At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead the finance function, drive strategic growth, and enhance operational efficiency.
- Company: Established consultancy in London with a focus on professionalising finance.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, performance bonus, flexible working, and standard benefits.
- Other info: Opportunity to shape financial infrastructure and support long-term business plans.
- Why this job: Join a dynamic team and influence the company's growth trajectory.
- Qualifications: Qualified accountant with strong commercial experience and leadership skills.
The predicted salary is between 120000 - 150000 £ per year.
A well-established London-based specialist consultancy business is hiring a Finance Director. The shareholders are entering a defining chapter for the company and want a senior finance leader to professionalise the function, sharpen operational accountability, and partner closely with the CEO on the next phase of growth.
This is a hands-on, commercially weighted role with full management steer co membership and genuine influence over how the business is run.
Package: £120,000 – £150,000 base, depending on experience; Up to 20% performance-related bonus; 4 days office / 1 day remote (London); Standard benefits; further incentive structures to be discussed at offer stage.
The role involves:
- Owning the finance function end-to-end — month-end, statutory reporting, payroll, VAT, controls and compliance.
- Building a best-in-class MI suite: board pack, weekly KPIs, consultant productivity, NFI, gross margin, DSO, cash conversion.
- Leading annual budgeting, quarterly reforecasts and rolling cash flow, with bottom-up models by desk that the business actually uses.
- Tightening month-end close, automating manual workflows, and improving integration between front-office systems and finance.
- Defining ownership and KPIs across the wider operations stack, removing friction for fee-earners.
- Sitting on the Management Board and bringing commercial challenge to pricing, headcount, incentives and client mix.
- Developing and leading a high-performing finance team.
There is also a strategic workstream alongside BAU: building the financial infrastructure, equity story and three-to-five-year integrated model that will support the shareholders' longer-term plans for the business. Prior exposure to a transaction environment would be valuable.
About you:
- Essential: Qualified accountant (ACA, ACCA, CIMA or equivalent) with strong post-qualified commercial experience; Solid technical foundation in UK GAAP/FRS 102, revenue recognition, payroll, VAT and statutory reporting; Proven track record building or materially upgrading MI and forecasting frameworks; Demonstrable people-leadership experience; Commercially fluent at Exco/board level — able to challenge a CEO and influence senior fee-earners.
- Desirable: Experience managing an outsourced finance/payroll provider; Exposure to recruitment, professional services, or contract/temp models (NFI, contractor payroll, funding lines); Prior experience in a PE-backed environment; Track record of systems improvement (ERP, finance automation, BI tooling).
You’ll be hands-on and pragmatic, comfortable operating at both strategic and detail level, and credible under pressure. You take ownership, communicate clearly with non-finance stakeholders, and value accuracy and pace in equal measure.
Group Finance Director in City of London employer: JSS
Contact Detail:
JSS Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Group Finance Director in City of London
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to your connections in the finance sector, especially those who might know about opportunities at consultancy firms. A personal recommendation can make all the difference when you're aiming for that Finance Director role.
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for interviews by brushing up on your commercial acumen. Be ready to discuss how you've influenced senior management decisions and improved financial processes in your previous roles. We want to see you shine as a strategic thinker!
✨Tip Number 3
Showcase your leadership skills! Be prepared to share examples of how you've developed high-performing teams and tackled challenges head-on. This is key for a hands-on role like the one we're discussing.
✨Tip Number 4
Don't forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets the attention it deserves. Plus, we love seeing candidates who are proactive about their job search.
We think you need these skills to ace Group Finance Director in City of London
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your CV: Make sure your CV is tailored to the Group Finance Director role. Highlight your experience in finance leadership, especially any hands-on roles where you've influenced business operations. We want to see how your skills align with what we're looking for!
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. Share specific examples of how you've built financial infrastructures or led teams, and don’t forget to mention your commercial fluency at board level.
Showcase Your Achievements: When detailing your experience, focus on your achievements rather than just responsibilities. Use metrics to demonstrate your impact, like improvements in cash flow or successful budgeting processes. We love numbers that tell a story!
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, it shows you're keen on joining our team!
How to prepare for a job interview at JSS
✨Know Your Numbers
As a Group Finance Director, you'll need to demonstrate your financial acumen. Brush up on key metrics like cash conversion, gross margin, and DSO. Be ready to discuss how you've improved these in past roles and how you plan to do so here.
✨Showcase Your Leadership Skills
This role requires strong people leadership. Prepare examples of how you've built high-performing teams and influenced senior stakeholders. Think about specific challenges you've faced and how you navigated them to achieve results.
✨Understand the Business Landscape
Familiarise yourself with the consultancy sector and the company's position within it. Be prepared to discuss how you can contribute to their growth strategy and what insights you can bring from your previous experiences.
✨Prepare for Strategic Discussions
You'll be sitting on the Management Board, so expect strategic questions. Think about how you would approach pricing, headcount, and client mix. Have a few ideas ready to share that show your commercial fluency and ability to challenge the status quo.