Interim Commercial Finance Director

Russam; Greater London; On-site; GBP 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Job summary

Russam's client, an established private equity-backed financial services business, seeks an experienced Interim Commercial Finance Director to strengthen commercial financial leadership, enhance business insight and support strategic objectives.

Reporting to the CFO, the role leads FP&A, budgeting, forecasting and management reporting, partnering with marketing, operations and technology to optimise profitability, margins and growth, with a hands-on leadership style.

Qualifications

• Proven experience leading commercial finance and FP&A functions.
• Strong financial modelling, budgeting and forecasting capabilities.
• Experience in private equity-backed environments preferred.
• Ability to partner with marketing, operations and technology functions.

Responsibilities

• Drive understanding of commercial performance, profitability, gross margins and unit economics.
• Lead budgeting, forecasting, financial planning and management reporting for senior management, Board and shareholders.
• Partner with commercial teams to optimise investment, resource allocation and customer economics.
• Develop robust financial models to assess opportunities, initiatives and partnerships.
• Oversee revenue recognition processes and financial controls.
• Support long-term strategic planning and value creation initiatives.
• Assist shareholder reporting and exit-readiness activities as needed.
• Lead and develop the finance team to deliver rapid, measurable improvements.

Skills

Commercial finance leadership

FP&A

Financial modelling

Budgeting

Forecasting

Management information

Stakeholder management

Leadership

Team development

Education

ACA/ACCA/CIMA or equivalent

Job description

Our client is an established, private equity-backed financial services business operating in a highly commercial, customer-focused environment.

The business is focused on driving profitable growth, improving operational performance and maximising long-term shareholder value. It is seeking an experienced Interim Commercial Finance Director to strengthen commercial financial leadership, enhance business insight and support the delivery of its strategic objectives.

Reporting to the CFO, the Interim Commercial Finance Director will lead the Financial Planning & Analysis (FP&A) function, providing commercial insight, financial modelling and decision support across the organisation.

Key responsibilities include:

Commercial Performance: Drive understanding of business performance, profitability, gross margins and key unit economics, identifying opportunities to improve financial and operational outcomes.

FP&A Leadership: Lead budgeting, forecasting, financial planning and management reporting, providing accurate, timely and actionable insight to senior management, the Board and shareholders.

Business Partnering: Work closely with commercial, marketing, operations and technology teams to optimise investment, resource allocation, customer acquisition economics and operational efficiency.

Financial Modelling: Develop robust financial models to assess commercial opportunities, strategic initiatives, partnership arrangements and investment decisions.

Revenue Assurance: Oversee processes to ensure the accuracy and completeness of revenue recognition, commission payments and associated financial controls.

Strategic Planning: Support the CFO in developing longer-term financial plans, evaluating growth opportunities and delivering key strategic programmes.

Private Equity & Exit Readiness: Support shareholder reporting, value creation initiatives and preparations for a potential future exit event.

Leadership: Lead, coach and develop the commercial finance team, creating a high-performing function that proactively supports business decision-making.

The Desired Candidate

We are seeking a commercially astute, hands-on Interim Finance Director with strong analytical capabilities and a track record of improving business performance.

The successful candidate will demonstrate:

A qualified accountancy background (ACA, ACCA, CIMA or equivalent), with substantial experience in commercial finance leadership and FP&A.

Proven experience operating in a private equity-backed business, ideally supporting value creation, financial transformation or exit preparation.

Strong commercial understanding of revenue drivers, gross margins, unit economics, customer acquisition costs and profitability optimisation.

Experience in financial services, insurance distribution, consumer-facing businesses or high-volume sales environments would be particularly relevant.

Excellent financial modelling, budgeting, forecasting and management information capabilities.

A track record of partnering effectively with marketing, operations, commercial and technology functions to improve financial performance.

Strong stakeholder management and communication skills, with the credibility to influence senior executives, Boards and investors.

A collaborative, low-ego leadership style, combining strategic thinking with a willingness to be hands-on.

Experience leading and developing finance teams, with the ability to establish improvements and deliver measurable results quickly.

The ideal interim candidate will be immediately effective, comfortable operating in a fast-paced, commercially driven environment and capable of balancing short-term performance improvements with longer-term shareholder value creation.

The Desired Candidate