Finance Director

Zachary Daniels Recruitment; United Kingdom; Hybrid; GBP 120,000 - 140,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading recruitment agency is seeking a Finance Director for a high-growth FMCG business in West London. This pivotal role involves full P&L ownership and strategic financial leadership, partnering closely with the CEO. The ideal candidate will have substantial senior finance experience within FMCG, possess strong commercial acumen, and be comfortable in a fast-paced environment. The position offers a competitive salary of £120k-£140k, executive benefits, and hybrid working arrangements.

Benefits

Car allowance

Executive-level benefits

Bonus aligned to seniority

Qualifications

• Proven experience as a Finance Director or in senior finance leadership roles.
• Strong commercial acumen with the ability to influence at the CEO and Board level.
• Hands-on, able to operate in a fast-growth, entrepreneurial environment.

Responsibilities

• Lead finance function and partner with CEO and senior leadership team.
• Drive performance through robust financial insight and strategy.
• Manage offshore finance team and ensure strong governance.

Skills

Strategic finance leadership

Financial insight and scenario modelling

Cost optimisation

Stakeholder engagement

Governance and compliance

Education

Qualified accountant (ACA, ACCA or CIMA)

Job description

Finance Director

West London FMCG 120,000- 140,000 + Executive Benefits Hybrid (3 days office / 2 home)

About the Company

A high‑growth, privately owned FMCG business based in West London is seeking to appoint a commercially astute Finance Director to lead the finance function and partner closely with the CEO and senior leadership team.

The business started out as a lean, direct‑to‑factory start‑up, which has evolved into a multi‑brand business with a remarkable growth trajectory, generating 75+ million in annual turnover, and is now positioned for significant further success in 2026 and beyond.

The business operates in a fast‑paced, product‑led environment and is entering a critical phase of scale. This is a pivotal appointment for an ambitious, hands‑on finance leader who can balance strategic leadership with operational excellence, strengthening controls while enabling continued growth.

The Role

This is a full P&L ownership role, with end‑to‑end responsibility for finance and a seat at the leadership table. You will act as a trusted right‑hand partner to the CEO, shaping financial strategy, driving performance, and building a finance function that delivers insight, rigour and commercial impact.

You will have autonomy to develop systems, processes and people, including leadership of an offshore finance team, ensuring the function evolves from transactional delivery to value‑adding business partnering.

Key Responsibilities

Strategic Finance & Commercial Leadership

• Act as strategic finance lead and trusted adviser to the CEO and leadership team
• Provide robust financial insight, scenario modelling and independent challenge on major commercial decisions and growth initiatives
• Drive margin enhancement, cost optimisation and working capital improvements
• Develop financial strategy, controls and reporting to support progression towards Tier 1 banking relationships

Stakeholder Engagement & Leadership

• Translate complex financial data into clear, actionable insights for non‑finance stakeholders
• Partner with operational leaders on budgeting, forecasting and performance management
• Lead and develop the offshore finance team in India, embedding strong governance, reporting cadence and accountability
• Shift the offshore function from transactional focus to commercial support and business partnering
• Conduct regular business reviews, capability assessments and periodic on‑site engagement

Process Improvement & Operational Excellence

• Own cash management, liquidity planning and capital discipline, including a rolling 13‑week cashflow forecast
• Lead finance transformation initiatives, including systems upgrades and ERP implementation
• Define and monitor finance KPIs, driving improvements in efficiency, accuracy and insight

Governance, Risk & Compliance

• Ensure strong regulatory compliance across HMRC, VAT, payroll and statutory reporting
• Lead audit processes and manage relationships with external auditors and advisers
• Develop and maintain a finance and compliance risk register with clear mitigation plans

Candidate Profile

Essential

• Qualified accountant (ACA, ACCA or CIMA)
• Proven Finance Director or senior finance leadership experience within FMCG, consumer products, retail or product‑led environments
• Strong commercial acumen with the credibility to influence at the CEO and Board level
• Hands‑on mindset, comfortable operating in a fast‑growth, entrepreneurial business

Desirable

• Experience working with offshore finance teams
• Exposure to ERP implementation or finance transformation programmes
• Experience preparing a business for enhanced banking relationships or funding discussions

What's on Offer

• 120,000- 140,000 base salary
• Executive‑level benefits, including car allowance
• Bonus aligned to seniority and the growth journey of the business
• Hybrid working with 3 days per week on‑site in West London
• Opportunity to play a central role in shaping the next phase of a high‑growth FMCG business