The Opportunity
SRM are working with a privately owned, international manufacturing business, based in West Sussex, to identify an exceptional Interim CFO to join the business at an important point in its evolution.
The CEO is looking for a commercially minded, hands-on CFO who can get under the bonnet of the business, understand what is really driving performance and put in place the financial and operational visibility required to make better decisions.
A major part of the mandate will be to bring together the data sitting across the manufacturing operation and finance function, creating a single, coherent view of performance, covering productivity, profitability, working capital and cash flow.
There is also a potential funding dimension to the role, so experience of fundraising, refinancing and working with investors or lenders would be highly valuable.
In short, this is an opportunity to come in, understand the business quickly, establish control and visibility, and leave a meaningful and lasting improvement in the way it is managed.
The successful CFO will have genuine scope to influence how the business operates and how management thinks about performance. You will work directly with the CEO, MD and leadership team, with the opportunity to:
- Establish a much clearer understanding of the financial and operational drivers of the business.
- Bring fragmented manufacturing and financial data together.
- Create meaningful management dashboards and KPIs.
- Improve cash flow forecasting and working capital management.
- Identify opportunities to improve productivity, margins and cash generation.
- Strengthen financial reporting and decision-making.
- Support any funding, refinancing or investor requirements.
- Leave the business with significantly better financial and operational infrastructure.
It is therefore particularly suited to an Interim CFO who enjoys transformation, problem solving and getting close to the operation, rather than someone whose preference is for a purely strategic or board-level mandate.
The Ideal Candidate
We are looking for a hands-on, commercially focused CFO who has operated successfully within a manufacturing environment and is comfortable working in a business where there is a clear need to improve financial visibility, operational performance and cash management.
The ideal candidate will bring:
- Significant senior finance/CFO experience within a manufacturing environment.
- A strong understanding of manufacturing KPIs, cost drivers, margins, productivity and working capital.
- Experience of fundraising, refinancing and/or working with lenders and investors.
- Ideally, experience of working within a business undergoing a period of change, transformation or financial pressure.
- Excellent commercial and analytical skills.
- The confidence and credibility to challenge the CEO and wider leadership team when required.
- A hands-on approach, someone who is prepared to get into the detail when necessary, but can also operate strategically at board level.