At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead finance operations, manage teams, and drive client success in a dynamic environment.
- Company: Join Ascendant, a forward-thinking firm redefining accounting with tech and human touch.
- Benefits: Enjoy a competitive salary, performance bonuses, share options, and generous leave.
- Other info: Great opportunity for growth in a supportive, tech-enabled workplace.
- Why this job: Make a real impact in finance-as-a-service while advancing your career to CFO.
- Qualifications: Must be ACA, ACCA, or CIMA qualified with 6+ years of experience.
The predicted salary is between 60000 - 72000 £ per year.
We’re 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’ll work alongside a Sector CFO to drive performance, oversee finance teams, and own key client relationships. You’ll 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’s 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’s compliance, R&D, or full finance-as-a-service, we deliver accounting and tax that’s strategic, scalable, and always on it. Built for founders. Powered by tech. Backed by humans.
EU candidates must also demonstrate they are eligible to take up UK employment post-Brexit.
Finance Director employer: flinder
Ascendant is an exceptional employer that fosters a dynamic and collaborative work culture in the heart of London. With a strong focus on employee growth, we offer ample opportunities for professional development and mentorship, ensuring that our team members thrive in their careers. Our hybrid working model and share options further enhance the appeal of joining our innovative Finance-as-a-Service business, making it a rewarding place to contribute and grow.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Finance Director
✨Network Like a Pro
Get out there and connect with people in the finance industry! Attend events, join online forums, and don’t be shy about reaching out on LinkedIn. We all know that sometimes it’s not just what you know, but who you know that can land you that Finance Director role.
✨Showcase Your Expertise
When you get the chance to chat with potential employers, make sure to highlight your experience with financial reporting and team leadership. We want to see how you’ve driven performance and improved metrics in past roles. Bring those success stories to the table!
✨Prepare for the Interview
Do your homework on the company and its sector. Understand their challenges and think about how your skills can help them succeed. We recommend preparing some insightful questions to ask during the interview – it shows you’re genuinely interested and engaged!
✨Apply Through Our Website
Don’t forget to apply directly through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets seen by the right people. Plus, we love seeing candidates who take that extra step to connect with us directly.
We think you need these skills to ace Finance Director
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 needs!
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 role. Mention your ambition to progress within the company and how you can contribute to our tech-enabled, growth-focused environment. We love a good story!
Showcase Your Achievements:Don’t just list your responsibilities; showcase your achievements! Use specific examples of how you've improved financial performance or led successful projects. We’re keen on seeing the impact you’ve made in previous roles.
Apply Through Our Website:We encourage you to apply through our website for a smoother application process. It helps us keep track of your application and ensures you don’t miss out on any important updates. Plus, we love seeing applications come directly from our site!
How to prepare for a job interview at flinder
✨Know Your Numbers
As a Finance Director, you’ll need to demonstrate your strong technical understanding 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 it’s crucial to highlight your experience in managing finance teams. Prepare examples of how you've mentored team members and driven client delivery at scale. This will show that you can develop future leaders within the organisation.
✨Understand the Business Landscape
Ascendant is all about redefining accounting through tech and relationships. Familiarise yourself with their approach and be prepared to discuss how your commercial awareness aligns with their vision. Share insights on how you can contribute to operational improvements and strategic growth.
✨Prepare for Technical Questions
Expect questions around UK GAAP, Companies Act requirements, and financial reporting frameworks. Brush up on your knowledge and be ready to explain complex concepts clearly. This will demonstrate your expertise and ability to present financial information to stakeholders effectively.
