Finance Director

Overview

Finance Director / CFO – Fast growing premium consumer brand | London UK
4 days in office

An established and fast growing premium consumer brand is seeking a senior finance leader to join its executive team and support the next phase of its international growth.

The business has developed a strong international presence across digital and physical retail, with a growing multi-site footprint across multiple markets. The successful candidate will play a central role in shaping the financial strategy of the business, driving performance and ensuring the finance function continues to evolve with the scale and complexity of the organisation.

Working closely with the Founder and senior leadership team, this is a broad commercial leadership role spanning financial strategy, planning, performance, operational efficiency and team leadership.

Key Responsibilities:

1. Strategic & Commercial Finance

• Develop and execute the financial strategy in support of the company’s long-term objectives.
• Partner with the Founder and executive team on business strategy, growth initiatives, investment decisions and resource allocation.
• Lead budgeting, forecasting and long-term financial planning.
• Provide clear financial and commercial insight to support strategic decision-making.
• Drive improvements in profitability, operational efficiency, cost management and resource allocation.

2. Financial Management

• Oversee financial reporting, management information and performance analysis.
• Ensure robust financial controls, governance, processes and systems are in place as the business scales.
• Oversee cash flow, working capital and liquidity management.
• Provide financial oversight across inventory, gross margin, store economics and profitability.
• Identify and manage financial risks while maintaining appropriate regulatory compliance.

3. International & Multi-Site Operations

• Provide financial leadership across a multi-site, multi-market international operation.
• Support international expansion, including the financial assessment of new markets, stores and commercial initiatives.
• Establish appropriate performance reporting across locations and jurisdictions.
• Partner with commercial and operational leadership to improve performance across the physical and digital estate.

4. Leadership & Stakeholders

• Lead, develop and build a high performing finance team.
• Act as a trusted financial advisor to the Founder, executive team and Board.
• Build strong relationships with banks, auditors, advisors and other external financial partners.
• Ensure the finance function develops in line with the increasing scale and complexity of the business.

Experience:

The successful candidate will bring a combination of senior finance leadership, large-scale multi-site experience and strong commercial judgement.

• Significant senior finance experience at Finance Director, CFO, or equivalent level.
• Professionally qualified accountant – ACA, ACCA, CIMA or equivalent.
• Proven experience within a larger-scale, multi-site business is essential, ideally with a significant physical retail or operational footprint.
• Experience within luxury, premium consumer, fashion, retail or another relevant product-led sector.
• Proven experience operating across multiple markets and jurisdictions.
• Experience supporting international expansion and growth, including new locations, markets or channels.
• Strong commercial finance and strategic planning capability, underpinned by a robust technical finance foundation.
• Strong understanding of store economics, gross margin, inventory, working capital, cash management and profitability.
• Track record of strengthening finance processes, systems, controls and reporting as businesses grow in scale and complexity.
• Experience building, leading and developing high performing finance teams.
• Strong executive presence and communication skills, with the ability to partner effectively with a Founder, Board and senior leadership team.
• A pragmatic, commercially minded and hands-on approach, with the ability to operate across both strategic and operational matters.