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