Finance Director

Artemis Human Capital; Belfast; On-site; GBP 80,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

A reputable executive search firm seeks a Finance Director for a growing SME in Belfast. The successful candidate will lead strategic financial initiatives, enhance reporting systems, and support significant acquisitions as the company prepares for private equity investment, playing a key role in transforming the finance function.

Qualifications

• Proven track record in senior finance leadership.
• Experience in PE-backed or high-growth SME environment.
• Hands-on role expertise with cross-functional teams.

Responsibilities

• Shape financial strategy and business growth initiatives.
• Ensure financial controls and reporting meet PE-grade standards.
• Support M&A phases including financial due diligence.

Skills

Financial strategy

Commercial acumen

M&A activity support

Communication skills

Education

Qualified accountant (ACA, ACCA, CIMA)

Job description

Finance Director

Artemis Executive Search has been retained by a high-growth SME to appoint a commercially focused Finance Director ahead of a significant private equity investment. The business is at a pivotal stage in its journey and will embark on an ambitious buy-and-build strategy, targeting multiple acquisitions over the coming years.

The Opportunity

Our client is a well-established, profitable business with a strong market position and a highly experienced leadership team. The incoming Finance Director will play a key strategic and operational role in preparing the business for investment, professionalising the finance function, and supporting the execution of acquisitions post-investment.

This is an outstanding opportunity to join a private equity-bound business at the inflection point of a transformational growth journey.

Key Responsibilities

Strategic Finance Leadership

• Act as a trusted advisor to the CEO and Board, shaping financial strategy, commercial planning, and business growth initiatives.
• Develop and execute a comprehensive value creation plan aligned with private equity expectations and long-term growth goals.
• Define and track KPIs and performance dashboards focused on core value drivers such as occupancy, staffing ratios, and site-level EBITDA.
• Lead complex financial modelling to support strategic decisions, including growth forecasting, site expansion, and bolt-on acquisitions.

Financial Management & Control

• Deliver accurate, timely, and insightful monthly reporting, including P&L, cash flow, and variance analysis.
• Ensure robust financial controls, governance, and compliance frameworks that meet PE-grade standards.
• Prepare and present board packs, investor updates, and liaise with external advisors (audit, tax, legal, due diligence).
• Oversee all aspects of financial operations, including statutory accounts, payroll, tax, supplier payments, and credit control.

Commercial Value Creation

• Provide commercial insight to support data-driven decisions around staffing models, pricing strategies, and margin improvement.
• Identify cost optimisation opportunities and inform procurement strategies.
• Build site-level performance visibility and directly link operational metrics to financial outcomes.

Systems & Process Optimisation

• Lead the transformation and scaling of finance systems to support multi-site operations and future acquisitions.
• Implement structured budgeting, forecasting, and BI tools appropriate for a growing, investor-backed group.
• Automate key finance workflows (e.g., invoicing, payroll, reporting) to drive efficiency and reduce reliance on manual processes.

M&A Execution & Investor Engagement

• Support all phases of M&A, from financial due diligence to integration of acquired entities.
• Engage with investors and external advisors on capital structuring, funding rounds, and investment cases.
• Play a key role in preparing the business for future liquidity events, including secondary buyouts or trade sales.

Candidate Profile

• Qualified accountant (ACA, ACCA, CIMA) with a proven track record in senior finance leadership, ideally within a PE-backed or high-growth SME environment.
• Experience supporting M&A activity, including financial due diligence, integration, and funding structures.
• Strong commercial acumen and ability to challenge and support cross-functional teams.
• Comfortable operating in a hands-on role, while building systems, teams, and controls for scale.
• Excellent communication skills with the credibility to engage senior stakeholders, including investors and board members.