Finance Director

Talent Guardian; Basildon; Hybrid; GBP 120,000 - 160,000; Full time

Job summary

Talent Guardian is recruiting a hands-on Finance Director for a private equity–backed technology business in Essex. You will own day-to-day finance, lead budgeting, forecasting, planning and management reporting, and partner with the CFO and senior leadership.

This role requires a growth mindset, experience with acquisitions, strong systems and process improvement, and the ability to develop a high-performing team while delivering commercial insight.

Qualifications

• Broad senior finance background with budgeting, forecasting, analysis and controls experience.
• Previous exposure to a private equity-backed environment.
• Experience within acquisitive, high-growth or transformational businesses.
• Track record of improving finance systems, processes and automation.
• Experience integrating businesses or finance functions after acquisitions.

Responsibilities

• Lead day-to-day finance function; own financial operations.
• Budgeting, forecasting, planning and financial analysis.
• Management reporting and delivering commercial insight.
• Enforce financial controls, processes and governance.
• Develop finance systems and drive automation.
• Integrate acquired businesses and standardise processes.
• Partner with CFO and leadership on strategic initiatives.
• Develop finance structures and capability to support growth.

Skills

Budgeting

Forecasting

Management reporting

Financial analysis

Financial controls

Finance systems

Automation

Stakeholder management

Leadership

Acquisitions experience

PE/Private equity environment

Hands-on

Job description

Finance Director - PE-Backed, High-Growth Technology Business

Location: Essex | Hybrid – minimum 3 days in the office

Environment: Private Equity | Technology / Managed Services

I'm partnering with a successful, private equity-backed technology business to appoint a Finance Director at an exciting point in its growth journey. The business has grown significantly through a combination of organic growth and strategic acquisitions, creating the need for an experienced, hands-on FD who can take ownership of the day-to-day Finance operation and help build a function capable of supporting the next stage of growth. Reporting directly to the CFO, you'll become their key number two within Finance. The CFO is increasingly focused on M&A and the wider strategic growth agenda, so you'll have real autonomy and responsibility for leading the operational Finance function. This isn't a role for someone who wants to sit above the detail. They need someone who enjoys being boots on the ground, working closely with the finance team and wider business while also having the credibility to operate with senior leadership.

The Opportunity

• Leadership and development of the day-to-day finance function
• Budgeting, forecasting, planning and financial analysis
• Management reporting and delivering meaningful commercial insight
• Financial controls, processes and governance
• Finance systems development and implementation
• Automation and continuous improvement across Finance
• Integration of newly acquired businesses
• Standardising processes and improving financial visibility across the Group
• Developing finance structures and capability as the organisation grows
• Business partnering with senior operational and commercial stakeholders
• Supporting the CFO and leadership team with wider strategic initiatives

With acquisitions forming an important part of the growth strategy, you'll inherit an environment where different businesses can arrive with different systems, processes, finance structures and levels of financial maturity.

You'll play a key role in bringing those businesses together, identifying what works, what needs to change and how finance can become more efficient, automated, scalable and commercially valuable.

The Person

We're looking for much more than strong technical finance capability.

You'll ideally bring:

• A broad senior finance background with strong budgeting, forecasting, analysis and controls experience
• Previous exposure to a private equity-backed environment
• Experience within an acquisitive, high-growth or transformational business
• A track record of improving Finance systems, processes and automation
• Experience integrating businesses or finance functions following acquisition would be highly advantageous
• Strong leadership and team-development capability
• Excellent stakeholder-management and influencing skills
• A hands-on mentality and willingness to get into the detail when required
• Commercial awareness and the ability to turn financial information into actionable insight
• The confidence to challenge while building strong relationships across a business Experience within Managed Services, Technology, IT Services or a similar environment would be advantageous, although relevant experience from an adjacent service-led sector will also be considered

Why Consider It?

This is a genuine opportunity to shape and develop a Finance function rather than simply inherit and maintain one. You'll have the autonomy to make improvements, introduce greater automation and control, develop the team and help integrate future acquisitions, while working closely with an experienced CFO and senior leadership team. This role offers a combination of ownership, transformation, growth and strategic exposure, without losing the hands-on involvement in finance that makes the role interesting. If you enjoy getting under the skin of a business, challenging how things are done and building Finance functions that can genuinely support growth, this is an opportunity worth exploring.