Finance Director (Confidential Appointment) Location: East Midlands (Hybrid – 3+ days per week on site)
Salary: £100,000 – £110,000 DOE
Benefits: 20 days holiday + Christmas closure, pension, and discretionary rewards
Type: Full-time | Permanent
Start: ASAP preferred
Reporting to: Business Owner
Team Management: 5 direct reports
The Opportunity A privately owned group of trading businesses is entering a pivotal phase following the agreed sale of one of its core subsidiaries. As a result, the group is seeking to appoint a commercially astute and hands-on Finance Director to lead the finance function through this transition and beyond.
Post-transaction, the group will consist of five diverse and entrepreneurial trading entities. The Finance Director will play a crucial leadership role in supporting the owner, stabilising the remaining group, and creating a solid platform for growth and value creation.
This is a broad, high-impact role suited to someone who thrives in agile environments, values autonomy, and has the presence and resilience to work closely with an entrepreneurial founder.
Key Responsibilities
- Lead the group’s financial strategy and oversight, partnering directly with the business owner
- Manage and develop a capable finance team of 5, including a long-standing Financial Controller
- Deliver accurate and insightful management reporting and commercial analysis
- Maintain oversight of statutory accounts, audit, tax compliance (CT currently outsourced), and VAT
- Provide robust short- and medium-term cashflow forecasting and detailed cash visibility reporting
- Assist in the winding down of entities no longer required post-sale
- Ensure strong financial governance and compliance, with appropriate processes and controls
- Act as a strategic business partner to operational leads across the remaining businesses
- Influence decision-making with clear, actionable financial insights and challenge where required
About You To succeed in this role, you will be:
- A fully qualified accountant (ACA, ACCA, or CIMA)
- Experienced in management and statutory reporting, cashflow forecasting, and leading teams
- Either an established Finance Director, or an experienced Financial Controller ready to step up
- Strong on communication and stakeholder management, with a track record of working closely with business owners or founder-led leadership
- Resilient, pragmatic, and commercially aware – able to handle change and navigate ambiguity
- Hands-on, proactive, and confident operating in flat, fast-moving structures
- Comfortable influencing across a small group with diverse interests
- Immediate or short notice availability preferred
Working Pattern
- Hybrid model: Minimum 3 days on site
- Initial onboarding phase will require 4–5 days per week on site to embed fully into the role and business
How to Apply Please submit your CV and a brief covering note outlining your interest and availability for this opportunity. All applications will be handled with the utmost discretion.
Cherry Professional are recruiting for this opportunity on behalf of our client. Please view our Privacy Policy on our website to understand how your data will be used if you apply for this role.