At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead finance strategy and drive profitability for a fast-growing non-alcoholic brand.
- Company: Join Mother Root, a bold and ambitious company redefining drinking culture.
- Benefits: Enjoy share options, generous leave, remote work, and personal development support.
- Why this job: Be at the heart of a scaling business and make impactful financial decisions.
- Qualifications: Senior finance experience in consumer goods and strong commercial acumen required.
- Other info: Collaborative environment with opportunities for innovation and growth.
The predicted salary is between 70000 - 90000 ÂŁ per year.
Who we are
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.
The Role
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 will 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
- Forecasting, planning & modelling
- 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
- Cash flow & working capital
- 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)
- Management accounts & reporting
- 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
- Outsourced finance management
- 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
- Systems, data & process
- 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
- Board & stakeholder support
- Prepare board and investor materials
- Support fundraising and strategic projects with robust analysis
- AI, automation & finance innovation
- 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
- Essential skills and experience
- 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: ÂŁ300 annual allowance for approved training
- Wellbeing Support: Access to Spill app & Heka allowance (ÂŁ40/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 finance industry, especially those who work at companies you admire. A friendly chat can lead to insider info about job openings or even a referral.
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for interviews by researching the company inside out. Understand their mission, values, and recent news. This will help you tailor your answers and show that you're genuinely interested in being part of their journey.
✨Tip Number 3
Practice your pitch! Be ready to explain how your skills and experience align with the role of Head of Finance. Highlight your commercial finance track record and how you can contribute to scaling the business profitably.
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets noticed. Plus, it shows you’re keen on joining our team and being part of something exciting.
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. Don't just list your skills; tell us how they connect to our mission at Mother Root.
Tailor Your Application: Make sure to customise your application for the Head of Finance role. Highlight your experience in scaling consumer businesses and how you can contribute to our ambitious growth plans. Show us you understand what we’re all about!
Showcase Your Achievements: We love numbers, so don’t shy away from sharing your successes! Use specific examples of how you've improved profitability or streamlined processes in previous roles. This will help us see the impact you could have at Mother Root.
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. Plus, it’s super easy!
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 the role, such as profitability by channel and cash flow management. Be ready to discuss how you've used these metrics to drive decisions in your previous roles.
✨Showcase Your Commercial Acumen
This role requires a commercially-minded approach, so prepare examples of how you've partnered with other departments to shape strategy and improve performance. Think about specific instances where your financial insights led to successful outcomes in pricing, promotions, or operational efficiency.
✨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 translated commercial plans into actionable insights. Bring examples of how your modelling has impacted business decisions in the past.
✨Demonstrate Your Collaborative Spirit
Mother Root values collaboration across teams. Be prepared to share how you've worked cross-functionally with commercial, ops, and marketing teams. Highlight your ability to communicate complex financial data in a way that’s accessible and actionable for non-financial stakeholders.