Head of Finance

Equifind; Greater London; Hybrid; GBP 120,000 - 190,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Equity/LTIP participation

Hybrid working from London head office

Job summary

Equifind is partnering with a fast-growing PE-backed restaurant group to find a commercially sharp Head of Finance to lead the finance function through its next stage of growth. With a strong estate and an ambitious expansion plan, this is a rare opportunity to own the numbers behind a business that's scaling quickly — and to help shape the strategy that gets it there.

You'll report directly to the CEO, sit close to the PE investor and board, and be the finance voice in every major decision:

Qualifications

• Proven experience in a PE-backed business with investor reporting and value-creation planning.
• Experience in multi-site hospitality, restaurant, or retail.
• Hands-on operator with readiness for boardroom discussions and detailed finance work.
• Strong systems and processes with scale-up of a finance function.

Responsibilities

• Own the finance function end-to-end including management accounts, budgeting, forecasting, cash flow and treasury.
• Partner with CEO and leadership to translate operational performance into commercial insight.
• Prepare board packs and investor reporting; work with PE house on KPIs and covenants.
• Lead annual budgeting and rolling forecasts; manage site P&L and margin drivers.
• Drive capex appraisal, new site openings and payback analyses.
• Strengthen controls and systems; prepare for audits and investor scrutiny.
• Support due diligence, refinancing, and exit-readiness workstreams.
• Manage and develop the finance team as the business grows.

Skills

PE-backed experience

Investor reporting

Board interaction

Multi-site hospitality/retail

Budgeting & forecasting

Cash flow management

Strong communication

Job description

Head of Finance | PE-Backed Restaurant Group | London (Hybrid)

Competitive Salary + Bonus + Equity

Equifind is exclusively partnering with a fast-growing, private-equity-backed restaurant group to find a commercially sharp Head of Finance to lead the finance function through its next stage of growth. With a strong estate and an ambitious expansion plan, this is a rare opportunity to own the numbers behind a business that's scaling quickly — and to help shape the strategy that gets it there.

You'll report directly to the CEO, sit close to the PE investor and board, and be the finance voice in every major decision: from site economics and cash management to the eventual exit process. As the estate and finance function scale, so will this role — with a clear pathway to Finance Director for the right person.

As a Head of Finance, your role will involve:

• Owning the finance function end-to-end: management accounts, budgeting, forecasting, cash flow and treasury across a multi-site estate
• Acting as the key finance partner to the CEO and senior leadership team, translating operational performance into commercial insight
• Building and presenting board packs and investor reporting, working closely with the PE house on KPIs, covenants and value-creation initiatives
• Leading the annual budgeting and rolling forecast cycles, with a strong grip on unit economics, site-level P&Ls and margin drivers
• Driving financial planning for new site openings, capex appraisal and payback analysis
• Strengthening financial controls, systems and processes as the business scales, including preparing the finance function for increased investor and audit scrutiny
• Supporting due diligence, refinancing and, in time, exit-readiness workstreams
• Managing and developing a growing finance team, building capability ahead of the business's needs

Candidate Requirements:

• Proven experience in a PE-backed business, with a solid understanding of investor reporting, board dynamics and value-creation planning
• Multi-site hospitality, restaurant or retail experience
• A hands‑on operator who is equally comfortable in the detail and in the boardroom
• Strong systems and process instincts — someone who has scaled a finance function, not just maintained one
• Excellent communication skills, with the credibility to influence the CEO, board and investors alike

What's on offer:

• A genuinely senior, high‑visibility role with a direct line to the CEO and board
• The chance to help build a business through a defined growth and value‑creation plan, with meaningful upside as the company scales
• A clear pathway to Finance Director as the business and finance function grow — this role is designed to expand in scope and seniority alongside the estate
• Competitive salary, performance bonus and equity/LTIP participation
• Hybrid working from their London head office

If you're a commercially minded finance leader who wants real ownership, direct exposure to a PE process, and the chance to leave a lasting mark on a growing hospitality business, we'd love to hear from you.