Finance Director

Zachary Daniels; Chester; On-site; GBP 120,000 - 150,000; Full time

Job summary

Zachary Daniels, on behalf of a well-established multi-site retail business, is seeking a Finance Director to lead the finance function and partner with the Managing Director to shape strategy and drive operational performance.

This high-profile appointment offers broad influence across the organisation, responsibility for governance, cashflow and FP&A, and the opportunity to deliver lasting impact beyond traditional finance.

Qualifications

• Qualified accountant with proven experience as a Finance Director within a multi-site retail or consumer business.
• Outstanding grasp of financial control, reporting, governance, cashflow, FP&A and working capital.
• Commercially aware with the ability to translate financial information into business decisions.
• Capable of operating well beyond the traditional finance remit, taking ownership of wider business challenges where required.
• Have the confidence and credibility to influence at board level and constructively challenge senior stakeholders. Be resilient, decisive and comfortable making difficult decisions in a demanding environment.
• Enjoy working at pace and taking ownership of complex problems.
• Be someone who naturally builds trust and becomes a genuine sparring partner to the Managing Director.

Responsibilities

• Leading and developing the finance function, ensuring best practice across financial reporting, controls, compliance and governance
• Defining and delivering the financial strategy in line with the wider business objectives
• Acting as Senior Accounting Officer (HMRC)
• Taking full ownership of working capital, cashflow, forecasting and financial planning
• Providing commercial insight and challenge to support business performance and strategic decision-making
• Acting as a trusted partner to the Managing Director, helping solve complex business challenges across multiple functions
• Supporting operational improvement initiatives across different areas of the business
• Presenting financial and operational performance to senior leadership and shareholders
• Identifying opportunities to improve efficiency, profitability and long-term business performance

Job description

The Opportunity

This is an outstanding opportunity to join a well-established, multi-site retail business.

The business has a proud heritage and a strong reputation for serving customers across the UK. Having undergone significant transformation in recent years, it has returned to sustainable profitability and is now entering the next phase of its growth.

This is not a traditional Finance Director position. Whilst exceptional financial leadership remains the foundation, the successful individual will become one of the Managing Director's closest business partners, helping shape strategy, improve operational performance and take the business to the next level.

This is a high-profile appointment with genuine influence across the organisation and the opportunity to make a lasting impact.

The Role

As Finance Director, you will have full responsibility for the finance function, ensuring best-in-class financial control, reporting, governance and compliance.

Beyond finance, you will work alongside the Managing Director as a trusted adviser and problem solver, taking ownership of key business initiatives and helping drive operational improvements across the wider business.

This is a role for someone who enjoys operating beyond the traditional finance remit and thrives in a fast-paced, entrepreneurial environment.

Key responsibilities include:

• Leading and developing the finance function, ensuring best practice across financial reporting, controls, compliance and governance
• Defining and delivering the financial strategy in line with the wider business objectives
• Acting as Senior Accounting Officer (HMRC)
• Taking full ownership of working capital, cashflow, forecasting and financial planning
• Providing commercial insight and challenge to support business performance and strategic decision-making
• Acting as a trusted partner to the Managing Director, helping solve complex business challenges across multiple functions
• Supporting operational improvement initiatives across different areas of the business
• Presenting financial and operational performance to senior leadership and shareholders
• Identifying opportunities to improve efficiency, profitability and long-term business performance

The Person

We are looking for an exceptional Finance Director who combines first-class technical finance capability with strong commercial judgement and the credibility to operate as a genuine business partner.

You will:

• Be a qualified accountant with proven experience as a Finance Director within a multi-site retail or consumer business
• Have an outstanding grasp of financial control, reporting, governance, cashflow, FP&A and working capital
• Be commercially aware with the ability to translate financial information into business decisions
• Be capable of operating well beyond the traditional finance remit, taking ownership of wider business challenges where required
• Have the confidence and credibility to influence at board level and constructively challenge senior stakeholdersBe resilient, decisive and comfortable making difficult decisions in a demanding environment
• Enjoy working at pace and taking ownership of complex problems
• Be someone who naturally builds trust and becomes a genuine sparring partner to the Managing Director

Why Join

• A genuine opportunity to shape the future of a recognised multi-site retail business
• True number one finance role with significant influence across the organisation
• Direct partnership with the Managing Director and exposure to Group leadership
• Opportunity to broaden your remit beyond finance and play a key role in the overall direction of the business
• A highly visible leadership role with real autonomy and accountability

Zachary Daniels and our client are both equal opportunity employers. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees.