Finance Director - IPO Readiness in London

Stanton House is partnering with a globally recognised international business operating across multiple jurisdictions.

The organisation is entering a transformative period as it prepares for a significant capital markets event, creating a unique opportunity for an experienced executive to play a pivotal role in one of the business's most important strategic initiatives.

This is a complex, high-profile environment with an ambitious leadership team, strong growth trajectory and a collaborative culture.

The successful candidate will work closely with senior executives and external advisers, helping the organisation transition into a public company while shaping governance, reporting and operational readiness frameworks for the future.

Role

We are seeking an experienced IPO Readiness Consultant to partner directly with the CFO and lead the coordination, governance and execution of a confidential IPO readiness programme.

This individual will act as the central point of integration across finance, legal, tax, HR, technology, investor relations and executive leadership teams.

The role requires someone who has successfully navigated a listing process before and can bring practical judgement, strong programme management capability and the ability to drive progress in a fast-moving environment.

The position is initially offered as a 9-month engagement with an immediate start required.

Preference is for a fixed-term contract, although day-rate arrangements will be considered for exceptional candidates.

Responsibilities

• Lead and maintain the end-to-end IPO programme, including milestones, dependencies, deliverables and critical path activities.
• Establish programme governance structures, steering committees, reporting frameworks and readiness assessments.
• Coordinate workstreams across finance, legal, tax, treasury, technology, HR, operations, compliance, investor relations and external stakeholders.
• Act as a trusted adviser to the CFO, providing visibility of risks, dependencies, key decisions and programme progress.
• Prepare executive briefings, board papers, steering committee materials and governance documentation.
• Support the establishment of public company governance frameworks, board structures, committee arrangements and reporting controls.
• Coordinate internal readiness activities covering governance, disclosure requirements, employee remuneration considerations, internal audit capability and regulatory compliance.
• Manage programme risks, issues, actions and dependencies while facilitating resolution of cross-functional challenges.
• Coordinate relationships with investment banks, legal advisers, auditors, consultants and other IPO advisers.
• Support due diligence, regulatory submissions, offering documentation and transaction-related deliverables.
• Drive board, executive and investor readiness activities, ensuring alignment around key messages, priorities and milestones.
• Help implement sustainable governance, control and reporting processes required to operate successfully as a listed company.

Requirements

• Previous IPO execution or IPO readiness experience, ideally having supported more than one successful listing process.
• Background within finance, corporate development, transaction services, investment banking, consulting or accounting.
• Proven ability to operate as a senior programme lead across multiple workstreams and stakeholder groups.
• Strong understanding of public company governance, regulatory obligations and reporting requirements.
• Outstanding stakeholder management skills, with experience supporting boards, executive leadership teams and external advisers.
• Ability to work autonomously, anticipate issues and deliver against demanding timelines.
• Strong commercial judgement with the ability to apply previous experience pragmatically rather than following a rigid template.
• Excellent communication, organisational and influencing skills.
• Comfortable operating in a confidential, high-pressure and fast-paced environment.
• Experience supporting European public market listings.
• Exposure to investor relations, board readiness and capital markets stakeholder engagement.
• Experience establishing governance structures, committee frameworks and internal control environments ahead of a public market event.
• Previous experience working directly with CFOs, boards and executive leadership teams on transformational projects.
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