Blair West is supporting a rapid growth, Private Equity backed business services firm with the confidential search for a Group FD. The business is seeking to appoint an experienced and strategic finance leader to play a vital role in delivering an ambitious growth plan which is underpinned by a series of strategic acquisitions. The Group FD will lead a growing finance team and support the Group MD and CEO through strategic, commercial and analytical insight as the business scales.

Our client is a well-established, highly regarded technical business services firm with a multi-disciplined offering and a reputation for service quality. Following PE investment and several acquisitions completed to date, the business provides the platform for significant, accelerated growth.

The appointment of an experienced finance professional with relevant field-based industry experience who fits with the dynamic of a highly entrepreneurial boardroom is a key element of the growth plan. This is the opportunity to join an ambitious business as a vital part of the leadership that will take the company through sustained, transformative growth.

The opportunity:

• Responsibility for designing and delivering the finance and legal strategies that support the mission, vision, and wider business strategy and are aligned with Company values.
• Lead and develop the finance function, bringing an in-depth knowledge of commercial finance, fundraising, corporate structuring, and M&A and upskilling the team where appropriate.
• Lead ongoing and future strategic growth projects, driving analysis, financial modelling and strategic insight workflows.
• Oversee the approval and processing of revenue, expenditure, payroll, ledger, account maintenance and data entry.
• Oversee and produce, on a timely basis, consolidated and divisional monthly management accounts (P&L, Balance Sheet & Cashflow) and KPI reporting packs.
• Be an inspirational leader, driving accountability for achieving measurable shareholder value, developing internal talent, and identifying external talent who can deliver.
• Collaborate with other key central functions, providing support and positive challenges to each function’s senior leaders.
• Oversee and produce detailed group, divisional, departmental and team annual budgets for board approval.
• Provide strategic financial advice and support to the Leadership Team, providing insight to aid decision-making.
• Drive financial performance and improve business profitability, maintaining a relentless focus on cash flow.
• Identify areas requiring improved robust financial controls and processes that drive stakeholder accountability, maintaining a cost-efficient culture.
• Support the CEO with management of external stakeholder relationships, including capital providers, and lead on advisor and investor interactions.

You’ll be the ideal candidate for this position if you have:

• A proven CFO with leadership experience in high-growth, entrepreneurial businesses.
• High energy and ambitious, with a growth mindset.
• Experience with previous board-level CFO / FD responsibilities.
• Experience with cash management.
• Excellent commercial acumen.
• An outcomes and solutions-focused, technically excellent senior finance professional.
• M&A and Private Equity Experience.
• Self-confidence with leadership experience.

Our commitment:

Blair West is an equal-opportunity employer. We embrace diversity and inclusion at every stage of the recruitment process. We are committed to fairness, equality, and ongoing diversity training for our team to give our candidates and clients a feeling of belonging during their experience with us. Please speak to their consultant if you require reasonable adjustments at any stage during their experience with us. 

If you’d like to speak to someone about this opportunity:

Chris Marshall:  chris@blairwest.co.uk / 07468359511