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For Companies At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead a dynamic finance team and drive client success in a tech-enabled environment.
- Company: Join Ascendant, a fast-growth company redefining accounting with smart systems and real relationships.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, performance bonuses, share options, and generous annual leave.
- Why this job: Make a real impact in finance while developing your leadership skills and career.
- Qualifications: Must be ACA, ACCA, or CIMA qualified with 6+ years of experience.
- Other info: Opportunities for progression to Fractional CFO and beyond in a supportive culture.
The predicted salary is between 60000 - 72000 £ per year.
£70,000 to £82,000 (based on experience) performance-based bonus share options 25 days annual leave + 3 additional days at Christmas
Role overview
We are looking for a high-calibre Finance Director to help lead one of our core sectors within Finance-as-a-Service (FaaS). This is a senior delivery and leadership role - responsible for both client success and commercial performance across a sector. You will work alongside a Sector CFO to drive performance, oversee finance teams, and own key client relationships. You will also play a pivotal role in monitoring and improving sector economics, including utilisation, recovery, and financial reporting. Natural progression opportunities through to a Fractional CFO role. This role combines client delivery, operational management, team development, and commercial insight — all within a tech-enabled, growth-focused environment that is redefining what accountants can do.
Core responsibilities
- Lead the day-to-day operations of a full FaaS sector (15+ people), with shared accountability for delivery, financial performance, and client satisfaction
- Act as primary finance lead for a portfolio of clients, supported by Financial Controllers, Senior Accountants, and support the CFO on key strategic clients
- Provide oversight, coaching, and quality assurance across the sector's financial controllers and pod teams
- Monitor and improve sector performance metrics including utilisation, chargeable hours, recovery rates, and margin
- Support capacity planning, resourcing decisions, and prioritisation of client work
- Own and review technical outputs including management accounts, year-end accounts, and statutory returns
- Lead client onboarding and transformation projects where needed, ensuring smooth transitions and strong foundations
- Drive operational improvements across systems, reporting workflows, and internal delivery standards
- Contribute to commercial insight and internal reporting for your sector (e.g. delivery dashboards, commentary on performance)
- Develop and support future leaders - mentoring FCs and helping shape a strong, capable delivery team
Must have
- ACA, ACCA or CIMA qualified (or equivalent)
- 6+ years post-qualified experience, in a practice or outsourced environment
- Proven experience managing finance teams and leading client delivery at scale
- Strong technical understanding across management accounts, consolidations, statutory accounts and tax
- Experience with UK GAAP, Companies Act requirements, and financial reporting frameworks
- Commercial awareness and experience working with utilisation, recovery, and margin metrics
- Comfortable presenting financial information to internal and external stakeholders
- Track record of developing and mentoring team members
- Highly organised, with strong judgement and ability to prioritise across a busy portfolio
- Ambition to progress to Fractional CFO and beyond within the business
Nice to have
- Experience leading a sector, pod, or multi-team structure
- Familiarity with cloud accounting platforms (Xero)
- Experience in high-growth environments with a focus on automation or systems improvement
- Prior involvement in capacity planning, forecasting, or resource allocation
- Strong Excel or reporting/dashboarding skills
Team structure
- Reporting to: Sector CFO
- Team: Leads a team of 15+, including qualified and part-qualified staff
- Collaborating with: Portfolio CFOs, FDs, transition & transformation team, compliance and tax functions
About Ascendant
Ascendant is here to reboot what people expect from accountants. We combine smart systems, sharp thinking, and real relationships to help ambitious businesses move faster and make better decisions. Whether it is compliance, R&D, or full finance-as-a-service, we deliver accounting and tax that is strategic, scalable, and always on it. Built for founders. Powered by tech. Backed by humans.
Unfortunately, we are unable to provide any form of visa sponsorship, so candidates must be an EU citizen or possess a current UK Tier 1 Visa and be eligible to take up full-time, permanent employment. EU candidates must also demonstrate they are eligible to take up UK employment post-Brexit.
We build and run smart finance functions for fast-growth and complex businesses. Our mission is to deliver relevant insight that enables better business decisions.
From candidate to colleague
Our values: Creators. Leaders. Self-starters. We are an innovative fast-growth company that likes to challenge convention. We are always thinking and looking ahead. Our people dream big and are driven to change the world.
It is personal. We are interested in our clients and each other. We take the time to get to know what makes their business tick. Yes, we deliver on business, data and finance challenges, but it is always strategic, insightful and relevant.
We are true to ourselves, each other and we are straight with our clients. So, if we think something is the right thing for our client's business, we will say it even if it is not what they want to hear.
We do not settle, we never stop developing. We are always looking for a better way. We are relentless when it comes to delivering the highest standards and getting the best outcome for clients.
Finance Director in London employer: Flinder Holdings Limited
Contact Detail:
Flinder Holdings Limited Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Finance Director in London
✨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 a Finance Director role. You never know who might have the inside scoop on an opportunity that’s not even advertised yet.
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for those interviews by brushing up on your technical knowledge and leadership skills. Be ready to discuss how you've driven performance and client satisfaction in previous roles. We want to see you shine!
✨Tip Number 3
Don’t underestimate the power of follow-ups! After an interview, drop a quick thank-you email to express your appreciation and reiterate your enthusiasm for the role. It keeps you fresh in their minds.
✨Tip Number 4
Apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets seen by the right people. Plus, we love seeing candidates who are proactive about their job search.
We think you need these skills to ace Finance Director in London
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your CV: Make sure your CV is tailored to the Finance Director role. Highlight your experience in managing finance teams and client delivery, as well as any relevant qualifications like ACA, ACCA, or CIMA. We want to see how your background aligns with our mission!
Showcase Your Achievements: Don’t just list your responsibilities; showcase your achievements! Use metrics to demonstrate how you’ve improved financial performance or client satisfaction in previous roles. This will help us see the impact you've made in your past positions.
Be Authentic: We value authenticity, so let your personality shine through in your application. Share your passion for finance and how you align with our values of being creators and leaders. We’re looking for someone who’s not just qualified but also a great fit for our culture!
Apply Through Our Website: For the best chance of success, apply directly through our website. This ensures your application gets to the right people quickly. Plus, it shows us you’re genuinely interested in joining our team at StudySmarter!
How to prepare for a job interview at Flinder Holdings Limited
✨Know Your Numbers
As a Finance Director, you'll need to demonstrate your strong grasp of financial metrics. Brush up on key performance indicators like utilisation, recovery rates, and margins. Be ready to discuss how you've improved these metrics in past roles.
✨Showcase Leadership Skills
This role involves leading a team of 15+ people, so highlight your experience in managing finance teams. Prepare examples of how you've mentored team members and driven client delivery at scale. They want to see your leadership style in action!
✨Understand the Tech Landscape
Since this position is within a tech-enabled environment, be familiar with cloud accounting platforms like Xero. Discuss any experience you have with automation or systems improvement, as this will show you're aligned with their innovative approach.
✨Prepare for Scenario Questions
Expect questions that assess your problem-solving skills and judgement. Think of scenarios where you've had to make tough decisions regarding capacity planning or resource allocation. Use the STAR method (Situation, Task, Action, Result) to structure your answers effectively.
