A dynamic growing firm professional services firm with international reach is looking for a Chief Financial & Operating Officer. The firm is entering a new phase of growth, requiring enhanced operational scalability, financial discipline, and transformation capability.
The Chief Financial & Operating Officer is a critical leadership role combining financial leadership with operational execution. You will work closely with the senior leadership to drive financial performance, investment into key infrastructure to support our revenue generation, profitable delivery of services and operational efficiencies.
The role is accountable for leading, coordinating and enabling the firm’s financial management, operational infrastructure and execution capability, ensuring the firm has the discipline, insight and an operating model required to scale.
Key Responsibilities
* Oversee financial planning, budgeting, forecasting, and performance analysis, delivering clear insight to inform strategic decisions.
* Lead the firm’s budgeting process, setting performance targets and monitoring delivery against financial objectives.
* Maintain the integrity of financial information, ensuring robust reporting, compliance, and control frameworks.
* Act as a trusted adviser on financial performance, risk, and commercial opportunities.
* Oversee cash flow, working capital, and financing arrangements to maintain liquidity and balance sheet strength.
* Represent the firm externally with banks, auditors, tax authorities, and other key financial stakeholders.
* Chair and co-ordinate monthly Operational Heads meetings ensuring clear priorities, ownership and follow-through.
* Provide executive oversight across all functions, including change and transformation, technology and digital, legal and risk, facilities and international operations.
* Drive operational effectiveness across a fast-growing, multi-location business.
* Sponsor firm-wide change and transformation programmes, including process optimisation, operating model evolution and major investment initiatives.
* Sponsor and oversee the firm’s technology and digital roadmap.
* Provide strategic oversight of facilities management, ensuring cost-effective, high-quality working environments.
* Support strategic planning and execution across the firm.
* Prepare and present high-quality financial and operational updates, proposals and risk assessments to the Leadership Board, supporting informed decision-making and effective oversight.
* Lead and develop high-performing teams across Finance, IT, Facilities, and Change.
* Build leadership capability and succession, reducing single-point dependency.
* Foster a collaborative, high-performance culture aligned with the firm’s values.
Key Requirements
* Senior leadership experience in a CFO, COO, or combined CFO/COO role within a professional services or equivalent environment.
* Strong understanding of LLP structures and partner economics.
* Strong commercial and financial acumen with experience leading transformation and scaling operations.
* Qualified accountant.
* Experience in a multi-site, international organisation.
* Exposure to mergers, acquisitions or other inorganic growth.
Personal Attributes
* A credible, confident leader with strong judgement and presence.
* Proactive, outcome-focused and comfortable operating at pace.
* Able to combine strategic thinking with disciplined execution.
* Collaborative, resilient and values-driven.
This represents a rare opportunity with genuine strategic influence, extraordinary breadth, and the chance to shape a firm at a pivotal moment in its development.