CFO PE-Backed Multisite Education business

JR United Kingdom; Guildford; On-site; GBP 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading PE-backed multisite education business in Guildford is seeking a CFO to navigate a complex stakeholder environment and drive financial performance. This strategic role involves transformation and expansion of finance operations while ensuring compliance with regulatory requirements. Ideal candidates will have extensive experience in divisional finance roles within a PE-backed environment and possess strong leadership capabilities.

Qualifications

• Experience as a divisional Finance Director or Financial Controller.
• Proven expertise in managing financial processes.
• Demonstrable transactional experience, including acquisitions and integrations.

Responsibilities

• Drive financial performance and support company growth.
• Manage multi-site operations and relationships with stakeholders.
• Ensure compliance with financial regulations and reporting requirements.

Skills

Financial performance management

Stakeholder engagement

Financial change implementation

Job description

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CFO PE-Backed Multisite Education business, Guildford

Client:

Location:

Guildford, United Kingdom

Job Category:

Other

EU work permit required:

Yes

Job Views:

3

Posted:

04.06.2025

Expiry Date:

19.07.2025

Job Description:

Marks Sattin Executive Search is partnering with a PE-Backed Multisite Education business to appoint a commercially astute and strategic CFO.

This is a key leadership role, with responsibility for driving financial performance, supporting continued growth, and preparing the business for a successful exit, while also shaping its journey beyond that milestone.

The business requires a CFO who can confidently navigate a complex stakeholder environment, including engagement with the Board, private equity sponsors, lending banks, and external stakeholders. The successful candidate will ensure rigorous financial controls, robust reporting structures, and full compliance with regulatory and transparency requirements, especially those set by public sector partners.

As a central figure in the business’s next stage of evolution, you will lead the finance function through transformation and expansion. This includes managing finance operations, delivering high-quality, timely reporting, and embedding strong KPIs, governance, and financial frameworks to support strategic decision-making and sustainable growth.

The client would consider candidates stepping into their first standalone CFO role within a PE-backed environment, especially those currently at Divisional Finance Director or Financial Controller level who possess the right blend of commercial insight, operational rigour, and leadership capability.

The ideal candidates:

• Have experience as a divisional Finance Director or Financial Controller in a PE-backed business, ideally within the consumer services sector or a business providing services to public sector partners.
• Proven expertise managing financial processes and building strong relationships with local authorities.
• Demonstrable transactional experience, including acquisitions, integrations, consolidations, and successful private equity exits.
• Experience managing multi-site operations and complex stakeholder relationships.
• A hands-on, growth-focused approach, with practical experience implementing financial change in regulated environments.

Due to high application volume, only relevant candidates will be contacted.