CFO PE-Backed Multisite Education business

JR United Kingdom; Preston; On-site; GBP 100,000 - 200,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading PE-backed multisite education business in Preston is looking for a CFO to drive financial performance and support growth. The ideal candidate will bring experience as a divisional Finance Director or Financial Controller, alongside the ability to manage complex stakeholder relationships. This pivotal role involves leading the finance function through transformation while ensuring compliance and strategic decision-making. Perfect for candidates ready to step into their first standalone CFO position.

Qualifications

• Experience as a divisional Finance Director or Financial Controller in a PE-backed business.
• Proven expertise managing financial processes and relationships with local authorities.
• Demonstrable transactional experience including acquisitions and private equity exits.

Responsibilities

• Lead financial performance, support growth, and ensure compliance with regulatory requirements.
• Manage finance operations, delivering high-quality reporting and embedding KPIs.
• Navigate complex stakeholder environments including engagement with the Board and external partners.

Skills

Financial management

Stakeholder engagement

Commercial insight

Operational rigor

Leadership

Job description

Social network you want to login/join with:

CFO PE-Backed Multisite Education business, Preston, Lancashire

col-narrow-left

Client:

Location:

Preston, Lancashire, United Kingdom

Job Category:

Other

-

EU work permit required:

Yes

col-narrow-right

Job Views:

3

Posted:

04.06.2025

Expiry Date:

19.07.2025

col-wide

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. This includes regular 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 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. This includes day-to-day management of 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.

The Ideal candidates:

• Experience as a divisional Finance Director or Financial Controller in a PE-Backed 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.

Due to the high level of applications, we can only reply to those candidates with relevant experience.