Group Finance Director

Stanton House; York and North Yorkshire; On-site; GBP 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Job summary

Stanton House partners with a growing, private equity-backed, multi-site business to appoint an entrepreneurial Group Finance Director. You will enhance financial insight, improve cash flow and develop a high-performing finance function.

Joining as CFO designate, you will have the opportunity to progress to CFO as you demonstrate leadership, judgement and results. Key areas include accelerating month-end reporting, improving profitability analysis, optimising working capital, and leading the

Qualifications

• Recognised accountancy qualification and substantial senior finance leadership experience.
• Experience improving reporting speed and working capital.
• Experience leading and reshaping a finance team.
• Experience in multi-site businesses with project profitability and revenue recognition.
• Experience in private equity-backed businesses is advantageous.

Responsibilities

• Accelerating month-end and management reporting with timely insights.
• Providing actionable financial analysis on profitability, pricing and WIP.
• Improving cash collection and strengthening working capital and cash forecasting.
• Developing and upgrading the finance team with clear standards.
• Overseeing Xero implementation across the group and standardising reporting.
• Partnering with branch leaders through performance reviews and financial advice.
• Leading the finance workstream for acquisitions, including modelling and due diligence.
• Owning consolidation, budgets, forecasts and board reporting.
• Overseeing statutory accounts, audit, tax, payroll, treasury and banking relationships.
• Building exit readiness with robust earnings analysis and data room management.

Skills

Commercial judgement

Cash management

Financial analysis

Leadership

Stakeholder management

People leadership

Education

Recognised accountancy qualification

Tools

Xero

Job description

Location:

Yorkshire, with regular travel to branches

Job Number:

33305

Overview

We are partnering with a growing, private equity-backed, multi-site business with an ambitious growth strategy and a strong focus on operational performance. As the organisation continues to expand, it is investing in its financial capabilities and building a scalable platform to support its next phase of development.

The business is now seeking an entrepreneurial Group Finance Director to enhance financial insight, improve cash flow and working capital, and develop a high-performing finance function. This is an opportunity to play a pivotal role in shaping the Group’s financial strategy, partnering closely with senior leadership and operational teams, and supporting continued growth, acquisition activity and long-term value creation.

The Role

You will lead the finance function and act as a hands-on commercial partner to the leadership team and branch network. Joining as CFO designate, you will have the opportunity to progress to CFO as you demonstrate the leadership, judgement and results required.

Key areas will include:

• Accelerating month-end and management reporting, improving the quality and timeliness of group and branch insight


• Turning financial analysis into clear recommendations and actions, with a focus on project profitability, pricing, labour utilisation, stock and work in progress


• Improving cash collection, reducing aged debt and unbilled WIP, and strengthening working capital and cash forecasting


• Assessing, developing and upgrading the finance team, setting clear standards, accountability and service expectations


• Embedding Xero across the Group, resolving migration and reconciliation issues, and establishing consistent reporting, controls and workflows


• Partnering with branch leaders through regular performance reviews and practical advice on pricing, capacity, recruitment, investment and customer terms


• Leading the finance workstream for acquisitions, including modelling, valuation, due diligence, deal execution and post-acquisition financial integration


• Owning consolidation, budgets, forecasts, scenario planning, Board reporting and core financial controls


• Overseeing statutory accounts, audit, tax, payroll, treasury, insurance, banking relationships and covenant compliance


• Building exit readiness through a reliable financial track record, robust earnings analysis, an organised financial data room and early management of diligence risks

What They’re Looking For

The ideal candidate will be an experienced senior finance leader, combining strong technical capability with commercial judgement, cash management expertise and a hands‑on, action‑oriented approach. You will be comfortable working in an operationally complex, multi‑site environment and able to build credibility with branch teams, senior leaders and the Board.

You should ideally have:

• A recognised accountancy qualification and substantial senior finance leadership experience


• A track record of improving reporting speed and quality, working capital and operational financial performance


• Experience leading, developing and, where necessary, reshaping a finance team


• Experience in a multi‑site business, with an understanding of project profitability, work in progress and revenue recognition


• Experience evaluating acquisitions, conducting financial due diligence and integrating acquired businesses


• Strong financial control, forecasting, budgeting, cash management and Board reporting skills


• The ability to improve systems and processes; experience of Xero implementation and adoption would be particularly valuable


• Resilience, sound judgement and a bias for action, with the confidence to address difficult issues and hold people accountable


• Strong interpersonal skills and the ability to explain financial information clearly and challenge constructively


• Experience in private equity‑backed businesses, turnaround or restructuring, construction, installation, engineering or field services would be advantageous


• Experience supporting geographically distributed teams, including field engineers, installers or skilled trades, would be beneficial


• Experience preparing a business for exit or financial due diligence would also be valuable

If you are an experienced finance leader who enjoys improving performance, building capable teams and helping a growing multi‑site business scale, we would be keen to hear from you.