Chief Financial Officer

Chief Financial Officer

Full-Time 150000 - 200000 £ / year (est.) No working from home possible
The Collecting Group

At a Glance

  • Tasks: Lead financial strategy and drive growth in a dynamic, innovative company.
  • Company: Join The Collecting Group, a leader in the luxury auction industry.
  • Benefits: Enjoy 25 days holiday, private medical insurance, and a competitive pension.
  • Other info: Fast-paced environment with excellent career growth opportunities.
  • Why this job: Be at the forefront of financial transformation with AI-driven tools.
  • Qualifications: Proven CFO experience, preferably in luxury or marketplace sectors.

The predicted salary is between 150000 - 200000 £ per year.

The Collecting Group (TCG) isn’t your average company; we’re a team of culture curators who live and breathe cars and watches. We’re not just disrupting the auction industry—we’re redefining it. Our brands, Collecting Cars and Watch Collecting, are already leading the pack, but we’re just getting started. We are now looking for a strategic Chief Financial Officer to join our executive team and help architect the next phase of our global expansion.

The Mission

The CFO at The Collecting Group will serve as a high-impact strategic partner to the CEO and Executive Team, driving the financial evolution of a high-growth, international B2C business. We are in an active growth phase, expanding into new geographies and categories, with a Board and investor base that expects precision, pace, and clear commercial thinking. As a core member of the executive team, you will work closely with the CEO and COO to drive global commercial performance.

The Gearbox

  • Drive prioritisation across the business, challenging assumptions and forcing structured trade-off decisions.
  • Lead business case development for major market launches, product investments, hiring plans, and operational bets.
  • Own budgeting and forecasting as a commercial tool rather than a compliance exercise, utilising rolling forecasts that reflect business reality.
  • Partner with commercial teams on revenue-driving and cost-out initiatives, bringing analytical depth to both sides of the ledger.
  • Lead the evaluation and execution of offshoring and shared services opportunities as the business scales.
  • Act as a strategic partner to commercial teams to identify and execute revenue-driving initiatives and "cost-out" programs.
  • Provide granular analytical insights into both sides of the P&L to ensure all commercial decisions are backed by data.
  • Evaluate and execute offshoring and shared services opportunities to ensure the finance function scales efficiently with the business.
  • Leverage automation and AI tooling to significantly improve the speed and accuracy of financial reporting and decision-making.
  • Serve as the primary financial authority on all corporate development and M&A activities.
  • Manage the end-to-end financial due diligence process for potential acquisitions.
  • Critically evaluate the commercial viability and strategic fit of new market or category opportunities.
  • Oversee the financial and operational integration of acquired entities to ensure value realisation.
  • Direct all processes related to debt, refinancing, and future equity or debt financing rounds.
  • Lead the business through every stage of financing, from initial material preparation to final negotiations.
  • Build and maintain high-level relationships with corporate finance advisors, investment banks, and key financial stakeholders.
  • Maintain rigorous oversight of the group’s capital structure to ensure the business is always positioned for its next growth phase.
  • Champion AI-driven automation across finance operations and reporting to reduce manual workload and improve decision-speed.
  • Act as the lead financial voice on all M&A activity, including financial due diligence, commercial assessment, and post-acquisition integration.
  • Lead on debt, refinancing, and any future financing processes—from preparation through to negotiation.
  • Build and maintain relationships with corporate finance advisors, banks, and relevant financial stakeholders.

The Specs (What We’ll Need From You)

  • A proven CFO with a track record of operating at the executive level; commercial instinct and leadership credibility are as vital as technical depth.
  • Experience in marketplaces, premium consumer, or luxury sectors is preferred.
  • Private Equity experience is strongly preferred, either within a PE-backed business or through transaction advisory; we need a "PE-backed operator" mindset.
  • International experience across multi-currency, multi-entity environments.
  • A demonstrable track record of building or significantly improving finance functions, systems, KPI frameworks, and team capability.
  • A strong mindset with the ability to turn data into actionable insight quickly.
  • Genuinely curious about how automation and AI tooling can improve the finance function.
  • Ability to design and manage a scalable global financial governance and internal controls framework that ensures multi-jurisdictional compliance while providing the Board with rigorous oversight.
  • Ability to direct treasury and cash management for a multi-entity structure by optimising working capital, managing debt, and maintaining 13-week rolling forecasts to ensure full liquidity visibility.

The Pit Stop

This will be based at our Head Office in Parsons Green, London.

The Fuel

  • 25 days holiday (plus an additional day each year after 2 years of tenure).
  • Private medical insurance for you and your family.
  • Competitive company pension contribution.
  • Annual learning and development budget.
  • A chance to grow your career in a fast-paced dynamic environment.

The Finish Line

If you’re passionate about the limitless potential of AI to transform financial governance and have the ambition to architect automated reporting and forecasting tools that redefine how we drive commercial performance, we want you in the driver’s seat. Ready to Shift Gears? Apply now and let’s build the future of The Collecting Group together.

Chief Financial Officer employer: The Collecting Group

The Collecting Group is an exceptional employer that fosters a vibrant and innovative work culture, perfect for those who are passionate about cars and watches. With a strong focus on employee growth, we offer competitive benefits including private medical insurance, a generous holiday allowance, and an annual learning budget, all within the dynamic environment of our Parsons Green office in London. Join us to be part of a forward-thinking team that values strategic insight and embraces the transformative power of AI in finance.

The Collecting Group

Contact Details:

The Collecting Group Recruitment Team

StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫

We think this is how you could land Chief Financial Officer

Tip Number 1

Network like a pro! Get out there and connect with people in the industry. Attend events, join online forums, and don’t be shy about reaching out 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 the company and its culture. Understand their mission and values, especially since TCG is all about redefining the auction industry. Tailor your responses to show how your experience aligns with their goals and how you can contribute to their growth.

Tip Number 3

Practice your pitch! Be ready to explain your career journey and how it relates to the CFO role at TCG. Highlight your strategic thinking and commercial instincts, as they’re looking for someone who can drive financial evolution in a high-growth environment.

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 Collecting Group and its exciting future.

We think you need these skills to ace Chief Financial Officer

Strategic Financial Leadership
Commercial Acumen
Financial Due Diligence
M&A Expertise
Budgeting and Forecasting
Data Analysis
Automation and AI Tooling

Some tips for your application 🫡

Show Your Passion:When you're writing your application, let your love for cars and watches shine through! We want to see that you’re not just a numbers person but someone who genuinely connects with our brands and mission.

Be Strategic:As a CFO, strategic thinking is key. In your application, highlight your experience in driving financial evolution and how you've partnered with executive teams to achieve growth. We’re looking for that commercial instinct!

Data-Driven Insights:We love data! Make sure to showcase your ability to turn complex financial data into actionable insights. Share examples of how you've used analytics to drive decisions and improve performance in previous roles.

Apply Through Our Website:Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way for us to keep track of your application and ensure it gets the attention it deserves. We can’t wait to see what you bring to the table!

How to prepare for a job interview at The Collecting Group

Know Your Numbers

As a CFO, you'll need to demonstrate your financial acumen. Brush up on key financial metrics relevant to The Collecting Group, such as P&L statements, cash flow management, and budgeting techniques. Be ready to discuss how you've used these metrics to drive business decisions in the past.

Showcase Your Strategic Mindset

The role requires a strategic partner to the CEO and Executive Team. Prepare examples of how you've successfully led financial strategies in high-growth environments. Think about specific instances where your commercial intuition made a significant impact on business outcomes.

Emphasise Your Experience with Automation

With a focus on AI-driven automation, be prepared to discuss your experience with financial technologies. Share specific tools or systems you've implemented that improved reporting speed and accuracy, and how they contributed to better decision-making.

Build Rapport with the Interviewers

Establishing strong relationships is key for this role. During the interview, engage with your interviewers by asking insightful questions about their vision for the company. Show genuine interest in their challenges and how you can help address them, which will highlight your collaborative approach.