Chief Financial Officer

We are working with a large, international business in the professional and business services sector to appoint a new CFO.

This is a particularly challenging appointment. The business is facing significant operational, financial and structural challenges, with pressure on cash, profitability and overall business performance.

The organisation has grown through acquisition, creating a complex operating structure with multiple systems, inconsistent processes and areas where financial controls and reporting need considerable improvement.

We need an experienced CFO who has operated in difficult business environments before. Someone who understands cash pressure, can lead significant operational and structural change, make difficult decisions and bring greater financial discipline to the organisation.

This is a demanding role, both in terms of workload and the decisions that will need to be made. We need someone robust, resilient and decisive, with the leadership experience to manage a large finance function while working closely with the Board to address the wider business challenges.

There is a substantial amount to do, and the successful candidate will need to be comfortable taking responsibility for difficult issues from day one.

The Role

You will lead a large, international finance function with a significant number of direct reports, taking responsibility for all aspects of financial management, reporting, planning and control.

The business has a complex structure, with multiple systems and processes following a period of acquisition activity. There are issues that need addressing, but also opportunities to improve how the business operates.

The initial priorities will be improving financial visibility, managing cash, strengthening controls and building a more effective finance function.

There is also a wider operational challenge. We need someone who can work across the business, challenge existing practices, improve accountability and make decisions that lead to measurable improvements.

Key areas of responsibility include:

• Leading the finance function, developing the team and addressing gaps in capability and performance.
• Improving cash management, working capital, liquidity and profitability.
• Strengthening financial reporting, governance, risk management and internal controls.
• Developing commercial FP&A, with better forecasting, analysis and management information.
• Leading improvements to financial systems, processes and reporting following historical acquisitions.
• Working with operational leaders to improve efficiency, cost management and commercial performance.
• Supporting the Board with financial planning, business performance and strategic decisions.
• Managing relationships with auditors, banks, investors and other external stakeholders.
• Establishing clear accountability and a stronger risk and control culture across the business.

What We're Looking For:

We are looking for an established CFO or Finance Director with experience in large, complex businesses, ideally within business or professional services.

The experience we're particularly interested in includes:

• Previous CFO or senior Finance Director experience, ideally with significant Board exposure.
• Experience within business services or similar environments with high operating costs, people-intensive delivery models and relatively low margins.
• A strong technical accounting background, ideally Big Four trained.
• Proven experience leading financial, operational and structural change, particularly in underperforming or complex businesses.
• Experience operating in businesses under significant cash pressure, including improving liquidity, working capital and financial stability.
• Strong commercial finance and FP&A experience, with the ability to use financial information to influence operational decisions.
• A good understanding of financial risk, governance, reporting and internal controls.
• Strong leadership experience, including managing sizeable teams, developing people and making difficult decisions when required.
• Experience managing senior stakeholders, including Boards, investors, auditors and banking relationships.
• A track record of staying with businesses long enough to deliver meaningful change and demonstrate results.

Leadership and Approach

The leadership side of this appointment is particularly important.

We need someone decisive, commercially capable and comfortable challenging people at all levels.

There will be difficult conversations, competing priorities and decisions that won't always be popular.

Equally, we need someone who understands the importance of financial control, compliance and managing risk. The business needs stronger foundations, better information and a finance function that can support both the immediate challenges and longer-term plans.

This isn't simply a financial restructuring exercise. There are wider operational and structural issues that need addressing, and the successful candidate will need to work closely with the leadership team to make meaningful changes across the organisation.

We need someone who can operate at Board level but is equally comfortable getting into the detail, understanding the issues and taking responsibility for resolving them.

This is a substantial role that will require commitment, resilience, strong leadership and the ability to perform under pressure.

If you've operated in a challenging business environment, dealt with significant cash pressure, led operational change and have the experience to take on a role of this scale, we'd be interested in speaking with you.