Chief Financial Officer

Blair West are supporting our Private Equity backed client, a sector leading wholesale and value added distribution business, with the search for a CFO as part of the next phase of growth.

Our client continues to scale impressively, outperforming the market, and has significantly invested in its platform following receiving investment from a leading mid-market PE fund in recent years. Together with the investor, the CEO is seeking a dynamic, high calibre CFO, with experience of Private Equity and leading growth within this or a comparable industry.

The opportunity:

• This is the rare opportunity to join the board of an outstanding business, backed by a supportive PE investor, providing key contribution through board level leadership. This is a key role, with broad responsibility across Finance, Data, Programmes and IT.
• The finance team and operational structure is in a good place, with considerable investment made to date. The new CFO will need to ensure they “get the data” right to unlock future growth and efficiency potential, as well as lead on several value-creating strategic projects.
• The business has worked hard to secure its market position, differentiating from competitors with product range, quality and service. Defending this position, and indeed taking further market share, is key to delivering the growth plan.
• The CFO will need to understand wholesale, distribution, or adjacent industry KPIs, including supply chain management and working capital strategy.
• They will need to quickly build rapport with the CEO and wider team, ensuring strong relationships across the business, with a low-ego, high-impact style.

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

• A proven track record in senior finance leadership within distribution, manufacturing, or adjacent sectors.
• Experience in PE-backed businesses, including investor and stakeholder management.
• Strong financial planning, analysis, and strategic execution capabilities.
• Expertise in operational improvement and cost control.
• Exposure to growth planning and exit readiness (trade sale or PE exit).
• Ability to lead and develop a high  performing finance team.
• Experience of leading major site moves will be beneficial.
• Excellent communication skills, being comfortable leading on boardroom discussion and capable of constructive challenge and expressing their opinion.
• Resilience, demonstrated in a dynamic, fast-changing environment.
• High commercial acuity, with a detail focus and willingness to roll sleeves up.
• A collaborative leadership style aligned with the business’s culture: ambitious with a strong work ethic, being humble and a good team player.
• A Hands-on approach, comfortable moving between boardroom and operational detail.

The benefits included with this opportunity:

• Competitive basic salary dependant on experience.
• 25 days holiday plus public holidays.
• Option to purchase additional annual leave (up to 3 days).
• Private Medical Insurance for family.
• Cash health plan (money back for dentist, opticians, physio etc.).
• Life assurance (4 x salary).
• Staff discount on ALL products.
• Pension (3% employer and 5% employee).

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. If you require reasonable adjustments at any stage during their experience with us, please speak to their consultant.