Chief Financial Officer (designate)

Location: Leicester (LE2 7SL) – On-site only.

Hours of work: Monday to Friday – 8.30am – 5.30pm, 1 hour lunch.

Package: Highly competitive salary with industry-leading benefits

The Company

Drive Motor Retail Group is a privately owned UK automotive group that operates over 18 franchise locations. We represent Vauxhall, MG, Leapmotor, Hyundai, Citroën and Peugeot across various regions of England.

Our business is built on values that set us apart in the market. We take pride in delivering exceptional customer service, expert knowledge, and tailored solutions for every client who engages with us. This commitment underpins our continued growth, strong reputation, and operational excellence across every part of the business.

The Role

We are seeking an exceptional Chief Financial Officer (CFO) to lead the financial strategy, governance, and head office operations of a large, complex, multi-site organisation.

This is a hands-on, board-facing role, responsible for all core financial, statutory, governance, and head office functions. The CFO will act as a key strategic advisor to the Board and Directors, ensuring robust financial control, compliance, and long-term commercial performance across the business.

Key Responsibilities

Full responsibility for financial leadership and governance across a £400m+ turnover organisation operating from 18 locations with 900 employees
Primary contact for banking relationships, funding negotiations, auditors, and external advisors
Company Secretary duties and ownership of all board-related financial matters
Strategic oversight of tax planning, statutory accounts, audits, and technical accounting compliance
Production of monthly and annual consolidated cash flow forecasts, with risks and issues escalated to the Board
Oversight of VAT returns, outsourced payroll, insurance policies (including declarations and claims)
Ensure all sites accurately maintain sales, purchase, and nominal ledgers
Track operating costs, identify inefficiencies, and report performance gaps or loss of earnings to the Board
Lead the development and ongoing effectiveness of the dealer management system
Act as a senior point of consultation across HR, tax, and operational finance

Leadership & Structure

You will lead and develop a substantial head office and finance function, with direct responsibility for:

HR Team – 4 Direct Reports
Operations Accountant – 1 Direct Report
Head Office Accountant – 1 Direct Report
Financial Controllers (Multi-site) – 9 Reports (via Operations Accountant)

Candidate Profile

Fully qualified accountant (ACA, ACCA, ACMA)
Proven experience operating at CFO leadership level
Strong background within large, multi-site organisations – Automotive Retail experience preferable is not required.
Demonstrable experience managing complex group structures, audits, and banking relationships
Commercially astute, detail-driven, and confident operating at Board level
Able to lead cross-functional teams and drive operational excellence from Head Office

Why Join Us

This is a rare opportunity to join a highly successful, large-scale organisation in a pivotal executive role, offering real influence over strategy, governance, and performance at the highest level of the business.

Drive Motor Retail Limited

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Chief Financial Officer Designate