Chief Financial Officer | Premium Consumer & Digital Commerce
Central London | Full-time | Office-based
Luxury Executive has been retained to appoint a Chief Financial Officer for a founder-led, private-equity-backed international business operating across premium consumer, retail and digital commerce.
This is an opportunity to work closely with the CEO and founders, support the board and investors, and shape the financial performance of a growing business.
We welcome applications from accomplished Finance Directors, VPs of Finance and Heads of Finance ready for their first CFO appointment, as well as existing CFOs who enjoy leading a small team and remaining directly involved in the business.
The opportunity
You will combine commercial partnership with full ownership of the finance function. You will be comfortable discussing performance with investors, challenging a commercial assumption with the founders, and working through a cash-flow forecast or reporting issue with your team.
The business operates internationally, with teams and activities across the UK, US, Europe and Asia Pacific. You will bring consistency to reporting, controls and financial management while working effectively with local colleagues and advisers.
Your responsibilities will include:
- Partnering with the CEO and founders on growth, profitability and investment decisions.
- Owning budgets, forecasts, management reporting, cash flow and working capital.
- Providing clear board and investor reporting, supported by reliable financial information.
- Understanding product, channel and market profitability, including supplier commitments, fulfilment costs and foreign exchange.
- Overseeing international financial reporting, consolidation and intercompany arrangements.
- Strengthening governance, controls and processes appropriate to the business’s scale.
- Leading and developing a lean finance team, taking direct ownership where required.
- Coordinating external advisers on audit, tax and statutory obligations.
The experience we are looking for
Relevant sector experience is essential. Your background must include substantive finance leadership within premium or luxury retail, ecommerce, consumer marketplaces, or a premium consumer brand with meaningful digital sales.
You will also bring:
- Direct experience within a private-equity-backed business, including board or investor reporting.
- Experience partnering closely with founders or entrepreneurial business leaders.
- Broad responsibility for a finance function, including reporting, planning, cash and controls.
- International, multi-entity experience and the ability to work effectively with overseas teams.
- A strong understanding of physical-product economics and working capital.
- Evidence of improving financial performance and processes with a small team.
Experience in premium beauty, fashion, lifestyle, home or design would be particularly relevant.
Your approach
You will be practical, collaborative and commercially curious, with the confidence to challenge constructively and the judgement to explain financial issues clearly.
You should enjoy being present in the business, building relationships across teams and following decisions through to delivery. Ownership of critical deadlines and effective coordination across international time zones are important.
Location and working arrangements
Candidates must be based in London and able to attend the Central London office five days per week. Occasional flexibility may be agreed according to business needs; this is an office-based appointment.
To apply
Please submit your CV via LinkedIn or email your CV to info@luxuryexecutive.com, highlighting your relevant sector experience, work within PE-backed and founder-led businesses, and responsibility for international finance operations.
Luxury Executive is managing this retained search. Applications will be handled confidentially.
