Interim Finance Director

Cambridge Design Partnership; Cambridge; On-site; GBP 70,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading design and innovation firm in Cambridge is seeking an Interim Finance Director to manage finance operations and lead significant improvements in cash flow and financial reporting. The ideal candidate will have a strong background in financial leadership, with a professional accountancy qualification, and experience in project-based environments. This role allows for substantial influence in steering the company towards effective financial management within a six-month interim period.

Qualifications

• Experienced financial leader with a track record in managing cash flow and working capital.
• Adaptable, proactive, and skilled in building relationships.
• Experience in consultancies or project-based businesses is advantageous.

Responsibilities

• Manage and guide the finance operations team.
• Prepare and maintain cash flow forecasts.
• Oversee financial reporting and budget reporting.
• Drive the year-end audit.
• Optimize implementation of SAP by Design.
• Analyze cost structures for improvements.

Skills

Cash flow management

Financial reporting

Team leadership

Cost control

SAP by Design

Education

Professional accountancy qualification (ACA, ACCA, CIMA)

Job description

Join to apply for the Interim Finance Director role at Cambridge Design Partnership.

This is an interim role up to 6‑months, to facilitate a transformation and handover to the permanent candidate – the interim is welcome to apply. You will be working with excellent people, to rebuild and future‑prove a fantastic business. This role is based on‑site at our Cambridge office 4 days per week minimum.

Responsibilities

• Team Leadership: Manage and guide the finance operations team, ensuring they are focused on quality, speed and effectiveness.
• Cash and Working Capital Management: Manage and optimise cash flow to ensure liquidity and mitigate financial risk. Work with department heads to closely monitor and manage working capital, focusing on key areas such as work in progress, receivables and purchasing.
• Cash Flow Forecasting: Prepare and maintain accurate and realistic cash flow forecasts to provide insight into short‑term and long‑term financial positioning. Ensure the business has sufficient cash resources to meet its obligations. A functioning 13‑week cash‑flow is a priority.
• Financial Reporting: Oversee the preparation of accurate financial reports, including management accounts and other performance‑related metrics, ensuring timely and transparent reporting to senior management. This will be a first‑time introduction of budget reporting, and the current management accounts template and process will need a complete overhaul.
• Year‑end audit: drive and successfully complete our March 2026 year‑end quickly with limited issues.
• Systems improvement: optimise an incomplete implementation of SAP by Design.
• Cost Control: Analyse the company's cost structure and identify areas for improvement. Implement cost control measures where necessary to support cash conservation.

About You

• To be successful in this role, you will be an experienced and hands‑on financial leader with a proven track record of managing cash flow and working capital, particularly in ambiguous environments. Experience in consultancies, professional services firms or other project‑based businesses would be advantageous.
• You will be adaptable, proactive, and capable of building strong relationships with internal stakeholders and external partners.
• You will also hold a professional accountancy qualification: ACA, ACCA or CIMA.

About Us

• Cambridge Design Partnership (CDP) is an end‑to‑end innovation partner, propelling global brands and ambitious start‑ups to success. We build breakthrough products and services – from insight to ideas, prototypes to production – bringing innovation to life.
• Our teams are multi‑disciplinary, uniting scientific rigor, design ingenuity, and engineering excellence for consumer, healthcare, and industrial clients.
• People‑centred, deeply collaborative, and – above all – expert, we’re uniquely positioned to shape the future for consumers, patients, and industry.
• Even our ownership model is innovative: We’re 100% owned by our employees, ensuring an open culture and a total commitment to our projects’ success.
• Founded in 1996, c200‑person business with locations in Cambridge UK and Raleigh NC.