Chief Financial Officer

Heidi Wright Recruitment

Carlisle

On-site

GBP 120,000 - 150,000

Full time

3 days ago

Be an early applicant

A complete application in a minute

Tailored resume and cover letter, ready to send.

Get past ATS filters

Benefits offered by this job

Salary range £120,000–£150,000

Equity participation potential

25 days annual leave + bank holidays

5% employer pension contribution

Executive package

Job summary

Heidi Wright Recruitment is representing a growing private business in Cumbria seeking a commercially driven Chief Financial Officer to join the senior leadership team and work closely with the owner and Managing Director.

The role combines strategic leadership with financial stewardship, investment appraisal, and organisational improvement to support ambitious, sustainable growth. Strong commercial acumen and a proactive, entrepreneurial mindset are essential.

Qualifications

Qualified accountant with substantial senior leadership experience.
Broader commercial capabilities beyond the finance function.
Energy, ambition and capability to influence strategic growth.

Responsibilities

Shape and deliver the business's long-term strategic objectives with the MD.
Provide commercial insight and challenge major business decisions.
Evaluate growth opportunities, acquisitions, partnerships and capital investments.
Drive profitability, cash generation and operational performance via financial analysis.
Develop financial and operational KPIs to improve visibility and accountability.
Lead funding, banking relationships and investment planning.
Strengthen governance, risk management and internal controls.
Lead and empower the finance function, fostering a proactive, commercially focused team.
Collaborate across the business to identify opportunities and drive continuous improvement.

Skills

Qualified accountant

Senior leadership experience

Commercial acumen

Strategic thinking

Leadership presence

Job description

An exceptional opportunity for a commercially driven CFO with the ambition and leadership qualities to help shape the future of a growing private business.

Heidi Wright Recruitment is delighted to be exclusively representing a successful, medium-sized, privately owned business in Cumbria in the appointment of a Chief Financial Officer.

Established, profitable and growing at pace, the business has ambitious plans for its next phase of development, encompassing organic growth, strategic investment, potential acquisitions and further expansion.

This is a significant executive appointment, offering the opportunity to work directly alongside the owner and Managing Director, with genuine influence over business strategy, commercial performance and long-term direction.

We are looking for considerably more than a technically accomplished finance professional. The successful individual will bring the commercial instinct, strategic thinking, leadership presence and entrepreneurial drive to help take an already successful business to the next level.

The Opportunity

As CFO, you will become a key member of the senior leadership team and a trusted strategic partner to the Managing Director.

Your remit will extend well beyond traditional financial stewardship, combining strategic leadership with commercial decision‑making, business development, investment appraisal and organisational improvement.

You will play an instrumental role in strengthening the business's financial and operational infrastructure, providing the insight, challenge and leadership required to support ambitious and sustainable growth.

Key areas of responsibility will include:

Working closely with the Managing Director to shape and deliver the business's long-term strategic objectives.

Providing commercial insight, constructive challenge and informed leadership across major business decisions.

Evaluating growth opportunities, potential acquisitions, strategic partnerships and significant capital investments.

Driving profitability, cash generation and operational performance through meaningful financial analysis and management information.

Developing financial and operational KPIs that provide greater visibility, accountability and support for decision‑making.

Leading financial strategy, funding arrangements, banking relationships and investment planning.

Strengthening corporate governance, risk management, internal controls and commercial compliance.

Leading, developing and empowering the finance function, creating a proactive, commercially focused team.

Working collaboratively across the wider business to identify opportunities, challenge established thinking and drive continuous improvement.

About You

We are particularly interested in speaking with accomplished CFOs and Finance Directors who have demonstrated the ability to influence business performance and contribute meaningfully to strategic growth.

You will be a qualified accountant with substantial senior leadership experience, but equally important will be your broader commercial capabilities and the value you can bring beyond the finance function.

We are looking for someone who can demonstrate:

A successful track record in a senior finance leadership role, with genuine involvement in business strategy and executive decision-making.

Strong commercial acumen and the confidence to operate as a business leader, rather than solely a finance specialist.

Experience supporting growth, investment, funding and ideally acquisitions or other significant strategic developments.

The ability to translate complex financial information into clear, commercially focused recommendations.

A sound understanding of corporate governance, business risk, contractual matters and wider commercial responsibilities.

Strong leadership qualities, credibility and the confidence to influence, challenge and inspire at the highest level.

An entrepreneurial, pragmatic and solutions‑focused approach, comfortable balancing strategic ambition with operational realities.

Experience within a privately owned, entrepreneurial or growing medium-sized business would be particularly relevant, although we are open to candidates from a variety of industry backgrounds.

Above all, we are seeking an individual with the energy, ambition and capability to make a tangible difference.

Why Consider This Opportunity?

This is an opportunity to join a successful business at an exciting stage in its development, with the financial strength, ambition and appetite to pursue significant future growth.

You will work closely with an ambitious owner and Managing Director who recognises the importance of securing exceptional executive talent and is prepared to offer a competitive package that reflects the value the right individual can bring.

There is genuine scope to influence the future of the organisation, contribute to major strategic decisions and play a defining role in its next chapter.

Remuneration & Benefits