At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead Zima Dental's finance function and evolve financial infrastructure for growth.
- Company: Join a profitable, bootstrapped consumer brand redefining oral appliance care globally.
- Benefits: Enjoy a company pension, Cycle to Work scheme, and ongoing learning support.
- Other info: Dynamic environment with opportunities for team building and significant career growth.
- Why this job: Shape core financial systems and work directly with the founder in a pivotal role.
- Qualifications: 6+ years in commercial finance, qualified accountant, and consumer goods experience required.
The predicted salary is between 43200 - 72000 £ per year.
Experience Required: 6+ Years Post-Qualification in Commercial Finance / FP&A
About the Role
We are looking for a Finance Director to lead Zima Dental's finance function into its next phase of maturity. The business has scaled rapidly and profitably with strong financial foundations including robust external accounting, auditing relationships, and commercial modelling that has guided capital allocation and growth decisions to date. This role is about taking what exists, professionalising it, and building the internal capability to match the scale and complexity the business has reached.
You will own the evolution of our financial infrastructure from forecasting and controls through to margin optimisation and cash management, ensuring our systems, processes, and reporting keep pace with a multi-channel, multi-region operation. As the business continues to grow, this role naturally expands into building and leading a finance team around you.
You will be the senior finance leader in the business, working directly with the founder and the senior leadership team. You will partner with our established external accountants, advisors, and auditors.
Key Responsibilities
- Own the internal finance function, evolving its scope, priorities, and operating rhythm as the business scales.
- Strengthen financial controls, approval frameworks, purchase order processes, and segregation of duties.
- Maintain a 13-week rolling cash flow forecast to ensure full visibility of liquidity and working capital requirements.
- Oversee the relationship with external accountants and auditors, ensuring reporting quality and audit readiness at all times.
- Ensure financial systems and documentation meet the standards expected of a business of this scale and complexity.
- Forecasting & Planning
- Own end-to-end financial modelling across all products, channels, and regions.
- Lead operational forecasting incorporating marketing data, commercial plans, and seasonality.
- Translate forecasts into clear cash flow, working capital, and departmental budget plans.
- Continuously refine forecasting accuracy and reduce variance as the business scales.
- Growth Economics & Profitability
- Partner with the Growth and Marketing team to model customer acquisition costs (CAC) versus lifetime value (LTV) globally.
- Establish clear, data-driven financial frameworks to guide media spend and marketing investment decisions.
- Margin & Supply Chain Finance
- Partner closely with the Supply Chain team to systematically review and optimise gross margin across products and channels.
- Model the financial impact of logistics RFPs, manufacturing costs, and packaging optimisations to protect operating margins.
- Forecast working capital requirements for B2B and physical retail expansion, factoring in varied payment terms and inventory cycles.
- International & Multi-Channel Finance
- Manage the financial complexity of a multi-channel business spanning DTC, marketplaces, B2B trade, physical retail, and strategic partnerships.
- Oversee multi-currency management, with significant USD exposure across the business.
- Support international structuring and cross-border financial operations as the group matures.
- Cross-Functional Collaboration
- Partner closely with Commercial, Marketplaces, Growth, Supply Chain, and Product teams to align financial planning with business priorities.
- Support product launches, retail expansions, and peak trading periods with robust financial modelling.
- Act as the finance subject-matter expert within the business, providing commercial and financial counsel to the senior leadership team.
- Define and execute the long-term strategy for the finance function, including hiring and team expansion as the workload demands.
- Manage the transition of capabilities from external providers to an internal team over time.
What We Are Looking For
- 6+ years post-qualification experience in commercial finance or FP&A.
- Qualified Accountant (ACA, ACCA, or CIMA).
- Consumer goods background with hands-on experience in physical product economics, inventory, and supply chain finance.
- Demonstrable experience building or significantly shaping a finance function in a high-growth environment.
- Exposure to multi-channel, multi-region, and multi-currency financial dynamics.
Skills
- Strong financial modelling, planning, and analytical capabilities.
- Confident establishing financial controls, governance, and reporting infrastructure.
- Experienced managing relationships with external accountants, auditors, and professional advisers.
- Comfortable being the most senior finance person in the room and owning decisions.
Mindset
- Builder — genuinely energised by evolving and elevating, not just maintaining.
- Commercially sharp — understands that finance exists to enable growth decisions, not constrain them.
- Hands-on — not too senior to get into the detail; this isn’t a delegating role yet.
- Calm under pressure — peak trading, new channel launches, and international expansion all at once.
Highly Valued
- Experience in premium consumer goods, wellness, health, or MedTech categories.
- Exposure to Shopify, Amazon FBA, and international retailer financial models.
- Experience in a business that has undergone corporate restructuring or significant strategic change.
- Familiarity with ERP or inventory management systems.
- Experience working in a founder-led scaling environment.
Why Join Us
Zima Dental is a profitable, bootstrapped consumer brand redefining oral appliance care globally. No external investors. No dilution. Profitable from day one. This is a business built on financial discipline, and in this role you will ensure that discipline scales with the ambition.
You will work directly with the founder and senior leadership team, shape core financial infrastructure, and build systems that support long-term growth and strategic optionality. If you thrive on complexity and want to own the financial function of a market-leading brand at a pivotal stage of its growth, this role offers both challenge and significant upside.
Company pension
Cycle to Work scheme
Ongoing learning and development support
Weekly team and company social activities
Financial Director employer: Zima Dental
Contact Detail:
Zima Dental Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Financial Director
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Get out there and connect with people in the finance 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 financial strategies. Understand their growth model and be ready to discuss how your experience aligns with their needs. Show them you’re not just another candidate; you’re the one they’ve been looking for!
✨Tip Number 3
Practice your pitch! Be ready to explain your career journey and how it’s led you to this point. Highlight your achievements in commercial finance and FP&A, and make sure to tie them back to what Zima Dental is looking for in a Finance Director.
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets seen. Plus, we love seeing candidates who take that extra step to engage with us directly. Let’s get you on board!
We think you need these skills to ace Financial Director
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your CV: Make sure your CV is tailored to the Financial Director role. Highlight your 6+ years of experience in commercial finance and any relevant achievements that showcase your ability to lead and evolve financial functions.
Craft a Compelling Cover Letter: Your cover letter should tell us why you're the perfect fit for Zima Dental. Share specific examples of how you've built or shaped finance functions in high-growth environments, and don’t forget to mention your hands-on approach!
Showcase Your Skills: We want to see your strong financial modelling and analytical capabilities. Include examples of how you've established financial controls and governance in previous roles, especially in multi-channel and multi-region contexts.
Apply Through Our Website: Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way for us to receive your application and ensures you’re considered for this exciting opportunity at Zima Dental.
How to prepare for a job interview at Zima Dental
✨Know Your Numbers
As a Financial Director, you’ll need to demonstrate your expertise in financial modelling and analysis. Brush up on key metrics like cash flow forecasts, margin optimisation, and customer acquisition costs. Be ready to discuss how you've used these metrics to drive growth in previous roles.
✨Showcase Your Leadership Skills
This role involves building and leading a finance team, so it’s crucial to highlight your leadership experience. Prepare examples of how you've successfully managed teams, improved processes, or influenced cross-functional collaboration in high-growth environments.
✨Understand the Business Landscape
Familiarise yourself with Zima Dental's market position and the consumer goods sector. Be prepared to discuss how you would approach financial challenges specific to multi-channel and multi-region operations, and how your experience aligns with their needs.
✨Prepare for Scenario Questions
Expect questions that assess your problem-solving skills under pressure. Think about scenarios involving peak trading periods or international expansions, and be ready to explain how you would manage financial complexities in those situations.