Interim CFO
Contract: 6-12 months
Location: Paris
Need to have worked in €75ml EBITDA businesses and above
NT16058
A global manufacturing business undergoing significant transformation following a recent private equity transaction. The organization has an established track record of innovation, strong commercial performance, and ambitious growth plans, with a clear focus on operational excellence, data-driven decision-making, and scaling for future growth.
Having evolved from a founder-led environment into a more institutionalized, international business, the company is seeking an experienced Interim CFO leader to help modernise its finance function and support the next phase of growth.
This is a highly visible role working closely with executive leadership, investors, and operational stakeholders across multiple international locations.
Key Objectives
The business is transitioning from a predominantly historical reporting function towards a forward-looking, commercially focused finance organization. The successful candidate will be responsible for driving this change while developing the capabilities, processes, and mindset required to support a private equity-backed growth agenda.
Responsibilities
- Lead the transformation of the finance function from retrospective reporting to proactive business partnering and strategic decision support.
- Develop robust forecasting, budgeting, and long-range planning capabilities across the organization.
- Establish best-in-class planning processes, including monthly forecasting, annual budgeting, scenario analysis, and performance tracking.
- Improve reporting quality, consistency, and transparency across multiple international entities and manufacturing sites.
- Drive the adoption of data-driven decision-making frameworks throughout the business.
- Partner with operational and commercial leaders to improve financial visibility and performance management.
- Support cash flow forecasting, working capital management, capital allocation, and investment appraisal processes.
- Develop enhanced CAPEX planning and investment evaluation frameworks.
- Build financial models to support value creation initiatives, growth strategies, and investor requirements.
- Upskill finance teams across local and international operations, creating stronger commercial and analytical capabilities.
- Support strategic initiatives, including business expansion opportunities and selective M&A activity where required.
- Work closely with senior leadership and shareholders to deliver finance transformation objectives and sustainable process improvements.
Candidate Profile
The ideal candidate will bring:
- Significant experience leading finance transformation initiatives within a complex international business.
- A strong private equity background, with an understanding of value creation, cash generation, and performance management in sponsor-backed environments.
- Experience within pharmaceutical manufacturing, life sciences, CDMO, healthcare manufacturing, or broader industrial manufacturing environments.
- Demonstrated success building FP&A, forecasting, budgeting, and commercial finance capabilities.
- Strong understanding of manufacturing operations, capital investment processes, and operational performance drivers.
- Experience operating across multiple legal entities, geographies, and business units.
- Excellent stakeholder management skills with the ability to influence executive leadership teams.
- A hands-on approach combined with strategic thinking and strong execution capability.
- Advanced financial modelling, scenario planning, and business analysis skills.
Environment
The business is entering an exciting phase of growth and professionalization, supported by leading global investors. Significant opportunities exist to improve finance processes, reporting capabilities, forecasting accuracy, and overall business performance.
This role will suit an individual who enjoys building capability, driving change, and creating a finance function that actively supports commercial and strategic decision-making.
Key Success Measures
- Improved forecasting accuracy and planning effectiveness.
- Enhanced visibility of financial and operational performance.
- Stronger commercial finance capability across the organization.
- Improved cash flow management and capital allocation processes.
- Successful implementation of finance transformation initiatives.
- Development of a more proactive, business-partnering finance culture.
Prior experience of operating in a PE backed business is essential.
Need to be available within 2 weeks.
