The group is seeking an outstanding, commercially focused CFO to join the executive leadership team and play a central role in shaping the next stage of its development.
This is a broad, highly commercial position that extends well beyond traditional financial control. Reporting directly to the CEO and working closely with the COO and founders, the successful candidate will act as a strategic partner to the Board, balancing two critical priorities: defence—tight cash flow management, robust controls, and navigating sector headwinds—and attack—funding acquisitions, integrating new sites, and driving data-led commercial decisions.
This role offers a rare opportunity to influence the future direction of a highly entrepreneurial business with substantial growth ambitions, operating at pace across a multi-site consumer environment.
Key Responsibilities
Strategic Leadership & Commercial Partnering
- Partner with the CEO, COO, and Board in defining and executing the group’s long-term strategy.
- Drive value creation initiatives across the business, providing robust financial and commercial insight to support key decisions.
- Lead strategic planning, budgeting, and forecasting processes.
- Evaluate new growth opportunities, including new formats, market expansion, and site acquisitions.
Capital Allocation, Funding & Corporate Development
- Lead capital allocation decisions across the group and tightly manage cash flow.
- Evaluate acquisition opportunities, support transaction execution, and lead financial due diligence.
- Oversee post-acquisition integration programmes to ensure smooth onboarding of new brands.
- Maintain strong relationships with banking and funding partners, negotiating facilities and leading refinancing initiatives.
- Assess financing options to support future growth and optimise the debt/equity mix.
Financial Leadership, Control & Governance
- Maintain best-in-class financial control, governance, and reporting across all sites.
- Ensure compliance with all statutory and regulatory obligations.
- Drive continuous improvement across financial processes, systems, and controls.
- Develop scalable reporting and management information capabilities to support a significantly larger organisation.
Investor Relations & Stakeholder Engagement
- Lead engagement with investors, analysts, and advisers, building credibility with existing and prospective shareholders.
- Support the preparation and presentation of full-year results.
- Work closely with the Board and Chair to ensure strong governance, risk management, and compliance frameworks.
Data, Systems & Transformation
- Develop a finance function capable of supporting significant future growth.
- Improve forecasting, reporting, and business intelligence capability.
- Drive technology-enabled improvements across finance and reporting.
- Create a data-led culture that improves decision-making throughout the business.
Leadership & Team Development
- Lead, develop, and inspire a finance team of 12 (3 direct reports, 9 indirect reports).
- Build organisational capability and succession strength.
- Foster a culture of accountability, collaboration, and continuous improvement.
- Act as a visible and influential member of the Executive Leadership Team.
Key Attributes
Essential Experience
- Fully qualified accountant (ACA, ACCA, CIMA, or equivalent).
- Previous CFO or senior Finance Director experience, or an exceptional divisional FD ready for a first group-level appointment.
- Proven track record in a multi-site, consumer-facing business—ideally hospitality, leisure, or experiential venues.
- Strong systems knowledge and a demonstrable ability to build best-practice financial infrastructure.
- Experience leading finance transformation and organisational scaling.
- Strong governance, reporting, and control expertise.
- Experience working closely with boards, investors, and senior stakeholders.
- Track record of developing high-performing teams.
- Experience building and streamlining processes in an effective, scalable manner.
Highly Desirable
- Private equity-backed growth experience.
- M&A, integration, and corporate development experience.
- Investor relations experience.
- Sector exposure to hospitality, leisure, or consumer services.
Personal Characteristics
- Exceptional commercial judgement and a problem-solving, solutions-focused mindset.
- Strategic thinking with a long-term orientation.
- Intellectual curiosity and an entrepreneurial, growth-oriented approach.
- High emotional intelligence and a collaborative, people-first style.
- Comfort working at pace in a dynamic, fast-moving environment.
- Strong leadership capability with the ability to inspire and develop teams.
- Personal resilience and adaptability, remaining calm and clear-headed under pressure.
- Gravitas and credibility, with the ability to influence at Board level and build trust with investors, operational teams, and external stakeholders.
- A hands-on, pragmatic approach—willing to roll up sleeves and get into the detail when required.
- Strong alignment with an energetic, ambitious, and people-first culture.
