Corporate Finance Director / Partner

Armstrong Watson LLP; Leeds; On-site; GBP 100,000 - 180,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Pension plan

Annual leave (generous)

Smart working policy

Health plan

Employee assistance programme

Job summary

Armstrong Watson LLP is seeking an experienced Corporate Finance Director/Partner to lead and grow our Corporate Finance practice in Leeds. The role emphasizes client delivery, leadership of a high-performing team, and strategic contributions to the firm’s growth and reputation.

You will oversee engagements, manage budgets and fees, and build long-term client relationships with a focus on high standards, accountability, and collaborative leadership within a values-driven culture.

Qualifications

• Experience operating at Partner or senior leadership level within Corporate Finance.
• Strong technical grounding with commercial awareness and client-facing credibility.
• Proven ability to win work, grow client relationships and hit financial targets.

Responsibilities

• Lead and oversee a portfolio of Corporate Finance assignments, ensuring delivery to scope and standards.
• Manage client relationships and ongoing engagement, including fee management and compliance with firm policies.
• Lead, develop and manage a high-performing Corporate Finance team and contribute to strategic planning.

Job description

Corporate Finance Director / Partner

Department: Corporate Finance

Employment Type: Full Time

Location: Leeds

Reporting To: Mike Kienlen

Description

About Us

Build something exceptional, with us...

Our ambition is clear and openly bold.

Armstrong Watson is on a journey to more than double our turnover by 2030, through disciplined organic growth, the attraction of outstanding talent, and the selective acquisition of like‑minded firms.

But growth alone is not the goal.

Reputation is.

And reputation is earned, not inherited.

Our strategic intent is simple to say and hard to deliver.

To become the most respected adviser to privately owned businesses in the North and the UK.

The firm business owners talk about.

The firm lawyers and bankers recommend without hesitation.

To achieve this, we are building the best Accounting and Financial Advisory firm to deal with, not just in the North, but across the UK. Exceptional service, deep expertise, trusted relationships, and absolute reliability define everything we do. These are not slogans; they are standards we hold ourselves to every day.

At our core, we exist for one reason, to help our clients achieve prosperity, a secure future, and peace of mind.

This strategy sets the direction.

Our people, our values‑led culture, and our standards will deliver it.

We are looking for people who want more than the next job. People who care deeply about:

• Standards and professionalism
• Doing work they are proud to put their name to
• Building long‑term client relationships
• Being part of a firm with real momentum and intent

If you want to grow with a business that is ambitious, values‑driven, and serious about excellence, Armstrong Watson offers opportunity and expectation in equal measure.

What you will find here:

• A firm with clear direction and momentum
• Clients who value advice and relationships
• Colleagues who care about doing things properly
• A culture built on Passion, Trust, Humanity and Honesty
• Genuine opportunity to shape your career as the firm grows

This is our moment, and our vision is clear, to build something genuinely remarkable.

The Role

We are seeking an experienced Corporate Finance Director / Partner to play a key leadership role in driving the growth, performance and reputation of our Corporate Finance service line.

Key responsibilities will include but not be limited to:

Client Delivery & Engagement Management

• Lead and oversee a portfolio of Corporate Finance assignments, ensuring delivery is aligned to agreed scope, budgets and professional standards.
• Stay current with Corporate Finance, accounting and relevant legislation to proactively identify risks and opportunities for clients.
• Agree scopes of work and fees with clients prior to commencement and manage delivery against those agreements.
• Monitor work in progress, maintaining clear and regular communication with clients and internal stakeholders.
• Proactively manage fee overruns, agreeing fair and transparent outcomes with clients.
• Authorise non‑contentious, non‑statutory documentation where legally appropriate.
• Ensure work is fully implemented, appropriately billed and completed in line with firm standards, including post‑assignment debriefs.

Leadership & People Development

• Lead, motivate and develop a high‑performing Corporate Finance team.
• Set clear objectives for team members and provide regular feedback through 1:1s and performance reviews.
• Conduct formal appraisals and competency assessments, identifying skills gaps and implementing development plans.
• Contribute expertise, case studies and best practice to departmental training and knowledge‑sharing initiatives.
• Champion a culture of accountability, collaboration and continuous improvement.

Business & Financial Management

• Contribute to the strategic direction and tactical planning of the Corporate Finance service line.
• Own and manage your area’s financial performance, including revenue, profitability and delivery against agreed targets.
• Monitor performance against budgets and KPIs, sharing results with the wider service line.
• Drive remedial actions where performance is below target and celebrate success where targets are exceeded.

Business Development

• Achieve personal new business and fee targets through proactive networking and relationship building.
• Build and maintain strong relationships with key intermediaries and business partners to generate referral opportunities.
• Actively support and enable cross‑selling of services across the firm, both into and out of the Corporate Finance client base.
• Represent the firm externally at meetings, events, pitches and marketing initiatives, enhancing profile and reputation in the market

Please note that we will not be accepting candidates from agency suppliers in connection with this vacancy.

The Candidate

In order to fulfil the responsibilities of the position, we would like candidates to be / have:

• Experience operating at Partner or senior leadership level within Corporate Finance.
• Strong technical grounding combined with commercial awareness and client‑facing credibility.
• Demonstrated ability to win work, grow client relationships and deliver against financial targets.
• An inclusive and collaborative leader with a passion for developing people and building high‑performing teams.
• Excellent communication skills and the confidence to operate as a trusted adviser to owners, boards and intermediaries.

The Benefits

In return for your hard work helping us shape our future growth and development; we will provide a competitive salary and a positive benefits package which includes:

• Salary Sacrifice Employer Contribution Pension Scheme including Life Cover (4x salary) and Income Protection
• Competitive Annual Leave entitlement & Annual Leave Purchase Scheme allowing you to buy up to 5 additional days annual leave each year
• Smart Working Policy, giving you the ability to balance home and remote working
• Health Shield Cash Plan (cash back on a range of Health benefits and discounts on holidays, fashion and entertainment)
• Employee Assistance Programme (24/7 confidential support for wellbeing and health)
• Paid flu jabs and eye tests
• Introductory Commission Scheme (financial reward if you refer a new client)
• Employee Referral Scheme (financial reward if you refer new AW colleagues) enabling you to claim up to £2,500 for each referral
• Investment towards Continuous Professional Development (CPD), which includes access to comprehensive training courses and materials
• Paid professional membership fees

In addition to all the benefits you would expect from an award winning employer, you will be given the utmost encouragement and support to develop your career further.

When you're with us... we're with you.