Interim Finance Director

Talent4; Portsmouth; On-site; GBP 166,000 - 240,000; Part time

Job summary

Talent4 in Portsmouth seeks an experienced Interim Finance Director for an initial 8–12 week assignment to lead the financial assessment of a potential acquisition. You’ll work closely with the owner and transaction advisers to test forecasts against source data, assess revenue quality and map costs, cash needs and risks involved.

Alongside the transaction work, you’ll strengthen financial reporting and forward planning in the existing business, working with the current finance manager and

Qualifications

• Qualified accountant with FC/FD experience and a track record leading financial due diligence on acquisitions or carve-outs.
• Commercially minded and able to turn findings into clear advice for an owner-manager.

Responsibilities

• Lead buyer-side financial due diligence, reviewing contracts, revenue, costs, working capital and records.
• Prepare a robust 24-month forecast including cash, profit and downside scenarios.
• Assess the full cost of operating and integrating the acquired business, including staffing, supplier arrangements and licences.
• Advise the owner and advisers on valuation, funding requirements and key risks.
• Review current finance processes and introduce timely management accounts and cash reporting.
• Improve forecasting, controls and visibility of customer and contract profitability.

Skills

Financial due diligence

Forecasting

FC/FD experience

Commercial acumen

Education

Professional accounting qualification (ACA/ACCA/CIMA)

Tools

Excel

ERP systems

Job description

An established, owner-managed business services company based in Portsmouth is seeking an experienced Interim Finance Director for an initial 8–12-week assignment, with potential to extend. The immediate priority is to lead the company’s financial assessment of a potential acquisition. You’ll work closely with the owner and transaction advisers to test the seller’s forecasts against source information, assess the quality and sustainability of revenue, and build an independent view of the costs, cash requirements and risks involved.

Alongside the transaction work, you’ll help strengthen financial reporting and forward planning in the existing business, working with the current finance manager and management team.

Key responsibilities

• Lead buyer-side financial due diligence, reviewing contracts, revenue, costs, working capital and supporting records.
• Challenge the seller’s assumptions and prepare a robust 24-month forecast, including cash, profit and downside scenarios.
• Assess the full cost of operating and integrating the acquired business, including staffing, supplier arrangements, licences and transition services.
• Advise the owner and transaction advisers on valuation, funding requirements, key risks and proposed deal terms.
• Review current finance processes and introduce timely, useful management accounts and cash reporting.
• Improve forecasting, financial controls and visibility of customer and contract profitability.

About you

You’ll be a qualified accountant (ACA, ACCA or CIMA) with strong FC/FD experience and a track record of leading financial due diligence on acquisitions or carve-outs. You’ll be commercially minded, comfortable working through detailed source data, and able to turn your findings into clear advice for an owner-manager.

Experience in business services, technology, managed services or contract-based businesses would be useful. Just as important is a hands‑on, pragmatic approach. You will need to work effectively with a small finance function, bring structure without unnecessary process, and explain complex financial issues in plain language.