Director - CFO Search & Interim Practice

Consult; Greater London; Hybrid; GBP 90,000 - 180,000; Full time

Job summary

SystemsAccountants is launching a dedicated CFO Search & Interim practice in London, building a market-leading executive finance offering. The role involves defining strategy, shaping propositions, and growing the practice across the UK before expanding into North America.

You will lead, build relationships with CFOs/FDs, win new business, and deliver retained executive search assignments while developing a high-calibre network of interim and fractional finance executives.

Qualifications

• Executive search or interim finance recruitment track record.
• Experience placing CFOs, FDs, and senior finance leaders.
• Established network among senior finance leaders and PE community.
• Proven business development and board-level advisory credibility.
• Knowledge of interim market, IR35 and contractor compliance.
• Entrepreneurial mindset with commercial judgement and long-term reward.

Responsibilities

• Define strategy, proposition and growth plan for the practice.
• Build relationships with CFOs, FDs, PE partners and senior finance leaders.
• Win new business and deepen client relationships across the Group.
• Deliver retained executive search assignments for CFO/FD roles.
• Lead a network of interim and fractional finance executives.
• Oversee mandates in finance transformation, M&A, IPO readiness, PE value creation.
• Collaborate across the Group to identify cross-selling opportunities.
• Establish processes for quality, confidentiality and compliance.
• Recruit, develop and lead future team members.
• Position the practice as a recognised name in executive finance.

Skills

Executive search

Interim finance

CFO sourcing

Business development

Finance expertise

Job description

Director - CFO Search & Interim Practice

SystemsAccountants Posted 1 day ago

Director – CFO Search & Interim Practice

Build a market-leading executive finance practice within an established specialist group

Location: London (Hybrid)

Package: Six-figure base salary, market-leading commission, profit participation and a genuine leadership stake in a new business

Most senior recruitment roles involve inheriting a desk. This one involves building a business.

For nearly 30 years, SA Group has been the leading dedicated specialist in Finance Systems, ERP, EPM and Finance Transformation talent. We have partnered with some of the world's most recognisable organisations, helping them hire the people who drive finance transformation, digital change and business performance.

Alongside our recruitment business, the Group includes specialist ERP consulting and advisory firms operating across the UK, Europe and North America, with offices in London, New York, Chicago, Canada, Rotterdam and Vienna. Few firms sit as close to the modern finance function as we do.

As we enter our next phase of growth, we are launching a dedicated CFO Search & Interim practice, covering retained executive search, interim and fractional CFO and Finance Director appointments. We are looking for an exceptional leader to build and scale it.

WHY THIS OPPORTUNITY IS DIFFERENT

Not a start-up. Not corporate.

You will have the freedom to create, shape and grow a new practice, backed by the reputation, infrastructure, client relationships and investment of an established specialist group. This is a rare chance to build something significant without starting from zero.

An existing senior finance ecosystem

Our client base already includes CFOs and Finance Directors, Finance Transformation leaders, private equity-backed businesses and their operating partners, ERP and EPM programme sponsors, and enterprise and upper mid-market organisations. Many already regard us as a trusted strategic partner.

The relationships exist, the demand exists and the platform exists. What we need is the right person to build the practice.

A distinctive route to market

Our recruitment and consulting businesses are regularly engaged on ERP implementations, EPM programmes, finance transformation initiatives, M&A integration and programme leadership appointments. These engagements consistently create demand for interim and permanent CFOs, fractional Finance Directors, transformation leaders and senior finance specialists, often before a role ever reaches the open market. You will be uniquely placed to convert these relationships into new mandates and new revenue.

A genuine leadership role

This is not simply a billing role. You will define the strategy, proposition, brand positioning and go-to-market approach for the practice, and you will build and lead your own team as it grows. You will work closely with the Group's senior leadership and have a direct voice in how the business develops.

THE ROLE

You will launch and lead the practice, focusing initially on the UK before expanding into North America through the Group's existing operations and network. Key responsibilities include:

• Defining and delivering the practice's strategy, proposition and growth plan.
• Building relationships with CFOs, Finance Directors, private equity partners, operating partners, non-executive directors and senior finance stakeholders.
• Winning new business and deepening existing client relationships across the Group.
• Delivering retained executive search assignments for CFO, FD and senior finance leadership roles.
• Building a high-calibre network of interim and fractional finance executives, and managing assignments from brief through to completion.
• Leading on mandates such as finance transformation, M&A integration, IPO readiness, turnaround and PE value creation.
• Working collaboratively with colleagues across the Group to identify and convert cross-selling opportunities.
• Establishing robust processes for quality, confidentiality, client off-limits arrangements and compliance, including off-payroll working (IR35) for interim engagements.
• Recruiting, developing and leading future team members.
• Establishing the practice as a recognised name in the executive finance market.

ABOUT YOU

We would like to hear from people who bring:

• A strong track record in executive search, interim finance or senior finance recruitment.
• Experience placing CFOs, Finance Directors, Financial Controllers, transformation leaders or equivalent executive-level finance professionals.
• An established network among senior finance leaders and, ideally, the private equity community.
• Proven business development capability and the credibility to engage with and advise at board level.
• Sound knowledge of interim market practice, including IR35 and contractor compliance.
• An entrepreneurial mindset, commercial judgement and the ambition to build something lasting.

You may currently be a Director, Partner, Practice Lead or Principal Consultant looking for a platform that offers greater autonomy, influence and long-term reward.

WHAT SUCCESS LOOKS LIKE

Within your first 12 months, you will have:

• Launched the practice and established a recognised presence in the CFO search, interim and fractional finance market.
• Secured the practice's first retained search mandates and a steady flow of interim assignments.
• Built a strong, well-qualified network of senior interim and fractional finance executives.
• Generated meaningful revenue from both new clients and existing Group relationships.
• Laid the foundations, including team, process and brand, for a scalable and highly profitable business unit, with a clear plan for North American expansion.

THE REWARD

For the right individual, we offer:

• A market-leading commission structure.
• Team and practice override as the business grows.
• Long-term profit participation in the practice's success.
• Significant autonomy and influence over the direction of the business.
• The opportunity to build a business, rather than simply work in one.

If you have ever wanted the freedom and upside of building your own specialist practice, with the support, infrastructure and client base of an established market leader, we would like to talk.

All approaches will be treated in the strictest confidence.

Required Skills

executive search interim cfo business development finance expertise