At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead finance strategy and support growth in a fast-paced, scaling business.
- Company: Join Mother Root, a bold and innovative non-alcoholic brand on an exciting growth journey.
- Benefits: Enjoy share options, generous leave, remote work, and personal development support.
- Why this job: Be at the heart of a thriving company, shaping financial decisions that drive impact.
- Qualifications: Senior finance experience in consumer goods and strong commercial acumen required.
- Other info: Collaborative culture with opportunities for innovation and career growth.
The predicted salary is between 70000 - 90000 £ per year.
Mother Root is the Ginger non-alcoholic aperitif. We harness the power of apple cider vinegar to serve up a dose of good feelings. Our mission is to redefine what it means to drink well and feel good - with drinks that are complex, delicious and rooted in nature. Fresh from securing three offers on BBC Dragons’ Den, we’re on an exciting growth journey — scaling from a £7m brand today towards £50m+ in the years ahead, with 230% year-on-year growth already underway. With our small but mighty team, we’re building one of the UK’s fastest-growing non-alcoholic brands, both online and in retail. We’re bold, inclusive and ambitious. We value creativity, curiosity and collaboration — and we believe work should be joyful, purposeful and full of flavour.
We’re looking for a commercially-minded Head of Finance to join as our first senior finance hire, partnering closely with the CEO to help scale the business profitably. This role will bring clarity on performance and profitability across DTC/e-commerce, wholesale, and retail - ensuring our numbers are accurate, meaningful, and actively driving decisions. Operational finance is outsourced (management accounts and 13-week cash flow), and this role will own oversight, quality, and commercial interpretation - translating outputs into clear actions and building the financial infrastructure needed for scale. You’ll sit at the heart of the business, working closely with commercial, ops and marketing teams - shaping strategy, improving performance, and ensuring we grow in a financially sustainable way.
What You’ll Do
- Commercial finance & decision support
- Partner with CEO and commercial leads on growth strategy across channels
- Build clear views of profitability (by channel, customer, SKU)
- Analyse pricing, promotions, trade spend, and marketing efficiency
- Support commercial terms and negotiations (rebates, fees, returns, payment terms)
- Create KPIs and dashboards to drive weekly decision-making
- Own budget, rolling forecast, and scenario planning
- Maintain a driver-based model across revenue, margin, spend, and working capital
- Translate commercial plans into cash impact and resourcing trade-offs
- Own weekly cash visibility and cadence
- Review and challenge outsourced 13-week cash flow
- Turn forecasts into clear actions (inventory, spend, payment terms)
- Drive improvements in inventory, supplier terms, collections, and deductions
- Define pathway to bring cash flow in-house over time (if needed)
- Manage outsourced month-end and ensure timely, accurate delivery
- Ensure accounts reflect commercial reality (returns, discounts, COGS, stock, accruals)
- Own performance narrative: variance analysis, insights, risks, actions
- Ensure strong balance sheet control and reconciliations
- Own relationship with finance providers, including scope, SLAs, and performance
- Set standards for controls, documentation, and issue resolution
- Act as final reviewer before outputs go to leadership
- Coordinate year-end and audit readiness
- Improve data integrity across systems (ecom, POS, inventory, payments)
- Reduce manual reporting and move towards a single source of truth
- Implement fit-for-scale tools across reporting, forecasting, and inventory
- Prepare board and investor materials
- Support fundraising and strategic projects with robust analysis
- Evaluate and implement tools that improve speed, clarity, and decision-making to accelerate analysis, modelling, and reporting
- Automate reporting workflows and data consolidation
- Apply AI to scenario planning and commercial analysis
- Stay current and bring relevant innovations into the business
What You’ll Bring
- Senior finance experience in a scaling consumer business (consumer goods and omnichannel strongly preferred).
- Strong commercial finance track record (profitability, pricing, promotions)
- Strong understanding of working capital in product-led businesses
- Experience managing outsourced finance or shared services
- Comfortable operating as a hands-on first finance hire
- Strong modelling and scenario planning skills.
- Detail-aware and control-minded, without losing commercial focus.
- Able to simplify complex channel data into decision-ready insights.
- Demonstrable use of AI tools in finance workflows — not theoretical, but in practice.
Personal attributes
- Clear communicator who can influence and challenge constructively.
- High ownership and pace, with sound judgement.
- Pragmatic and solutions-focused; builds structure without over-engineering.
- Collaborative partner across Commercial, Ops, and Marketing.
- Intellectually curious and willing to challenge convention, including how finance work gets done.
You’ll Thrive Here If You
- You’re commercially sharp and enjoy turning numbers into decisions
- You balance detail and control with pace and pragmatism
- You like building structure without over-engineering
- You’re comfortable working cross-functionally with commercial, ops and marketing
- You enjoy operating in ambiguity and building as you go
- You’re curious and open to rethinking how finance gets done (including AI)
Benefits & Perks
- Share options programme
- Annual Leave: 25 days per year
- Summer Hours: Early finish Fridays (June–August)
- Work From Anywhere: Up to 2 weeks per year
- Pension: 5% matched contribution
- Cycle Scheme: Bike or Lime/Forest Pass
- Personal Development: £300 annual allowance for approved training
- Wellbeing Support: Access to Spill app & Heka allowance (£40/month) + birthday/work anniversary boosts
- Annual Team Trip: Gastronomical & wellbeing-focused team away trip
- Parental Leave: Competitive maternity/paternity package
- Lots of free Mother Root
Head of Finance employer: MOTHER ROOT ✸
Contact Detail:
MOTHER ROOT ✸ Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Head of Finance
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to people in the industry, attend finance events, and connect with potential colleagues on LinkedIn. You never know who might have the inside scoop on job openings or can put in a good word for you.
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for interviews by researching Mother Root and understanding their mission. Be ready to discuss how your experience aligns with their growth journey and how you can contribute to their ambitious goals. Show them you’re not just another candidate!
✨Tip Number 3
Practice your pitch! You’ll want to clearly articulate your financial expertise and how it can help scale the business profitably. Keep it concise but impactful—think of it as your personal brand statement that highlights your unique value.
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets seen. Plus, it shows you’re genuinely interested in being part of the Mother Root team and their exciting journey.
We think you need these skills to ace Head of Finance
Some tips for your application 🫡
Be Authentic: When you're writing your application, let your true self shine through. We want to see your personality and passion for finance, so don’t be afraid to show us what makes you tick!
Tailor Your Application: Make sure to customise your CV and cover letter to reflect the specific skills and experiences that align with our Head of Finance role. Highlight your commercial finance track record and how it relates to our growth journey.
Showcase Your Achievements: Don’t just list your responsibilities; share your successes! Use numbers and examples to illustrate how you've made a difference in previous roles, especially in scaling businesses or improving profitability.
Apply Through Our Website: We encourage you to apply directly through our website. It’s the best way for us to receive your application and ensures you’re considered for this exciting opportunity at Mother Root!
How to prepare for a job interview at MOTHER ROOT ✸
✨Know Your Numbers
As a Head of Finance, you’ll need to demonstrate a strong grasp of financial metrics. Brush up on key performance indicators relevant to Mother Root's business model, such as profitability by channel and cash flow management. Be ready to discuss how you would translate these numbers into actionable insights.
✨Showcase Your Commercial Acumen
This role requires a commercially-minded approach, so prepare examples of how you've previously influenced growth strategies. Think about times when your financial insights led to significant decisions in pricing, promotions, or trade spend. Highlight your ability to partner with other teams to drive results.
✨Be Ready for Scenario Planning
Expect questions around forecasting and scenario planning. Prepare to discuss your experience with driver-based models and how you’ve used them to inform business decisions. Bring examples of how you’ve navigated ambiguity and built financial structures that support growth.
✨Emphasise Collaboration Skills
Mother Root values collaboration across teams, so be prepared to talk about your experience working cross-functionally. Share specific instances where you’ve partnered with commercial, ops, or marketing teams to achieve common goals. Show that you can communicate complex financial concepts in a way that’s accessible to non-financial stakeholders.