Interim Chief Financial Officer

SF Search Partners; Guildford; On-site; GBP 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Job summary

SF Search Partners is recruiting for an Interim CFO in Guildford to steer financial leadership through a pivotal PE-backed transaction, with a clear path to the permanent CFO role once completion occurs.

You will own the finance workstreams during the deal, including due diligence support, financial modelling, working capital, and the completion process, while maintaining day-to-day finance operations.

Qualifications

• Qualified accountant with PE-backed or PE-facing experience preferred.
• Experience leading finance workstreams in transactions and post-deal integration.
• Strong commercial acumen and ability to operate at pace.

Responsibilities

• Own the finance workstreams during the interim phase: due diligence support, financial modelling, working capital, and completion process.
• Post-deal, lead the finance function with the CEO and investor, delivering board reporting, forecasting, and cash management.
• Strengthen systems and controls and support buy-and-build/value-creation plans.

Skills

Financial modelling

Due diligence

Cash management

Investor reporting

Strategic finance

Education

Qualified accountant (ACA/ACCA/CIMA)

Tools

Excel

ERP systems

Job description

Interim CFO, with a view to permanent: Guildford

Tech-Enabled Services Business | c.£3m EBITDA | Private Equity Transaction

A private equity house is seeking an Interim CFO to join a tech-enabled services business in Guildford during a pivotal transaction, with a clear path to the permanent CFO role once the deal completes.

In the interim phase, you will work closely with the CEO, the PE investor and their advisers to take the business through to completion. You will own the finance workstreams, including due diligence support, financial modelling, working capital and the completion process, while keeping the day-to-day finance function running smoothly.

Post-deal, you will step into the permanent CFO seat, leading the finance function in partnership with the CEO and investor. You will drive board and investor reporting, forecasting and cash management, strengthen systems and controls, and support the buy-and-build and value-creation plan.

You will be a qualified accountant (ACA/ACCA/CIMA or equivalent) with transactional experience and a background in PE-backed or PE-facing businesses, ideally within tech-enabled services or software. You will be commercially sharp, comfortable operating at pace, and credible with investors from day one.

This is a rare chance to shape the business from the outset, and to secure a permanent board-level role in a growth story with real upside.