CFO

Phipps Cameron Recruitment; Greater London; On-site; GBP 180,000 - 300,000; Full time

Job summary

Phipps Cameron Recruitment is seeking a seasoned Group CFO for a PE-backed Pan-European platform with a buy-and-build strategy. The role requires steering growth, acquisitions, and value creation across multiple jurisdictions.

You will partner with the CEO, Board, and shareholders to shape the strategic and financial direction of the group. The successful candidate will lead an international finance function, drive integration post-acquisitions, and oversee performance metrics, reporting, and

Qualifications

• Significant experience as a Group CFO / divisional CFO in PE-backed firms.
• Proven track record in exits.
• Experience executing a buy-and-build / acquisition strategy.
• Strong M&A experience from origination to post-deal integration.
• Ability to operate across complex Pan-European / multi-country environments.

Responsibilities

• Strategic leadership to develop and execute growth strategy with the Board.
• Lead the Buy-and-build acquisition programme, including due diligence.
• Oversee multi-country finance across currencies and legal entities.
• Drive performance management with robust forecasting and KPIs.

Skills

Group CFO

M&A

Buy-and-build

Pan-European

Exit planning

Stakeholder mgmt

Job description

Group Chief Financial Officer

Reporting to: Group CEO

Exposure: High interaction with shareholders, Board, senior leadership and operational stakeholders across a Pan-European group

Business Overview

London-headquartered, PE-backed Pan-European blue-collar business services group with approximately £200m of revenue and operations across multiple European markets.

The Group operates within a fragmented sector and is pursuing an ambitious buy-and-build strategy, with further acquisitions planned to accelerate growth, expand geographic coverage and increase market share.

Role Context

This is a senior Group CFO role within a complex, acquisitive Pan-European platform. The CFO will play a central role in shaping and executing the Group's growth strategy, working closely with the CEO, Board and shareholders across M&A, integration, performance improvement, financing and exit planning.

The role requires an experienced PE-backed CFO who can operate effectively across multiple jurisdictions and businesses, balancing strategic leadership with strong commercial and financial oversight.

Key Responsibilities

• Strategic leadership: Partner with the Group CEO and Board to develop and execute the Group's growth strategy, with particular focus on organic growth, M&A and value creation.

• Buy-and-build: Lead the financial strategy and execution of the Group's acquisition programme, including evaluation, due diligence, funding, transaction structuring and integration.

• Exit leadership: Lead the finance workstream for a future exit, including shareholder reporting, preparation for sale, financial due diligence, equity story development and engagement with prospective investors.

• Pan-European finance: Oversee a complex, multi-country finance function across multiple jurisdictions, currencies, legal entities and reporting frameworks.

• Performance management: Establish robust Group reporting, forecasting and KPI frameworks, providing the CEO and Board with clear insight into performance, profitability and value creation.

• Integration: Drive the financial and operational integration of acquired businesses, including systems, processes, reporting, controls and organisational structure.

• Commercial finance: Act as a key commercial partner to the CEO and operational leadership, supporting pricing, margin improvement, investment decisions and broader business performance.

• Finance transformation: Continue to professionalise and scale the Group finance function, improving processes, systems, controls and reporting as the business grows.

• Stakeholder management: Build strong relationships with the Board, PE shareholders, lenders, advisers and senior operational leaders across the Group.

• Team leadership: Lead, develop and structure a high-performing international finance team capable of supporting continued acquisition-led growth.

Candidate Profile

Looking for an experienced PE-backed Group CFO with a proven track record of leading businesses through significant growth, acquisition and exit cycles.

Key attributes:

• Significant experience as a Group CFO / divisional CFO within a PE-backed environment

• Proven track record of leading or materially contributing to successful exits

• Extensive experience executing a buy-and-build / acquisition strategy

• Strong M&A experience spanning origination, due diligence, transaction execution and post-deal integration

• Experience operating within a complex Pan-European / multi-country environment

• Background in blue-collar, industrial, facilities, infrastructure, field-based or business services

• Strong commercial orientation with experience driving EBITDA growth, margin improvement and value creation

• Comfortable operating across multiple entities, jurisdictions, currencies and regulatory environments

• Credible Board and PE shareholder-level presence

• Strong leadership capability, with experience building and developing international finance teams

• Able to operate strategically with the CEO and shareholders while maintaining sufficient attention to operational and financial detail

• Experience preparing an organisation for, and leading finance through, a PE transaction or exit process