Our client is a fast-growing, privately owned, multi-site leisure and hospitality business operating a national estate. The business is entering an exciting phase of expansion and value creation, with a clear mandate to scale operations, optimise performance, and explore strategic growth opportunities including new site rollouts and M&A. The business is now looking to appoint a new Chief Financial Officer (CFO) who will act as a true business partner to the CEO and Board, combining strategic leadership with hands-on execution to drive financial performance, enhance decision-making, and support long-term growth. This role requires a highly commercial, data-driven leader with experience in multi-site, consumer-facing environments together with a strong understanding of working in privately owned businesses.
Strategic & Commercial Leadership
- Partner with the CEO and Board to define and deliver the growth strategy, including new site rollouts and potential acquisitions
- Lead long-term financial planning, forecasting, and scenario modelling to support scaling ambitions
- Provide clear, actionable financial insights to drive decision-making and capital allocation
- Identify value creation opportunities across pricing, margin optimisation, and operational efficiency
- Support M&A activity including evaluation, execution, and post-acquisition integration
Financial Management & Control
- Own all aspects of financial operations including budgeting, forecasting, reporting, and cash flow management
- Establish and maintain robust financial controls, governance, and reporting frameworks
- Deliver timely, accurate management information and board-level reporting
- Monitor business performance across sites, identifying risks and opportunities for improvement
- Develop best-in-class financial models and KPI frameworks to track performance across the estate
Performance & Multi-Site Optimisation
- Drive performance visibility across all locations, leveraging data and MI to enhance site-level profitability
- Work closely with operations to improve labour models, cost control, and revenue optimisation
- Develop site-level benchmarking and performance tracking tools
- Support pricing strategy and commercial decision-making across the customer offering
Stakeholder & Investor Management
- Act as the primary finance contact for investors, lenders, and external stakeholders
- Build and maintain strong relationships with banks, auditors, and advisors
- Lead all investor reporting, including board packs and financial presentations
- Support funding strategies and capital structure optimisation
- Prepare the business for future exit or refinancing events
Leadership & Team Development
- Build, lead, and develop a high-performing finance function
- Review and optimise team structure and systems
- Foster a culture of accountability, collaboration, and continuous improvement
- Improve financial literacy across operational teams to drive better decision-making
Governance, Risk & Compliance
- Oversee audit, tax, and statutory reporting processes
- Ensure compliance with all financial and regulatory requirements
- Implement effective risk management frameworks across the business
- Maintain strong governance and board reporting standards
Transformation & Systems
- Lead the development of financial systems, BI tools, and data infrastructure
- Drive improvements in reporting speed, accuracy, and insight
- Support digital and technology strategy to ensure scalable infrastructure
- Identify opportunities to streamline processes and enhance efficiency
Experience & Expertise
- Fully qualified accountant (ACA, ACCA, CIMA or equivalent)
- Proven CFO or Finance Director experience in a multi-site, consumer-facing business
- Strong experience working with privately owned businesses
- Demonstrated track record of driving value creation in high-growth or transformation environments
- Experience in M&A, site rollouts, and/or exit processes highly advantageous
