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For Companies At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead finance operations, manage cash flow, and optimise financial reporting.
- Company: Join Cambridge Design Partnership, a pioneering innovation partner with a collaborative culture.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, employee ownership, and a dynamic work environment.
- Why this job: Make a real impact in transforming a fantastic business while developing your leadership skills.
- Qualifications: Proven financial leadership experience and a professional accountancy qualification (ACA, ACCA, or CIMA).
- Other info: Opportunity to shape the future of innovative products and services.
The predicted salary is between 43200 - 72000 £ per year.
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-proof 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.
Interim Finance Director in Cambridge employer: Cambridge Design Partnership
Contact Detail:
Cambridge Design Partnership Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Interim Finance Director in Cambridge
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to your connections in the finance sector and let them know you're on the lookout for interim roles. You never know who might have the inside scoop on opportunities at places like Cambridge Design Partnership.
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for those interviews by brushing up on your cash flow management skills. Be ready to discuss how you've optimised cash flow in previous roles, as this will be key for the Interim Finance Director position.
✨Tip Number 3
Showcase your adaptability! In your conversations, highlight examples of how you've thrived in ambiguous environments. This will resonate well with the team at Cambridge Design Partnership, who value proactive leaders.
✨Tip Number 4
Don't forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets noticed. Plus, it shows you're genuinely interested in being part of the innovative culture at Cambridge Design Partnership.
We think you need these skills to ace Interim Finance Director in Cambridge
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your CV: Make sure your CV is tailored to the Interim Finance Director role. Highlight your experience in cash flow management and financial reporting, as these are key responsibilities. We want to see how your skills align with what we're looking for!
Craft a Compelling Cover Letter: Your cover letter is your chance to shine! Use it to explain why you're the perfect fit for this interim role. Share specific examples of how you've led finance teams and improved cash management in the past. We love a good story!
Showcase Your Leadership Skills: Since this role involves team leadership, make sure to highlight your experience managing finance operations teams. We’re looking for someone who can inspire and guide others, so don’t hold back on sharing your leadership successes!
Apply Through Our Website: We encourage you to apply directly through our website. It’s the best way for us to receive your application and ensures you’re considered for the role. Plus, it shows you’re keen on joining our fantastic team at Cambridge Design Partnership!
How to prepare for a job interview at Cambridge Design Partnership
✨Know Your Numbers
As an Interim Finance Director, you'll need to demonstrate a solid grasp of financial metrics. Brush up on cash flow management, working capital optimisation, and financial reporting. Be ready to discuss specific examples from your past roles where you successfully managed these areas.
✨Showcase Leadership Skills
This role involves managing a finance operations team, so highlight your leadership experience. Prepare anecdotes that showcase how you've guided teams through transformations or improvements, especially in high-pressure situations. Emphasise your ability to build strong relationships with stakeholders.
✨Be Ready for Change
Cambridge Design Partnership is looking for someone adaptable and proactive. Think about times when you've thrived in ambiguous environments or led change initiatives. Be prepared to discuss how you approach challenges and drive systems improvement, particularly with tools like SAP.
✨Prepare for the Audit Challenge
Since you'll be driving the year-end audit, it's crucial to show your familiarity with audit processes. Discuss your experience in completing audits efficiently and any strategies you've used to minimise issues. This will demonstrate your readiness to tackle this responsibility head-on.