CHIEF FINANCE OFFICER (CFO) Location: Watford, Hertfordshire (with frequent weekly travel to the London office) Salary: £150,000 – £170,000 per annum plus Executive Benefits Employment Type: Permanent, full-time Start Date: ASAP Fairmont Crest Executive Recruitment has been appointed to search for candidates for the position of Chief Financial Officer on behalf of a Group Company operating a portfolio of highly reputable global brands. ROLE OVERVIEW The Chief Financial Officer will lead the company’s financial strategy, governance, compliance, and commercial decision-making across UK and EU entities. Reporting to the CEO and Board, the CFO will provide strategic leadership to the finance function and play a critical role in driving profitable growth while ensuring the highest standards of financial control and regulatory compliance. KEY RESPONSIBILITIES Strategic & Commercial Leadership • Develop and execute a comprehensive financial strategy aligned with short-, medium-, and long-term objectives. • Partner with the CEO and senior leadership team on strategic initiatives including market expansion, licensing, and commercial negotiations. • Lead financial modelling to support decisions relating to new territories, licences, retailer partnerships, and investment cases. • Build and maintain medium- to long-term financial plans aligned with the Group’s vision. • Evaluate the financial implications of retail agreements, marketplace structures, discount frameworks, and distributor arrangements. Financial Management • Oversee full P&L, balance sheet, and cash flow performance. • Lead budgeting, forecasting, and scenario-planning processes. • Manage royalty reporting, payments, and internal controls. • Oversee FX exposure and hedging strategies. • Deliver structured Board packs including KPIs and variance analysis. • Maintain robust financial controls and approval workflows. • Mitigate financial risks across AR, AP, inventory, and transactional processes. Compliance & Governance • Ensure compliance with UK and EU accounting standards, tax regulations, and statutory reporting. • Maintain audit-ready internal controls. • Manage VAT, cross-border compliance, and transfer pricing frameworks. • Monitor compliance with licensing agreements. • Provide transparent reporting to the Board, shareholders, and licensors. Operational Leadership • Lead, mentor, and develop the finance team. • Establish and refine finance processes and controls. • Implement and oversee financial systems integrated with ERP and B2B/B2C platforms. • Supervise credit control activities. • Manage relationships with auditors, banks, and advisors. Risk Management & Growth Enablement • Identify and mitigate financial and commercial risks. • Stress-test business plans against downside scenarios. • Lead financial evaluation of M&A and licence acquisition opportunities. • Drive operational efficiency while safeguarding brand investment. Communication & Influence • Provide clear financial insight to non-finance stakeholders. • Manage shareholder expectations transparently. • Collaborate across Commercial, Operations, Creative, and Marketing teams. CANDIDATE PROFILE • Qualified Chartered Accountant (ACA, ACCA, or CIMA). • Minimum 5 years’ post-qualification experience. • At least 2 years in a senior finance leadership role or Board-facing position. • Experience in branded consumer products is highly advantageous. • UK-based with flexibility to travel within Europe. REWARD & BENEFITS Salary: £150,000 – £170,000 per annum. Benefits (after six-month probation): • Private medical insurance for employee and family. • Death-in-service cover. • Permanent health / critical illness cover. • Company-wide perks including staff discount and free product allowance. To apply for this role, please submit your CV with a covering letter outlining your experience and potential fit for this role