Finance Director

Zachary Daniels Recruitment; Greater London; On-site; GBP 120,000 - 140,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading recruitment agency is seeking an Interim Finance Director to drive strategic financial transformation in a UK-based FMCG business. The successful candidate will work closely with the CEO while engaging stakeholders and improving cash management processes. This role, starting in January 2026, offers a pro-rated salary of £120k to £140k along with executive-level benefits and a contract of 3–6 months with potential for permanency. Ideal for a finance leader with hands-on experience and commercial acumen.

Benefits

Competitive salary

Executive-level benefits

Potential for permanent position

Qualifications

• Experience in developing and implementing financial strategies.
• Ability to engage with senior stakeholders effectively.
• Hands-on operational expertise and problem-solving skills.

Responsibilities

• Act as a trusted finance partner to the CEO/Founder.
• Establish effective working relationships with senior stakeholders.
• Design and implement a rolling cashflow forecast.
• Conduct a review of compliance and resolve risks.
• Deliver a finance risk register with mitigation actions.

Skills

Strategic financial transformation

Commercial acumen

Stakeholder engagement

Process improvement

Cash management

Job description

Finance Director – 3–6–Month FTC Potential Temp–Perm West–London 120,000 – 140,000pa + Executive Level Benefits FMCG

Jan/Feb 2026 Start – Potential for Temp–Perm

The Interim Finance Director will develop a strategic financial transformation. The business is positioned for growth and scale, and you will play a pivotal role as a finance leader who combines hands‑on operational expertise with commercial acumen, someone who identifies opportunities, solves problems pragmatically, and drives measurable impact.

About the company

Our client is a UK‑based FMCG import, wholesale, and e‑commerce distribution business with a remarkable growth trajectory. What began as a lean, direct‑to‑factory start‑up has evolved into a multi‑brand business with a strong growth trajectory, generating 75m+ in annual turnover, privately owned, positioned for significant further success in 2026 and beyond.

The Role

Strategic Finance & Commercial Acumen

• Act as a trusted finance partner to the CEO/Founder, providing rapid, independent analysis on priority commercial decisions
• Assess and advise on high‑impact commercial opportunities (e.g. pricing, FX exposure, working capital)

Stakeholder Engagement

• Quickly establish effective working relationships with senior stakeholders across ops, sales, logistics, supply chain, and marketing
• Support leadership teams through key planning cycles and performance discussions occurring during the 6‑month term
• Conduct an initial diagnostic review of the offshore finance team's capability, outputs, and alignment with onshore expectations
• Establish clear communication rhythms, escalation paths, and reporting standards that can be sustained after the contract ends

Finance Leadership & Cash Management

• Design and implement a pragmatic 13‑week rolling cashflow forecast suitable for management decision‑making
• Improve working capital awareness and discipline through targeted analysis and clear ownership
• Perform a focused diagnostic of core finance processes, controls, and pain points across onshore and offshore teams
• Prioritise and implement a small number of high‑impact process improvements achievable within 6 months
• Assess ERP readiness and provide recommendations, business case inputs, or vendor criteria
• Define a set of finance KPIs to measure accuracy, timeliness, and effectiveness

Process Improvement & Operational Excellence

• Conduct a targeted review of HMRC, VAT, payroll, and statutory compliance to identify any immediate risks
• Resolve critical or high‑risk compliance gaps where feasible within the contract period
• Put in place practical controls, checklists, and ownership to prevent recurrence of known issues
• Liaise with auditors or advisors as required to ensure the business is stable and audit‑ready
• Deliver a concise finance risk register with prioritised mitigation actions and clear owners

What's on offer

• 120,000 – 140,000 pro‑rated salary
• Attractive executive‑level benefits
• 3‑6‑Month FTC with potential to go permanent

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