Chief Financial & Operations Officer

Absolute Recruit; Greater London; On-site; GBP 260,000 - 300,000; Full time

Job summary

An international payments business is seeking an experienced CFO to lead the financial strategy and governance across the UK and Middle East. The successful candidate will shape the commercial strategy and oversee financial reporting, budgeting, and compliance. This role requires proven experience in financial services and the ability to work across cultures. Frequent travel to the Middle East will be expected. A unique opportunity to influence a rapidly growing business in the payments sector.

Qualifications

• Proven CFO or senior finance executive within financial services.
• Deep understanding of regulated environments and cross-border payments.
• Comfortable working across cultures and travelling regularly.

Responsibilities

• Lead financial strategy ensuring alignment with group growth objectives.
• Own all financial reporting, budgeting, and statutory accounts for the group.
• Partner with product and operations teams to improve financial performance.

Skills

Financial strategy alignment

Financial governance

Cross-border payments insight

Strong commercial acumen

Exceptional communication skills

Job description

Salary: £260000 - £300000

Location: Central London

Contract Type: Permanent

A high-growth international payments business operating across the UK and the Middle East, seek an experienced CFO.

Location: UK (London preferred)

Travel: Frequent travel to Dubai & Saudi Arabia

Sector: International Payments / Financial Services

About the Company

Our client is a high-growth international payments business operating across the UK and the Middle East. With a strong foothold in digital cross-border payments, FX solutions and B2B financial services, the organisation is scaling rapidly and requires a commercially minded CFO to help drive its next phase of expansion.

The Opportunity

As CFO, you will join the executive leadership team and act as a strategic partner to the CEO and Board. You will be responsible for leading the global finance function, strengthening financial governance, and shaping commercial strategy across multiple jurisdictions. This is a rare opportunity to influence a fast-evolving payments business with significant international reach.

Key Responsibilities

Strategic Leadership & Governance

• Lead the financial strategy, ensuring alignment with group growth objectives across the UK and Middle East.
• Serve as a key advisor to the CEO and Board on performance, capital allocation, investment decisions, and long-term planning.
• Oversee group financial governance, risk management and compliance across multiple regulatory environments (including FCA and Middle Eastern regulators).

Financial Management & Reporting

• Own all financial reporting, budgeting, forecasting, and statutory accounts for the group.
• Enhance the quality, accuracy, and timeliness of management information to support commercial decision-making.
• Lead treasury management, liquidity planning, FX exposure management and working capital optimisation.

Commercial & Operational Leadership

• Partner with product, operations and technology teams to improve financial performance and unit economics across international payment products.
• Evaluate commercial opportunities in new markets, including Saudi Arabia and the UAE.
• Lead on M&A activity, including due diligence, integration and post-deal optimisation.

Team & Stakeholder Management

• Build and develop high-performing finance teams in the UK and Middle East.
• Manage relationships with banks, auditors, regulators, and external advisors.
• Act as a senior representative of the business when engaging with investors and strategic partners.

Candidate Profile

• Proven CFO (or senior finance executive) within financial services, payments, FX, digital banking, or fintech.
• Deep understanding of regulated environments, international financial operations, and cross-border payments.
• Strong commercial acumen, with experience driving profitability and scaling operations internationally.
• Comfortable working across cultures and travelling regularly to the Middle East.
• Exceptional communication skills with the ability to operate at Board level.