Interim CFO

Cedar; Greater London; On-site; GBP 231,000 - 277,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Hybrid working

Job summary

Cedar, a private equity-backed technology and services business in Central London, is seeking an Interim CFO for a six-month contract. The role focuses on exit-readiness and transaction workstreams, reporting to the CEO and the Board, with responsibility for value creation and performance improvement.

You will lead vendor due diligence, the Quality of Earnings process, and the finance transaction workstream, while developing robust forecasts and long-range planning.

Qualifications

• Extensive PE-backed exit experience with transaction work.
• Strong FP&A, forecasting and MI capability.
• Proven ability to model complex scenarios and drive value.

Responsibilities

• Lead financial exit readiness and buyer due diligence.
• Develop and substantiate the equity story and growth opportunity.
• Maintain robust forecast and long-range plan.
• Drive EBITDA, margin, cash and working capital improvements ahead of exit.
• Lead vendor due diligence, QOE and finance transaction workstream.
• Prepare data room materials and respond to diligence requests.
• Provide analysis on normalised EBITDA, adjustments and cash conversion.
• Ensure MI and KPI reporting reflects underlying performance.
• Support management presentations, investor discussions and advisers.
• Maintain tight control over trading, forecasting and risks throughout the sale process.

Skills

Private equity experience

FP&A

Financial modelling

Forecasting

Cash management

MI reporting

Education

ACA qualification

Job description

Cedar is partnered with a private equity-backed technology and services business in Central London to appoint an Interim CFO. This is a 6-month contract offering a day rate of £1,250-1,500 per day.

The Company

This established PE-backed business has undergone significant growth during the investment period and is now approaching a potential exit.

With the business entering the final stages of the private equity hold, the focus is on maintaining strong performance, maximising value and ensuring the business is fully prepared for a transaction.

The Role

Working closely with the CEO, Board and private equity investor, the Interim CFO will lead the financial exit-readiness and transaction workstream while continuing to drive performance and value creation.

Key responsibilities include:

• Leading financial exit readiness and preparing the business for buyer diligence.
• Developing and substantiating the financial equity story, historic performance and future growth opportunity.
• Building and defending a robust forecast and long-range plan.
• Driving further EBITDA, margin, cash and working capital improvements ahead of exit.
• Leading vendor due diligence, Quality of Earnings and the finance transaction workstream.
• Preparing financial information for the data room and responding to buyer diligence.
• Providing clear analysis around normalised EBITDA, adjustments, working capital and cash conversion.
• Ensuring MI and KPI reporting clearly demonstrates underlying commercial performance.
• Supporting management presentations, buyer discussions and external advisers.
• Maintaining tight control over trading, forecasting and risks and opportunities throughout the sale process.

Your Profile

• Experienced CFO / Finance Director with a strong private equity background.
• Direct experience delivering a PE-backed exit or similarly complex transaction.
• Strong vendor due diligence, Quality of Earnings and buyer diligence experience.
• Excellent FP&A, financial modelling, forecasting and MI capability.
• Strong understanding of EBITDA, cash, working capital and enterprise value.
• Comfortable working directly with PE investors, Boards and transaction advisers.
• Technology, software, data or B2B services experience would be advantageous.
• ACA qualification preferred.

Compensation & Working Arrangements

The day rate for this Interim CFO role is £1,250-1,500 per day.

The role is based in London, with hybrid working typically requiring 2-3 days per week in Central London.

This is a hands-on private equity exit mandate with significant exposure to the CEO, investor and wider transaction process.