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- Tasks: Lead financial and operational strategies to drive growth and efficiency.
- Company: Dynamic professional services firm with international reach.
- Benefits: Strategic influence, leadership development, and a collaborative culture.
- Other info: Opportunity for genuine impact in a fast-paced environment.
- Why this job: Shape the future of a growing firm at a pivotal moment.
- Qualifications: Senior leadership experience in finance or operations, qualified accountant.
The predicted salary is between 120000 - 150000 £ per year.
A dynamic growing professional services firm with international reach is looking for a Chief Financial & Operating Officer. The firm is entering a new phase of growth, requiring enhanced operational scalability, financial discipline, and transformation capability. The Chief Financial & Operating Officer is a critical leadership role combining financial leadership with operational execution. You will work closely with the senior leadership to drive financial performance, investment into key infrastructure to support our revenue generation, profitable delivery of services and operational efficiencies.
The role is accountable for leading, coordinating and enabling the firm’s financial management, operational infrastructure and execution capability, ensuring the firm has the discipline, insight and an operating model required to scale.
Key Responsibilities- Oversee financial planning, budgeting, forecasting, and performance analysis, delivering clear insight to inform strategic decisions.
- Lead the firm’s budgeting process, setting performance targets and monitoring delivery against financial objectives.
- Maintain the integrity of financial information, ensuring robust reporting, compliance, and control frameworks.
- Act as a trusted adviser on financial performance, risk, and commercial opportunities.
- Oversee cash flow, working capital, and financing arrangements to maintain liquidity and balance sheet strength.
- Represent the firm externally with banks, auditors, tax authorities, and other key financial stakeholders.
- Chair and co-ordinate monthly Operational Heads meetings ensuring clear priorities, ownership and follow-through.
- Provide executive oversight across all functions, including change and transformation, technology and digital, legal and risk, facilities and international operations.
- Drive operational effectiveness across a fast-growing, multi-location business.
- Sponsor firm-wide change and transformation programmes, including process optimisation, operating model evolution and major investment initiatives.
- Sponsor and oversee the firm’s technology and digital roadmap.
- Provide strategic oversight of facilities management, ensuring cost-effective, high-quality working environments.
- Support strategic planning and execution across the firm.
- Prepare and present high-quality financial and operational updates, proposals and risk assessments to the Leadership Board, supporting informed decision-making and effective oversight.
- Lead and develop high-performing teams across Finance, IT, Facilities, and Change.
- Build leadership capability and succession, reducing single-point dependency.
- Foster a collaborative, high-performance culture aligned with the firm’s values.
- Senior leadership experience in a CFO, COO, or combined CFO/COO role within a professional services or equivalent environment.
- Strong understanding of LLP structures and partner economics.
- Strong commercial and financial acumen with experience leading transformation and scaling operations.
- Qualified accountant.
- Experience in a multi-site, international organisation.
- Exposure to mergers, acquisitions or other inorganic growth.
- A credible, confident leader with strong judgement and presence.
- Proactive, outcome-focused and comfortable operating at pace.
- Able to combine strategic thinking with disciplined execution.
- Collaborative, resilient and values-driven.
This represents a rare opportunity with genuine strategic influence, extraordinary breadth, and the chance to shape a firm at a pivotal moment in its development.
CFO/COO (Permanent) employer: William Scott Associates
Contact Detail:
William Scott Associates Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land CFO/COO (Permanent)
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to your connections in the industry and let them know you're on the lookout for a CFO/COO role. Personal recommendations can make all the difference, so don’t be shy about asking for introductions.
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for interviews by researching the firm thoroughly. Understand their financial performance, operational challenges, and recent news. This will help you tailor your responses and show that you’re genuinely interested in driving their growth.
✨Tip Number 3
Showcase your leadership style! Be ready to discuss how you've built high-performing teams and fostered a collaborative culture in previous roles. This is key for a position that requires strong leadership and operational execution.
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets the attention it deserves. Plus, we love seeing candidates who are proactive about their job search.
We think you need these skills to ace CFO/COO (Permanent)
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your CV: Make sure your CV reflects the key responsibilities and requirements mentioned in the job description. Highlight your experience in financial leadership and operational execution, as these are crucial for the CFO/COO role.
Craft a Compelling Cover Letter: Use your cover letter to tell us why you're the perfect fit for this dynamic role. Share specific examples of how you've driven financial performance and operational efficiencies in your previous positions.
Showcase Your Leadership Skills: Since this role involves leading high-performing teams, be sure to emphasise your leadership experience. Talk about how you've built collaborative cultures and developed talent in your past roles.
Apply Through Our Website: We encourage you to apply directly through our website. This way, we can ensure your application gets the attention it deserves and you can easily keep track of your application status.
How to prepare for a job interview at William Scott Associates
✨Know Your Numbers
As a CFO/COO, you'll need to demonstrate your financial acumen. Brush up on key financial metrics and be ready to discuss how you've used them to drive performance in previous roles. Prepare examples of how you've overseen budgeting processes and delivered insights that informed strategic decisions.
✨Showcase Operational Excellence
This role requires a strong focus on operational scalability. Be prepared to share specific instances where you've improved operational efficiencies or led transformation initiatives. Highlight your experience with change management and how you've successfully implemented new processes in a multi-site environment.
✨Engage with Stakeholders
You'll be representing the firm externally, so it's crucial to show your ability to build relationships with banks, auditors, and other stakeholders. Think of examples where you've acted as a trusted adviser and how you've navigated complex financial discussions. This will showcase your credibility and confidence.
✨Demonstrate Leadership Skills
As a leader, you’ll need to inspire and develop high-performing teams. Prepare to discuss your leadership style and how you've fostered a collaborative culture in previous roles. Share examples of how you've built leadership capability and reduced dependency on single points of failure within your teams.