Chief Financial Officer in Chelmsford

An established, AIM-listed international technology and engineering group is seeking a Chief Financial Officer to join the business at an important stage in its development. With revenues of c.£20m and approximately 160 employees, the Group operates internationally across the UK, US and Asia, with a strong track record of cash generation and attractive gross margins. Following a period of strategic repositioning, disposals, acquisitions and investment, the business is now focused on organic growth, targeting sustained double-digit growth and revenues approaching £30m. Alongside delivering this growth, the Group is focused on maximising shareholder value and preparing the business for a potential liquidity event within the next three to five years.

The role

Reporting directly to the Group Managing Director, this is a broad CFO appointment with significant exposure to the Board, investors and senior stakeholders across the international Group. As a close strategic partner to the Group Managing Director, you will lead all aspects of finance, financial planning, treasury, tax, risk, and investor relations, while playing an important role in shaping the Group's commercial and strategic direction. An experienced Group Director of Finance oversees the day-to-day finance function, allowing the CFO to lead the international finance organisation while focusing on strategy, investor relations, capital allocation, commercial performance, and longer-term value creation. The role will also work closely with operational and manufacturing leadership to support margin improvement and profitable growth, while ensuring the Group's financial structures, reporting and controls are appropriately developed for its future ambitions.

What you'll be responsible for:

• Partner closely with the Group Managing Director, Board and senior leadership team on financial, strategic and commercial decision-making.
• Lead the international finance function across reporting, planning, tax, treasury, risk and financial controls.
• Lead budgeting, forecasting, long-range planning and scenario modelling, providing insight to support growth and operational performance.
• Drive commercial performance, margin improvement and cost discipline, partnering closely with operational leadership.
• Lead investor relations and market communications, building strong relationships with shareholders, analysts and external advisers.
• Manage capital structure, liquidity, banking relationships and financing, while ensuring high-quality public-company reporting and governance.
• Play a central role in long-term value creation and transaction readiness, preparing the Group strategically and financially for a potential future liquidity event.

This role will suit a CFO who:

• Is a qualified accountant with significant CFO-level experience within an international, multi-entity organisation.
• Brings public-company or relevant PE-backed/pre-IPO experience, with strong exposure to Boards, investors and external stakeholders.
• Has strong technical and capital markets experience across IFRS, tax, treasury, financing and financial controls.
• Combines strategic and commercial leadership with transaction/exit experience and a strong understanding of operational finance.
• Experience within technology, engineering, electronics, manufacturing or another physical-product environment would be particularly relevant.

Why consider this role?

• Become a close strategic partner to an experienced Group Managing Director, helping shape the next phase of growth for an established, cash-generative AIM-listed international business.
• Take on a broad and influential CFO remit spanning finance, strategy, investor relations, commercial performance and capital allocation, supported by an experienced finance and leadership team.
• Play a central role in long-term value creation, supporting double-digit organic growth and preparing the Group for a potential future liquidity event.