Finance Director: Strategic Growth Partner (In-Office)

Headstar; Wakefield; On-site; GBP 100,000 - 140,000; Full time

Job summary

Headstar is seeking a Finance Director for a growing SME in Wakefield with a turnover in the £40-50million range. You’ll sit on the Senior Leadership Team, partner with the MD as commercial and strategic lead, and help steer strategy, cash management and performance across the business.

You’ll lead an established Finance team, shape MI and ERP decisions, and drive AI and automation initiatives while staying close to operations to ensure practical, effective controls.

Qualifications

• Qualified accountant already operating at Finance Director level.
• Strong commercial mindset with grounding in financial control, reporting, forecasting, cash flow and working capital.
• Experience managing financial risk, credit exposure and working capital in a commercial environment.
• Experience in asset-intensive, equipment-hire, leasing or service-based environment.
• Ability to operate at strategic and operational levels.
• Experience leading and developing Finance teams.
• Understand ERP systems and ideally have been involved in implementation or optimisation.
• Genuine interest in AI, automation and technology.
• Interpersonal skills to challenge, influence and win hearts and minds.
• Track record of managing fruitful relationships with Banks & Funders.

Responsibilities

• Work closely with the MD and Senior Leadership Team on strategy, growth and commercial decision-making
• Bring greater visibility to cash, working capital, CapEx and business performance
• Improve MI, reporting and data, making sure it helps people make better decisions
• Strengthen financial risk, credit and working capital management, ensuring the business has the right controls as it continues to grow
• Lead, coach and develop an established Finance team
• Own relationships with banks, funders and other finance partners
• Assess the current ERP system and decide whether to optimise or replace it
• Take ownership of the AI and automation agenda, identifying opportunities to improve efficiency
• Get close to the operation, build relationships and provide constructive commercial challenge
• Ultimately, this is a great opportunity for an FD to professionalise and improve without overcomplicating things.

Job description

Headstar is seeking a Finance Director for a growing SME in Wakefield with a turnover in the £40-50million range. You’ll sit on the Senior Leadership Team, partner with the MD as commercial and strategic lead, and help steer strategy, cash management and performance across the business.

You’ll lead an established Finance team, shape MI and ERP decisions, and drive AI and automation initiatives while staying close to operations to ensure practical, effective controls.