Finance Director in Gretna

Write the next chapter of a story that began in 1754.

Few businesses are known around the world. Fewer still are family-owned, with the freedom to think long term.

Gretna Green has been bringing people together for generations. Today we're a diverse business spanning weddings, two hotels, catering, retail and visitor experiences, and around 3,000 couples marry here every year. With a multi-million pound capital programme under way, we're building a destination in its own right, with more reasons for people to visit, stay and return.

We're looking for a commercially minded Finance Director to join our Leadership Team and help shape what comes next.

THE OPPORTUNITY

Reporting to our Executive Chair, you'll provide strategic financial leadership, protect the financial health of the business, and enable sustainable growth and sound commercial decisions.

You'll lead our Finance, Property and Risk & Compliance teams, acting as a genuine strategic partner to our Executive Chair and Leadership Team.

This is much more than a traditional finance leadership role. We're looking for an FD who brings an independent voice, offers constructive challenge, and turns financial and operational information into meaningful commercial insight.

KEY AREAS OF FOCUS

• Allocate capital well: act as financial lead on our multi-million pound capital programme, from business cases and cash phasing to risk review and benefits tracking.
• Be a true strategic partner: bring an independent view and constructive challenge on strategy and investment, and the confidence to bring people with you.
• Turn data into insight: tell the story behind the numbers, not just what happened but why, and what we should do next, across hotels, catering, weddings, retail and attractions.
• Build capability: coach and develop your teams, strengthen our finance systems and help everyone across the business understand the numbers.
• Think like an owner: take the lead on value creation, revenue recognition, asset utilisation and partnerships, without waiting to be asked.
• Protect financial health: lead forecasting, budgeting, treasury and working capital; manage relationships with our auditors, banks and advisers; and represent our Leadership Team at the Audit & Risk Committee.

ABOUT YOU

You're a fully qualified accountant (ICAS, ICAEW, ACCA or CIMA), already a Finance Director or operating at that level, with demonstrable experience of capital allocation and investment decisions.

Open, commercially sharp and confident at the top table, you bring an independent view and a track record of influencing senior decisions. You develop people and build strong, accountable teams.

Above all, you think like an owner, recognising the responsibility, and the opportunity, that comes with helping steward a family-owned business through its next stage of growth.

THE PACKAGE

Salary:

Competitive

Bonus:

Up to 20%, based on company performance and individual KPIs

Car allowance:

Included

Private healthcare:

Included

Hours:

Full-time, 40 hours per week

Holiday:

33 days including bank holidays, plus your birthday off

ADDITIONAL BENEFITS

Free lunch on workdays, a 25% discount across the company and a free night stay each year at one of our hotels.

WHY GRETNA GREEN?

Few Finance Director opportunities combine a brand with this level of recognition and heritage with the chance to influence such an important period of investment and development.

The history is already remarkable. The next chapter is yours to write.

HOW TO APPLY

We're partnered exclusively with Heidi Wright Recruitment Ltd. For a confidential conversation, please contact Heidi. All applications and conversations will be treated in the strictest confidence.

Closing date: Wednesday 21st October 2026

First interviews w/c 2nd November