Group Finance Director (No.1) – SME

Altus Partners; London; On-site; GBP 100,000 - 150,000; Full time

Job summary

A private equity-backed SME is seeking a Finance Director to lead financial strategies, report accurately, and support M&A initiatives. Ideal for an ACA qualified professional with 8–15 years of experience in financial services, this role demands strong leadership and communication skills to drive change in a dynamic environment.

Qualifications

• Proven experience in a Group Financial Controller role within financial services.
• 8 – 15 years PQE experience required.
• Strong experience in an FCA regulated environment.

Responsibilities

• Assist in developing financial strategies aligned with the company's objectives.
• Lead financial planning, budgeting, and forecasting processes.
• Manage financial reporting to ensure accuracy and compliance.
• Support and oversee M&A initiatives.
• Provide analysis to drive decision-making.

Skills

Financial strategies development

Financial planning

Budgeting

Management reporting

Risk management

Leadership skills

Communication skills

Strategic thinking

Education

Chartered Accountant (ACA or equivalent)

Job description

THE SEARCH:

I’m partnering with a private equity–backed SME in a critical, newly created Finance Director hire. This is a career-defining opportunity for an ambitious finance professional ready to step up into a No.1 role in finance, helping to shape the next phase of growth, transformation, and value creation. This will suit a commercially-minded ACA qualified accountant, ideally in a Group Financial Controller role already, looking to make the leap into a No.1 finance role and drive change in a dynamic, hands-on, fast-growing environment.

This is a hands-on leadership role with full exposure to the senior leadership team, board, and investors in the services sector. You'll own the end-to-end finance function while building out scalable systems and processes and turnaround.

THE ROLE:

• Assist in developing and implementing financial strategies aligned with the company's objectives.

• Lead financial planning, budgeting, and forecasting processes.

• Working closely with the financial controllership team, own and develop the financial planning tool to improve quality and timeliness of our management reporting

• Manage financial reporting, ensuring accuracy and compliance with regulatory standards.

• Support and oversee M&A initiatives

• Provide insightful analysis to drive decision-making and support strategic initiatives.

• Oversee risk management strategies and internal controls.

• Collaborate with other departments to optimize financial performance and operational efficiency
  

THE REQUIREMENTS:

• Proven experience in a Group Financial Controller role within the financial services

• Chartered Accountant, (ACA or equivalent) from a top 20 practice

• Expertise in a balance sheet focused finance function

• Strong experience in an FCA regulated environment.

• 8 – 15 years PQ + experience

• Executive & Board level presentation and representation experience.

• Excellent leadership, communication, and strategic thinking skills.