Finance Director in Milton Keynes

Finance Director | 15-Month Contract | Milton Keynes | Confidential Opportunity

An opportunity to help build, shape and influence a new organisation from the ground up.

I'm looking to speak with exceptional senior finance leaders about a particularly interesting Finance Director opportunity, initially being appointed on a 15-month contract, with an organisation currently going through a significant period of development and investment.

This isn't a traditional interim assignment and it isn't about stepping in simply to maintain an established finance function.

Instead, you'll join at an important stage in the organisation's development, working as the CFO's number two and playing a key role in shaping the financial and commercial foundations that will underpin its future success.

You’ll work closely with the CFO, Executive team and senior stakeholders across the organisation, with the credibility and capability to deputise for the CFO when required, represent Finance at the highest levels and provide leadership across the function.

For someone who enjoys ambiguity, building things and solving complex commercial problems, it’s a genuinely interesting opportunity with the scope to make a significant impact over the initial 15‑month period.

The Role

Reporting directly to the CFO, you’ll be a senior member of the leadership team and a trusted partner to the CFO across both the leadership of Finance and the organisation’s wider strategic agenda.

You’ll combine strategic thinking with hands‑on delivery, taking ownership of significant commercial and financial initiatives while helping to build the capability, frameworks and disciplines required as the organisation develops.

Your responsibilities will include:

• Acting as the CFO's number two, deputising in their absence and providing senior leadership across the Finance function.
• Representing Finance with Executive, Board and other senior stakeholders, providing clear commercial insight, challenge and recommendations.
• Leading significant strategic investment programmes from financial design through to implementation and ongoing performance.
• Supporting the development of commercial and pricing strategies.
• Providing financial leadership and commercial input into major contracts and negotiations.
• Building and managing key external relationships, including advisers, commercial partners and other relevant stakeholders.
• Developing financial models, reporting frameworks and commercial disciplines to support better decision-making.
• Evaluating investment opportunities and helping determine where capital can deliver the greatest long-term value.
• Working closely with senior operational and commercial leaders to understand performance, identify opportunities and manage risk.
• Supporting the CFO on wider strategic, organisational and transformation initiatives.
• Helping to develop the Finance function, its people and its influence across the organisation.

What we're looking for

We're interested in established senior finance leaders who are commercially minded, comfortable operating beyond the traditional boundaries of Finance and capable of stepping into the CFO's shoes when required.

You’ll ideally be:

• ACA, ACCA or CIMA qualified with significant post-qualified experience.
• An experienced Finance Director, senior finance leader or high-calibre CFO number two.
• Comfortable operating directly with CFO, Executive and Board-level stakeholders.
• Credible representing Finance both internally and externally.
• Commercially strong, with experience of financial modelling, investment appraisal, contracts and complex strategic projects.
• Able to take relatively ambiguous business challenges and create structure, clarity and momentum around them.
• Confident challenging senior stakeholders while building strong, trusted relationships.
• An effective leader who can develop people and help shape a high-performing Finance function.
• Someone who enjoys building and improving, rather than simply maintaining established processes.

Experience gained within a complex operational environment such as FMCG, retail, manufacturing, logistics, supply chain, infrastructure or another large-scale consumer or operational business could be particularly relevant.

Why consider it?

The attraction here is the breadth, visibility and opportunity to have genuine influence.

You'll be working alongside the CFO at a formative stage in the organisation's development, with the opportunity to influence how Finance operates, how major investment decisions are made and how the organisation approaches some of its most important commercial challenges.

You'll have exposure across the Executive team and wider stakeholder group, while also deputising for the CFO and establishing yourself as a key member of the organisation's senior leadership.

Rather than joining an established environment where everything has already been built, you'll have the opportunity to help create it.

While the appointment is initially for 15 months, the scope and seniority of the role provide the opportunity to make a significant and lasting impact during an important period for the organisation.

The organisation can offer a competitive package, excellent benefits and hybrid working, with approximately three days per week based in Milton Keynes.

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