Finance Director in Manchester

Besque is a fast-growing, beauty and personal care DTC brand with significant operations in both the UK and the USA. Having reached a critical scale, we are now seeking a Finance Director to own and lead the company’s global finance function, tax strategy, and financial governance as we enter our next phase of growth.

This is a hands‑on leadership role for a commercially astute finance professional who can operate at both strategic and operational levels, from structuring cross-border tax efficiently, to owning cash flow, forecasting, and financial controls across multiple entities.

Financial Leadership & Strategy

• Act as the company’s senior financial leader, partnering closely with the CEO on strategic decisions.
• Own and continuously refine the group financial strategy, ensuring scalability as the business grows internationally.
• Provide clear, actionable financial insights to support growth, profitability, and capital efficiency.

UK–USA Tax & Structuring

• Own and manage the UK–USA tax strategy, with deep understanding of the UK–US double taxation agreements.
• Oversee transfer pricing, intercompany agreements, and cross-border profit allocation.
• Ensure tax efficiency while maintaining full compliance across jurisdictions.
• Lead relationships with tax advisors, auditors, and regulatory bodies in both countries.

Financial Operations & Control

• Full ownership of group financial reporting, including management accounts, statutory accounts, and consolidated reporting.
• Design, implement, and maintain robust financial controls, policies, and processes.
• Ensure accurate revenue recognition, cost allocation, and inventory accounting for an e-commerce model.
• Oversee budgeting, forecasting, and variance analysis across all business units.

Cash Flow & Risk Management

• Own cash flow management, forecasting, and working capital optimisation.
• Manage FX exposure, payment processors, and banking relationships across the UK and USA.
• Identify and mitigate financial, tax, and operational risks.

Systems & Scale

• Lead finance systems selection, optimisation, and integration (ERP, accounting platforms, BI tools).
• Ensure finance infrastructure can support rapid growth, high transaction volumes, and international expansion.

Team & Stakeholder Management

• Build, lead, and develop a high-performing finance team.
• Manage external partners including accountants, tax advisors, auditors, and legal counsel.
• Act as a trusted financial voice with investors, lenders, and senior stakeholders where required.

Required Experience & Expertise

• Proven experience as a Finance Director / Head of Finance / Senior Finance Leader in a high-growth e-commerce or digital business.
• Deep expertise in UK–USA cross-border tax, including the UK–US tax treaty.
• Strong understanding of international corporate structuring, VAT, sales tax, and transfer pricing.
• Hands‑on experience owning end‑to‑end finance in a scaling business.
• Track record of building financial systems and controls in fast‑moving environments.
• Strong commercial acumen – able to balance compliance with growth and profitability.
• ACA / ACCA / CIMA or equivalent qualification preferred.

Personal Attributes

• Commercially minded, not purely compliance-driven.
• Comfortable operating in a fast‑paced, founder‑led environment.
• Detail‑oriented yet able to think strategically.
• Confident communicator who can challenge and advise at board level.
• Proactive, ownership-driven, and accountable.

Why Join Us?

• Opportunity to shape the financial architecture of a rapidly scaling international brand.
• High‑impact role with direct influence on strategic decisions.
• Work closely with an ambitious founder and leadership team.
• Competitive compensation package, with long‑term upside for the right candidate.

Job Details

• Seniority level: Director
• Employment type: Full-time
• Job function: Finance and Sales
• Industries: Personal Care Product Manufacturing