At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead financial strategy and governance for a global freight forwarding company.
- Company: Join a leading shipping and logistics firm based in Felixstowe.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, bonus, private healthcare, and relocation support.
- Other info: Dynamic role with international travel opportunities and strong career growth.
- Why this job: Shape the financial future of a growing global operator from a key UK port.
- Qualifications: 8+ years in senior finance roles, ideally in shipping or logistics.
The predicted salary is between 60000 - 80000 £ per year.
Location: Felixstowe, Suffolk, UK - On-site with occasional travel to global offices
Reports to: CEO / Group Board
Department: Finance
About the Company
Our client is a global shipping and freight forwarding company with operations across sea, air, and road. Based in the UK's largest container port, Felixstowe, they manage end-to-end logistics for clients worldwide.
Role Purpose
The CFO will own the financial strategy, governance, and performance of the group. You will partner with the CEO and global leadership to drive profitability, manage risk, and ensure robust financial controls across multiple entities, currencies, and jurisdictions.
- Strategic Finance & Leadership
- Develop and execute financial strategy aligned to global growth plans
- Board reporting, investor relations, and M&A due diligence support
- Lead budgeting, forecasting, and long-range planning for all entities
- Drive commercial insight: lane profitability, customer P&L, contract pricing
- Operations & Commercial Finance
- Oversee finance for freight forwarding: ocean/air/road margins, agent commissions, demurrage & detention
- Manage working capital: AR/AP, credit control, and cash conversion in a high-volume, low-margin business
- Partner with Operations, Sales, and Customs teams on pricing, cost recovery, and contract negotiations
- Optimize use of port fees, warehousing, and 3PL costs
- Governance, Risk & Compliance
- Ensure compliance with UK GAAP/IFRS, HMRC customs/bond requirements, and global tax/VAT rules
- Lead audit, treasury, and insurance programs including marine cargo and liability cover
- Manage FX exposure across USD, EUR, GBP and other trading currencies
- Oversee AML, sanctions screening, and trade compliance controls
- Team & Systems
- Lead a finance team of X people across UK + global hubs
- Own the ERP/TMS/WMS finance integration. Drive automation and MI dashboards
- Implement strong controls across multiple legal entities and currencies
Key Requirements
- Experience
- ACA/ACCA/CIMA qualified or equivalent
- 8+ years senior finance experience, with 3+ years at CFO/Finance Director level
- Proven experience in shipping, freight forwarding, logistics, or port operations essential
- Experience managing multi-entity, multi-currency group structures
- Track record of driving margin improvement and cash management in asset-light logistics
- Skills
- Deep understanding of Incoterms, freight rates, customs duties, and bonded warehousing
- Strong commercial acumen and ability to translate ops data into financial decisions
- Excellent communicator to board, banks, and non-finance stakeholders
- Advanced Excel + ERP experience. Felixstowe is an operational port environment
- Strategic thinker with strong governance mindset
- Able to travel internationally 10-15%
What's on offer
- Competitive salary: £120k - £160k + bonus + benefits
- Pension, private healthcare, and port location allowance
- Opportunity to shape finance for a growing global operator from a key UK port
- Relocation support considered
We think you need these skills to ace Chief Financial Officer - CFO (Contract) in Felixstowe
Financial Strategy Development
Governance and Compliance
Budgeting and Forecasting
Commercial Acumen
Risk Management
Multi-Entity Financial Management
Cash Management
