CFO PE-backed Industrial Services Business

Mark Sattin Executive Search is working with a PE-backed Industrial Services business with operations across the UK and Europe. The business has built a strong position within its core markets and is seeking a Chief Financial Officer to partner with the CEO and PE investors in the next phase of its development.

This is a hands-on role requiring a commercially minded finance leader capable of creating greater visibility across the business while supporting the identification and commercialisation of opportunities for growth and value creation. The CFO will lead the development of a more integrated finance function across the group, operating across multiple entities, jurisdictions, and currencies, with a key priority being the consolidation of financial information, reporting structures, and processes to create a single, reliable view of business performance.

The role will strengthen financial controls, enhance governance, and implement the systems required to support the evolving needs of the business. Given the nature of the opportunity, the CFO will be prepared to get their hands dirty when required, combining strategic leadership with a practical, delivery-focused approach.

In addition, responsibility will include driving greater alignment across the finance function, establishing consistent reporting standards and governance processes while overseeing budgeting, forecasting, cash management, and working capital performance. Working closely with the CEO, investors, and wider leadership team, the CFO will help identify areas of latent value, challenge existing ways of working, and support initiatives that enhance both operational and commercial performance.

Acting as a key partner to operational and commercial stakeholders, the role will help ensure opportunities are effectively evaluated, prioritised, and executed, supporting the commercialisation of opportunities across the group.

The ideal candidate:

• Be a qualified accountant (ACA, ACCA or ACMA).
• Experience operating autonomously as a Finance Director or Chief Financial Officer within an engineering, manufacturing, industrial, or technical services environment, ideally within a PE-backed business.
• Demonstrate a strong track record of operating across multiple entities, jurisdictions, and currencies, consolidating financial reporting, improving management information, and strengthening financial controls.
• Have led the development of finance functions, including the implementation of systems, reporting frameworks, and governance processes capable of supporting a growing organisation.
• Bring a commercial mindset, with the ability to identify, evaluate, and commercialise opportunities while supporting operational performance and value creation.
• Be a hands-on and credible leader, capable of balancing strategic leadership with operational execution while building effective relationships with investors, senior leadership teams, and stakeholders at all levels.