Chief Financial Officer

Engage People Recruitment; Cork; On-site; EUR 120,000 - 150,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading recruitment firm is seeking a Chief Financial Officer to join the Executive Leadership Team. This role involves strategic financial leadership, advising the CEO, and driving profitability in a dynamic engineering environment. The ideal candidate is a qualified accountant with a proven track record in strategic finance and experience in project finance management. This is a significant opportunity to shape the growth of an Irish engineering business.

Qualifications

• Proven track record operating in a number one role.
• Demonstrated ability to lead teams and influence across senior leadership.
• Relevant sectoral experience.

Responsibilities

• Act as a key advisor to the CEO and board, providing strategic guidance.
• Work with operational leaders to improve pricing discipline and optimise costs.
• Lead investor updates, board reporting and compliance with internal controls.

Skills

Strategic finance leadership

Commercial acumen

Team leadership

Project finance management

Education

Qualified accountant (ACA, ACCA, CIMA)

Job description

High-Growth Engineering & Contracting | Cork (Confidential Search)

A Strategic Leadership Opportunity in PE-Backed Infrastructure

A leading provider of specialist engineered solutions across highly regulated sectors. Operating as a project-based engineering contractor, the organisation delivers complex, end-to-end infrastructure projects and is recognised for its precision, reliability and high standards of technical delivery.

Entering a new phase of accelerated growth with the support of a leading Private Equity partner, our client is seeking an experienced and commercially focused Chief Financial Officer (CFO) to join the Executive Leadership Team.

About the Role

This is the senior financial leadership position within the business, working in close partnership with the CEO, the business management board, and the Private Equity investment team on strategic decision-making, value creation and long-term scaling.

The CFO will play a pivotal role in driving profitability, strengthening financial discipline, and building a best-in-class finance function that supports sustainable growth. The position requires a strategic operator who understands the commercial, contractual, and operational intensity of engineering-led project delivery, and who can build strong alignment across all senior stakeholders.

Core Responsibilities

• Strategic & Commercial Partnership: Act as a key advisor to the CEO and board, providing insight, challenge and strategic guidance on business performance and growth priorities.
• Driving Profitability: Work with operational leaders to enhance project margin control, improve pricing discipline and optimise costs, ensuring profitability at both project and business level.
• Project-Based Finance Leadership: Take ownership of financial management across complex, multi-phase contracts, including Earned Value reporting, WIP, margin tracking, and cash-flow visibility.
• Governance & Investor Management: Build and maintain strong relationships with investors and funding partners through clear, consistent and transparent reporting. Lead investor updates, board reporting and compliance with robust internal controls.
• Team Leadership: Shape and lead a high‑performing, responsive finance team, fostering a culture of accountability, development and continuous improvement.

What We're Looking For

A proven, strategic finance leader with the commercial acumen and resilience to thrive in a dynamic, delivery-focused engineering environment.

Required Experience:

• Qualified accountant (ACA, ACCA, CIMA).
• Proven track record operating in a number one role.
• Demonstrated ability to lead teams and influence across senior leadership.
• Strong commercial and business-partnering capability.
• Relevant sectoral experience.

Highly Desirable:

• Experience partnering with PE-backed businesses or investor stakeholders.
• An understanding of commercial contracting, fixed-price project delivery and working‑capital management.

How to Apply

This is a significant opportunity to shape the direction and growth trajectory of a scaling Irish engineering business.

For a confidential conversation, please contact Yazmin Scala at Engage People Recruitment.