CFO PE Backed Multisite Education business

Marks Sattin Executive Search; Manchester; On-site; GBP 100,000 - 150,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading executive search firm is seeking a CFO for a PE-backed multisite education business in Manchester. The role requires strategic leadership to drive financial performance while ensuring compliance and building robust relationships with stakeholders. Ideal candidates will have experience in a similar role and a background in managing financial processes within regulated environments. This position offers an opportunity for leadership and transformation in a rapidly evolving business landscape.

Qualifications

• Experience as a divisional Finance Director or Financial Controller in a PE‑Backed environment.
• Demonstrable transactional experience, including acquisitions and successful private equity exits.
• Experience managing multi‑site operations and complex stakeholder relationships.

Responsibilities

• Drive financial performance and support growth strategies.
• Ensure rigorous financial controls and compliance with regulatory requirements.
• Lead the finance function through transformation and expansion.

Skills

Commercial insight

Operational rigour

Leadership capability

Managing financial processes

Building relationships with local authorities

Education

Qualified Accountant (ACA/ACCA/ACMA)

Job description

Overview

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, regularly engaging 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 both regulatory and transparency requirements, particularly 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 a period of transformation and expansion, managing day‑to‑day finance operations, delivering high‑quality, timely reporting, and embedding strong KPIs, governance, and financial frameworks that support strategic decision‑making and sustainable growth. Uniquely, the client would consider candidates stepping into their first standalone CFO role within a PE‑backed environment, particularly those currently operating at Divisional Finance Director or Financial Controller level who bring the right blend of commercial insight, operational rigour, and leadership capability. Due to the high level of applications, we can only reply to those candidates with relevant experience.

Qualifications

• Qualified Accountant (ACA/ACCA/ACMA).
• Experience as a divisional Finance Director or Financial Controller in a PE‑Backed environment, ideally within the consumer services sector business 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 in successfully implementing financial change in regulated environments.