Head of Finance – PE-Backed Growth Leader

Ashdown Group; Staines-upon-Thames; On-site; GBP 94,000 - 127,000; Full time

Job summary

Ashdown Group is seeking a Head of Finance for a rapidly growing, PE-backed business based in Surrey. The role demands a qualified accountant with extensive experience in management reporting, financial control and leading a finance team.

You will drive group reporting, budgeting, forecasting and cash management, while strengthening controls and reporting. The role also involves acquisition integration and systems improvements, reporting to the CFO and senior leadership.

Qualifications

• Qualified accountant with experience across management reporting, financial control and team leadership.
• Experience leading finance across multiple entities, including consolidation, budgeting, forecasting and audit.
• Strong commercial understanding and ability to connect operational performance with financial outcomes.

Responsibilities

• Group reporting and month-end close, including consolidation and Board/investor reporting.
• Budgeting and forecasting for annual budget and rolling P&L, balance sheet and cash forecasts.
• Cash forecasting, collections, billing and working capital management.
• Strengthening financial controls, processes, approvals, balance-sheet controls and audit readiness.
• Providing commercial insight into revenue, margins, customer profitability, costs and cash generation.
• Finance team leadership and development of a high-performing, accountable function.
• Acquisition integration with reporting, forecasting and control frameworks.
• Systems and process improvements to reduce manual work and improve data quality.

Skills

Leadership

Financial reporting

Budgeting

Forecasting

Consolidation

Cash management

Financial controls

Board reporting

Education

ACA/ACCA/CIMA qualified

Job description

Head of Finance - £110,000

ACCA, CIMA, ACA - Financial Controller, Head of Finance, Finance Manager, Finance Director

Please note - experience working within a PE backed organisation is essential for this role.

A rapidly growing, dynamic business based in Surrey are looking for an ambitious, commercially minded Head of Finance to lead their finance team. This is a hands-on leadership role, ideal for someone who enjoys being close to the numbers while also developing people, improving processes and providing clear commercial insight to senior leadership. The ideal candidate will be a qualified Accountant with experience operating at a Finance Manager, Financial Controller or Head of Finance level.

The Group is growing through both organic growth and acquisition. You’ll play a key role in bringing greater consistency, control and visibility across the business while supporting the Group’s continued growth.

As the Head of Finance you will be responsible for:

Group reporting and month-end – leading the close, management accounts, consolidation and Board/investor reporting.

Budgeting and forecasting – owning the annual budget and rolling P&L, balance sheet and cash forecasts.

Cash and working capital – overseeing cash forecasting, collections, billing and working capital performance.

Financial controls – strengthening policies, processes, approvals, balance-sheet controls and audit readiness.

Commercial insight – helping the business understand revenue, margins, customer profitability, costs and cash generation.

Finance team leadership – setting clear priorities, developing the team and building a high-performing, accountable finance function.

Acquisition integration – bringing acquired businesses into consistent reporting, forecasting and control frameworks.

Systems and process improvement – reducing manual work, improving data quality and helping implement a Group-wide finance platform.

A key part of the role is giving the CFO confidence that routine finance is under control, that reporting is accurate and timely, and that any material issues are identified early with a clear explanation and recommended action.

About you

You’ll be a qualified accountant (ACA, ACCA or CIMA) with significant experience across management reporting, financial control and team leadership.

You’ll ideally have:

• Experience leading finance across multiple entities, including consolidation, budgeting, forecasting and audit.
• Strong commercial understanding and the ability to connect operational performance with financial outcomes.
• Experience producing clear Board, investor or lender reporting.
• Excellent financial modelling and accounting systems capability.
• A track record of improving controls and reporting without losing focus on the day-to-day.
• Experience developing and leading finance teams.
• The confidence to challenge senior stakeholders constructively and explain complex financial issues simply.
• A practical, organised and hands-on approach, with the judgement to know when to get into the detail and when to step back.

This is an opportunity to take a key leadership role in a growing, acquisitive Group, working closely with the CFO and senior leadership team.

You’ll have real scope to shape the finance function, develop the team, improve systems and controls, and provide the insight needed to support the Group’s next phase of growth.