At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead financial control, manage operations, and drive performance across multiple sites.
- Company: Private Equity-backed organisation with ambitious growth plans.
- Benefits: Hybrid work model, competitive salary, and opportunities for professional development.
- Other info: Opportunity for significant responsibility and long-term career progression.
- Why this job: Join a high-impact role shaping finance in a dynamic environment with exit experience.
- Qualifications: Fully qualified accountant with senior finance leadership experience.
The predicted salary is between 80000 - 100000 £ per year.
Location: Reading (Hybrid – 3 days office)
Our client is a Private Equity-backed, multi-site UK organisation operating within a regulated sector, with a significant operational footprint and ambitious growth plans. The business is on a clear value creation journey, focused on strengthening financial performance, enhancing operational discipline, and preparing for a future exit. As part of this, there is a strong emphasis on building a high-performing, scalable finance function capable of supporting both operational delivery and investor requirements.
Role Summary
This is a Finance Director position operating as the number two to a high-calibre CFO, with broad responsibility across financial control, commercial finance, and investor engagement. The role offers significant exposure to the full Private Equity lifecycle, including exit preparation and transaction activity, and provides the opportunity to play a key leadership role in shaping the finance function. You will combine strong technical controllership with business partnering, working closely with operational leaders to drive performance across a multi-site environment.
Key Responsibilities
- Lead the financial control environment, including month-end close, consolidation, and statutory reporting
- Own technical accounting, ensuring compliance with UK GAAP and strong balance sheet integrity
- Oversee day-to-day finance operations, including AP, AR, and cash management
- Drive robust cashflow forecasting and working capital management
- Support investor reporting, Board engagement, and external stakeholder management
- Play a key role in exit readiness, transaction support, and due diligence activity
Business Partnering & Commercial Finance
- Act as a key financial partner to operational leadership across multiple sites
- Provide insight into key performance drivers including revenue, occupancy/utilisation, staffing, and cost control
- Support decision-making through analysis, modelling, and scenario planning
- Challenge and influence operational stakeholders to drive performance improvement
- Work closely with FP&A to ensure consistent, clear financial messaging across the business
- Translate financial data into actionable insight for non-finance stakeholders
Leadership & Transformation
- Lead and develop a finance team, building a high-performance culture and improving capability
- Drive improvements in financial systems, processes, and data quality
- Support finance transformation initiatives, including automation and standardisation
- Act as a key deputy to the CFO, with the ability to step in where required
To Be Suitable
- Fully qualified accountant (ACA, ACCA, or equivalent)
- Proven experience in a senior finance leadership role within a multi-site or complex organisation
- Strong technical accounting and consolidation expertise
- Experience operating in a Private Equity-backed environment
- Exposure to transaction processes or exit activity is highly desirable
- Strong business partnering capability, with the ability to influence non-finance stakeholders
- Strong leadership experience, with the ability to build and develop teams
- Comfortable operating at Board level and engaging with investors
- Hands-on, proactive approach with the ability to operate in a fast-paced environment
- Strong commercial awareness alongside controllership expertise
This is a high-impact Finance Director role offering the opportunity to operate as a true number two to the CFO within a Private Equity-backed business. The position provides broad exposure across financial control, commercial business partnering, and investor engagement, alongside the chance to gain valuable exit experience and shape a high-performing finance team. It is an excellent opportunity for an ambitious finance leader looking to step into a role with significant responsibility, visibility, and long-term progression potential.
Application Disclaimer
Due to the high volume of applications, we may not be able to provide individual feedback to all unsuccessful candidates.
Financial Director in Reading employer: Stanton House
Our client is an exceptional employer, offering a dynamic work environment in Reading that fosters professional growth and development. With a strong emphasis on building a high-performing finance function, employees benefit from significant exposure to the Private Equity lifecycle and the opportunity to lead transformative initiatives. The hybrid working model promotes a healthy work-life balance, while the collaborative culture encourages innovation and engagement at all levels.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Financial Director in Reading
✨Tap into Campus Networks
If you're still in uni, don’t forget to engage with your campus's career services and attend finance-related events. Banks often do presentations and recruitment drives on campus, so put yourself out there and make use of these opportunities to show off your passion for the field.
✨Get Certified
Consider pursuing relevant certifications like the CFA or ACCA while you’re job hunting. They not only beef up your CV but also connect you with professional bodies which can lead to networking opportunities and even job openings in banking and financial services.
✨Connect on Professional Platforms
Join finance-focused groups on platforms like LinkedIn and engage in discussions. This can really help you stand out from the crowd, allowing potential employers to see your knowledge and interest in industry trends. Plus, you might stumble upon job postings shared exclusively within the group.
✨Apply Directly and Be Proactive
Don’t shy away from reaching out directly to firms like Stanton House. Use their websites and apply through them, but also consider following up with a polite email to express your enthusiasm. Being proactive can make a huge difference in getting noticed in the competitive financial services sector.
We think you need these skills to ace Financial Director in Reading
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Off Your Numbers!:In the banking and financial services world, quantifiable achievements are key. Make sure your CV highlights your grades in relevant subjects, any financial certifications you hold, and specific projects where you've delivered measurable results. Employers love to see how your skills translate into real-world success.
Tailor Your Cover Letter to the Role:When applying for a full-time position, your cover letter should make a direct connection between your experience and the job description. Don't just state your enthusiasm for finance—dive into how your background in banking or financial analysis sets you apart. Let your passion shine through while being specific about what you can bring to Stanton House.
Include Relevant Financial Software Experience:If you've worked with financial modelling tools or software like Excel, SAP, or specific analytical tools during your studies or internships, bring that up! Highlighting your proficiency can really make your application pop and show you're ready to hit the ground running in a full-time role.
Research and Reflect:Before hitting that 'apply' button on Stanton House's website, do a little digging. Look up their recent projects, values, and culture. Reflecting their ethos in your application can make a huge difference and show you’re genuinely interested in being part of the team!
How to prepare for a job interview at Stanton House
✨Brush Up on Financial Analysis Skills
Make sure you're well-versed in financial concepts and analytical techniques relevant to banking and financial services. Get comfortable with tools like Excel for modelling or financial forecasting, as technical questions in this area are common during interviews with Stanton House.
✨Prepare for Case Studies
Expect to tackle case studies that demonstrate your problem-solving skills in real-world banking scenarios. Familiarise yourself with the types of problems you might face—think risk assessments or investment evaluations—and be ready to articulate your thought process clearly.
✨Show Your Passion for Finance
Since this is a full-time position, employers at Stanton House will be keen to see your genuine interest in finance. Be prepared to discuss recent industry trends or news articles that excite you, showcasing your enthusiasm and engagement with the field.
✨Network with Industry Professionals
Before your interview, reach out to current or former Stanton House employees on platforms like LinkedIn. They'll offer unique insights into the company's culture and the interview process, which can give us a delightful edge in showcasing a good fit for the team.
