Our client is a well-established, privately owned financial services business with a strong track record spanning multiple decades. Operating within a specialist area of the broader market, the firm serves a select and sophisticated client base and has built a reputation for quality, discretion and consistent performance. It has grown steadily over the years and continues to do so.
The firm is entering a new phase of its development, deepening client relationships, investing in its people and continuing to strengthen its internal infrastructure. The finance function is evolving alongside the business and this newly created role sits at the heart of that effort.
The culture is close-knit, high-performing and built on long-term thinking. Senior leadership has been with the business for many years and is deeply committed to its continued success.
This is a newly created Deputy CFO position reporting directly to the Chief Financial Officer.
The role has been created with a clear purpose: the CFO is looking for their successor. The right candidate will work in close partnership with the CFO from day one, progressively absorbing ownership of the finance function and positioning themselves to step up when the time is right.
Key Responsibilities
Finance Modernisation & Technology
- Identify opportunities to modernise and improve the finance operating model, building on what works while introducing better processes, controls and systems infrastructure where needed.
- Drive the adoption of finance technology, automation and AI-enabled tools to improve efficiency, reduce manual effort and elevate the quality of financial insight across the function.
- Implement and embed robust financial controls, governance frameworks and reporting standards that meet the expectations of senior leadership, the board and external stakeholders.
- Identify and eliminate legacy inefficiencies, replacing them with scalable, data-driven solutions fit for the firm’s next chapter.
Financial Reporting & Control
- Oversee the month-end close process, management accounts and financial reporting cycle, ensuring accuracy, timeliness and a high standard of presentation for senior leadership.
- Lead the preparation of statutory financial statements across the firm’s entities, managing relationships with external auditors and accountants.
- Develop and maintain a suite of meaningful financial and operational KPIs that provide leadership with clear, real-time visibility over business performance.
- Own the cash flow and liquidity management framework, including short and medium-term forecasting.
Planning, Analysis & Commercial Finance
- Lead the annual budgeting, forecasting and business planning cycle, partnering closely with senior leadership to build robust financial plans aligned to strategic objectives.
- Provide high-quality financial analysis and commercial insight to support decision-making across the business, including cost management, scenario modelling and revenue analysis.
- Act as a trusted finance business partner to operational and functional leaders across the firm.
Regulatory, Tax & Compliance
- Manage regulatory reporting obligations across relevant jurisdictions, working with external advisers and internal compliance teams to ensure ongoing adherence.
- Oversee tax planning and compliance across the firm’s corporate structure, coordinating with specialist advisers as required.
- Ensure the firm’s financial governance framework remains robust, current and fit for purpose as the business scales.
Leadership & Team Development
- Build and develop a high-performing finance team, creating a culture of accountability, continuous improvement and professional excellence.
- Manage the performance of outsourced finance and accounting providers, ensuring service levels meet the firm’s quality and governance standards.
- Work in close day-to-day partnership with the CFO, absorbing institutional knowledge and progressively taking ownership of the finance function in preparation for the CFO transition.
Experience & Qualifications
The successful candidate will be a qualified accountant (ACA, ACCA, CIMA or equivalent) who combines deep technical capability with the commercial acumen and leadership presence required to operate at a senior level.
- Significant post-qualification experience within financial services, ideally within a smaller or mid-sized firm where the scope of the finance remit is broad and individuals are expected to operate across multiple areas.
- A track record of operating as a senior finance leader or deputy, with experience taking ownership and working towards or stepping into a CFO-level role.
- Strong technical accounting and financial reporting skills, with experience across both management and statutory reporting.
- Demonstrable experience leveraging data tools, automation or AI-enabled technologies to improve financial processes and reporting quality.
- Experience managing or mentoring finance teams, with the credibility to lead, inspire and develop others.
- A background that spans operational finance and strategic business partnering, someone equally comfortable in the detail and at the leadership table.
- Experience operating within a regulated financial services environment and familiarity with the associated compliance and reporting obligations is advantageous.
