Chief Financial Officer
Location: Germany (Central)
JA005
Finatal is retained with a Private Equity-backed consumer / retail manufacturing group operating across Europe, generating revenues of c. €300M.
The business is entering a critical phase of operational stabilisation and value creation, following recent leadership changes and ongoing transformation initiatives.
With a multi-entity structure and international footprint, the company is seeking a hands-on, delivery-focused CFO to bring structure, control, and financial clarity to the organisation.
The Role:
As CFO, you will act as the CEO’s key financial partner, working closely with the Private Equity sponsor to drive immediate impact across liquidity, financial control, and operational finance.
This is a highly execution-focused role, with a mandate centred on cash management, forecasting discipline, and finance transformation, rather than long-term strategy setting.
You will take full ownership of finance, controlling, and financial infrastructure, ensuring the business is equipped with the tools, processes, and visibility required to operate at PE standard.
Key Responsibilities:
Strategic Business Partnering:
- Act as the CEO’s primary financial partner and a key interface to the Private Equity investor, enabling fast, data-driven decision making through clear financial visibility.
- Embed financial discipline across operations, commercial, and supply chain functions, with a strong focus on cash, margin, and performance optimisation.
- Support leadership in navigating short-term priorities, ensuring liquidity, performance, and operational stability are consistently maintained.
Finance Transformation:
- Lead the transformation of a fragmented, multi-entity finance setup into a structured, transparent, and scalable finance function.
- Implement robust forecasting, budgeting, and planning frameworks, shifting the business away from reactive decision-making toward cash-focused, PE-grade financial control.
- Establish clear finance processes, governance, and reporting standards across all legal entities and brands.
Operational & Sector Excellence:
- Drive strong financial oversight across a consumer / retail manufacturing environment, ensuring improved visibility across cost, margin, and operational performance.
- Deliver working capital optimisation initiatives, with immediate impact on cash generation, including inventory management, receivables, and payables discipline.
- Enhance financial transparency across production, supply chain, and commercial activities to support more effective day-to-day decision making.
Performance Driven Leadership:
- Build and lead a hands-on, high-performing finance team, establishing clear roles, accountability, and operational discipline.
- Improve month-end close, consolidation, and investor reporting, ensuring consistency, accuracy, and timeliness.
- Take ownership of ERP stabilisation (AS400 → Business Central), ensuring the system is fully embedded within finance and supports reliable reporting and control.
- Drive improvements in data quality, reporting clarity, and financial insight across the organisation.
Key Requirements:
• Proven experience as a CFO / Finance Director within a Private Equity-backed environment
• Strong track record in liquidity management, working capital optimisation, and cash control
• Experience operating in multi-entity, international business structures
• Hands-on approach with the ability to stabilise and professionalise finance functions
• Exposure to ERP implementation or stabilisation (ideally Business Central)
• Background in consumer, retail, or manufacturing environments preferred
• Based in Central Germany
This is a high-impact opportunity to take on a critical leadership role within a Private Equity-backed environment. If the mandate above applies please apply.
