Part Time / Fractional Group CFO

Thundercat Industries is a growing UK industrial group acquiring and developing high-quality niche manufacturing businesses for the long term.

We currently own three businesses and have an active acquisition pipeline. As the group grows, we're looking for an experienced, commercially minded Part-Time / Fractional CFO to take ownership of the group's financial reporting, controls and compliance, while also supporting us on acquisitions and financing.

This is deliberately a flexible role. At our current size, we expect the workload to average around one day per week, increasing to perhaps two days per week for short periods when we are completing an acquisition or dealing with another significant project. As Thundercat grows, there is scope for the role to grow with us.

The role

Part-Time / Fractional Group CFO

Thundercat Industries | UK | Flexible / Hybrid

Thundercat Industries is a growing UK industrial group acquiring and developing high-quality niche manufacturing businesses for the long term.

We currently occupy three businesses and have an active acquisition pipeline. As the group grows, we're looking for an experienced, commercially minded Part-Time / Fractional CFO to take ownership of the group's financial reporting, controls and compliance, while also supporting us on acquisitions and financing.

This is deliberately a flexible role. At our current size, we expect the workload to average around one day per week, increasing to perhaps two days per week for short periods when we are completing an acquisition or dealing with another significant project. As Thundercat grows, there is scope for the role to grow with us.

The role

You'll work closely with the CEO and the finance teams within our operating companies, with responsibility for ensuring that the financial side of the group is well controlled, accurate and organised.

Responsibilities are likely to include:

• Consolidating monthly financial information across the group and producing clear, accurate group reporting
• Managing group cash flow and maintaining appropriate cash forecasting
• Overseeing corporation tax, VAT, statutory accounts, audit and other financial compliance requirements
• Coordinating with external accountants, auditors, tax advisers and other professional advisers
• Maintaining appropriate financial controls across the group without creating unnecessary bureaucracy
• Managing banking relationships and, as we introduce debt into the group, monitoring debt facilities, covenant compliance and reporting requirements
• Supporting annual budgeting and forecasting
• Helping with financial modelling and analysis for potential acquisitions
• Supporting financial due diligence, deal structuring and completion processes during acquisitions
• Helping integrate the finance and reporting of newly acquired businesses into the group
• Providing pragmatic financial advice to the CEO and operating company management teams

Who we're looking for

We're looking for someone who is experienced, pragmatic and hands-on.

You may have previously been a CFO or Finance Director of an SME or mid-sized group, or you may already operate as a fractional CFO across a small number of businesses.

You'll ideally be a qualified accountant (ACA, ACCA or CIMA) with strong experience of group reporting, cash management, tax and statutory compliance.

Experience of acquisitions, acquisition finance, banking facilities and financial covenants would be particularly useful.

Just as importantly, we're looking for someone who understands the realities of running smaller businesses. We don't need a large-company finance function or unnecessary layers of process. We want good financial information, sensible controls and reporting that is accurate, useful and delivered promptly.

You should be comfortable getting into the detail when necessary rather than simply delegating it.

Flexibility

We're very flexible about how the role is structured.

We don't particularly mind when or where the work is done (although it would be an amazing benefit if you were local to Bristol/Chepstow) and we're not looking for someone to sit in an office for the sake of it. What matters is that the work gets done, deadlines are met and the numbers are right.

At present we envisage approximately one day per week on average, with some additional time required during acquisitions, refinancing or other significant projects.

Over time, as Thundercat acquires more businesses, we would expect the role and time commitment to increase.

Why Thundercat?

We're building Thundercat differently from a traditional private equity group. Our intention is to acquire great niche manufacturing businesses and own them forever, allowing management teams significant autonomy while providing support where it adds value.

We're still relatively small, so this is an opportunity to join at an early stage and help shape the financial infrastructure of the group as it develops.

The environment is informal, entrepreneurial and low on bureaucracy. We care much more about good judgement and getting things done than hierarchy or corporate process.

Remuneration

We’re conscious that this is currently a relatively small time commitment and are therefore looking for someone who is comfortable with a proportionate part-time/fractional arrangement rather than a full-time executive package.

We’re open-minded about whether this is structured as employment, a day-rate arrangement or another sensible structure, and we'd be happy to discuss what works best for the right person.

If you're an experienced CFO or Finance Director who enjoys working with entrepreneurial businesses and would like to help build the finance function of a growing UK industrial group, we'd love to hear from you.