternative to outsourcing, but in the short to medium term it is the intention to retain this supplier.

[Reporting directly to the FD will be (TBC).. The FD will be responsible for reviewing the performance of this team and developing skills and structures as required.]

SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE

MUST-HAVES:

• Recent FD experience in high growth SME (£20-£50m), ideally multi-site
• Proven track record of driving profitability.
• Banking experience
• Qualified Accountant (preferably ACA)
• Strong oversight of IT and business systems.

NICE TO HAVE:

• Private Equity (PE) experience
• D2C experience
• Hospitality/Food experience

COMPETENCIES AND LEADERSHIP CHARACTERISTICS

• Gravitas and confidence in Board-level interactions.
• Thinks like a business owner, not an employee
• Excellent communication and presentation skills.
• Strong commercial acumen and ability to prioritise effectively.
• Analytical, proactive, and strategic problem-solver.
• A collaborative team player who also thrives in independent settings.
• Enthusiasm for developing and mentoring team members.
• Self-awareness, high energy, and a commitment to driving business success.