Chief Financial Officer

CMA Recruitment Group; Essex; Hybrid; GBP 150,000 - 200,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading recruitment agency is seeking an Interim CFO for a company undergoing transformation in Essex, UK. This role offers a competitive day rate and hybrid working, requiring strong financial leadership, operational finance expertise, and excellent communication skills. The successful candidate will lead financial governance, manage stakeholder relationships, and prepare detailed financial reports during a pivotal growth phase.

Benefits

Competitive day rate

Hybrid working

Key role in a PE-backed growth journey

Qualifications

• Significant senior finance leadership experience, ideally in a PE-backed or high-growth SME environment.
• Demonstrated expertise in managing banking covenants and reporting.
• Comfortable being hands-on when needed.

Responsibilities

• Lead and oversee all financial management and reporting functions.
• Partner with stakeholders to deliver strategic insights and financial plans.
• Manage banking relationships and ensure robust reporting.
• Oversee preparation of management accounts and board packs.

Skills

Financial leadership in PE-backed environments

Operational finance expertise

Excellent communication skills

Hands-on finance experience

Education

Qualified Accountant (ACA, ACCA, CIMA or equivalent)

Job description

CMA Executive Recruitment is thrilled to be retained by this leading, fully certified contractor delivering 24/7 maintenance, and surveying services to residential, commercial, and public-sector clients across London and the Southeast, to identify an interim CFO for an initial period of 6 months.

With a strong technical foundation, long-term customer relationships, and recent private equity investment, our client is entering an exciting phase of strategic growth and integration, including the acquisition of complementary businesses.

What will the CFO role involve?

We are seeking an Interim CFO to provide hands‑on financial leadership during a pivotal period of transformation. Reporting directly to the CEO and the Board, the Interim CFO will play a critical role in strengthening financial governance, optimising financial performance, and supporting ongoing PE stakeholder engagement.

This role will suit a commercially astute, pragmatic finance leader who thrives in a fast‑paced, operational environment and has experience managing PE stakeholders, improving systems and controls, and driving performance visibility across multi‑site operations.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead and oversee all financial management, accounting, reporting, and treasury functions.
• Partner with the CEO, Board, and PE investors to deliver strategic insights and actionable financial plans.
• Manage banking relationships, oversee covenant compliance, and ensure robust reporting and forecasting in line with private equity debt requirements.
• Strengthen financial governance, control frameworks, and compliance processes.
• Manage post‑acquisition integration, harmonising reporting and financial systems across acquired entities.
• Oversee preparation of management accounts, statutory reporting, and board packs.
• Support strategic decision‑making through detailed forecasting, cash flow modelling, and scenario planning.
• Lead budgeting and performance review processes, identifying opportunities to optimise costs and enhance margin.
• Build and mentor the finance team, fostering a culture of accountability and continuous improvement.

Suitable Candidate for the CFO / Finance Director vacancy

We welcome candidates with experience as a CFO or Finance Director, particularly those from a facilities management, engineering, or related service industries background.

• Qualified Accountant (ACA, ACCA, CIMA or equivalent).
• Significant senior finance leadership experience, ideally in a PE‑backed or high‑growth SME environment.
• Demonstrated expertise in managing banking covenants, PE debt facilities, and investor reporting.
• Strong operational finance experience, comfortable being hands‑on when needed.
• Excellent communication skills with the ability to influence senior stakeholders and investors.

What s on Offer

• Competitive day rate (dependent on experience).
• Opportunity to play a key role in a PE‑backed growth journey.
• Hybrid working.
• A chance to shape the financial strategy of a market‑leading, fast‑growing company with an established reputation for technical excellence and customer service.

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