Interim Finance Director

Optimum Recruitment Group Limited; Wakefield; On-site; GBP 100,000 - 125,000; Full time

Job summary

A recruitment agency is seeking an experienced Interim Finance Director for a client in Wakefield. This role involves overseeing the finance function, supporting senior management, and ensuring compliance with all financial reporting. The ideal candidate will hold a recognised accountancy qualification and have exceptional leadership skills. You will be responsible for a finance team, lead planning, cash management, and report on profit improvements across the business. Commitment to the contract of 6 months is essential.

Qualifications

• Exceptional leadership skills essential.
• Experience from a fast-paced environment required.
• Strong influencing skills needed.

Responsibilities

• Oversee the finance function and support wider business.
• Lead budgeting, forecasting, and manage resources successfully.
• Ensure compliance with reporting and audit processes.

Skills

Leadership skills

Financial management

Process improvement

Cash management

KPI reporting

Stakeholder management

Education

Recognised accountancy qualification

Job description

Optimum Recruitment Group are proud to be recruiting exclusively for a fast paced, growth client based in Wakefield who are looking to appoint an Interim Finance Director for an initial period of 6 months.

This role is to cover the BAU Finance Director responsibilities whilst the CFO concentrates on a number of corporate projects. Commitment to the contract is essential.

You will work closely with the CEO and senior management team, providing financial leadership across the business. Alongside core financial management and reporting, you will focus on planning, cash management, ad-hoc projects, KPI reporting, process improvement and the development of financial systems.

You will have responsibility for a team of c18 which includes finance, HR and property.

Your duties will include:

Leadership & business partnering:

• Overall responsibility for the finance function, supporting the wider business.
• Act as key partner and advisor to the CEO.
• Support the management team through regular operational meetings and decision support.
• Build strong relationships with external stakeholders and key support functions.

Reporting, compliance & controls:

• Oversee reporting internally and to relevant authorities, including VAT, tax returns and R&D claims.
• Overall responsibility for production and distribution of monthly management accounts.
• Lead the external audit process.
• Act as a compliance steward and protect business assets.
• Manage insurance cover and oversee renewal/coverage adequacy.

Planning, cash, funding & treasury:

• Lead budgeting and forecasting where necessary.
• Manage resources to successfully meet funding covenants.
• Manage banking and payment processes across jurisdictions.
• Continuous review of FX policies.

Commercial performance & profit improvement:

• Work with supply chain on cost‑saving initiatives and pricing.
• Identify and implement further opportunities for profit improvement across the business.

Contracts, property and shared services oversight:

• Review annual contracts for financial services (e.g., consumer finance, banking).
• Support annual salary reviews with the CEO.
• Oversee rent reviews across the property portfolio.

What you'll need to succeed:

• A recognised accountancy qualification.
• Exceptional leadership skills.
• Experience from fast paced, ever changing environment with operational involvement.
• Demonstrable track record of developing control systems and processes in response to changing business needs.
• Strong influencing skills and the ability to work successfully with the senior management team.

We can accommodate a professional interim on a day rate basis or a fixed term contract.