Finance Director

We are working with a dynamic and rapidly expanding independent restaurant group, operating a diverse portfolio of 10+ high-performing sites across London. They are currently in a period of significant growth, with a pipeline that includes acquiring former institutional sites and opening new venues.

They are looking for a commercially savvy and hands-on Finance Director to join the senior leadership team. This is not a standard "desk-based" FD role; you will be deeply involved in driving performance across their estate, partnering with operational leaders on the ground, and playing a crucial part in their strategic growth journey.

This role offers a unique blend of responsibilities, from day-to-day financial control to high-level strategic planning and involvement in future M&A activity. You will report directly to the owners and work closely with their experienced Operations Director to maximise profitability across the group.

Key Responsibilities

Strategic & Commercial Finance:

Lead all financial planning, budgeting, and forecasting for the group's entities, with a strong focus on cash flow management and site-level profitability.Act as a true strategic business partner to the leadership team, providing critical analysis on new site openings, performance across the estate, and potential acquisitions.Lead the transition of the finance function, building a robust team to support the growing business.

Operational Finance:

Oversee and manage a small team of 4, ensuring financial systems are robust and compliant.Work closely with site-level managers and the Operations Director to analyse unit economics, cost management (including labour and food), and cash flow.Manage relationships with external partners including our new auditors, banks, and other financial stakeholders .

Key Relationships:

Board of Directors (including the Managing Director, Business Partner, and Head of HR).Operations Director and Site Management Teams.External Auditors, Banks, and Financial Institutions.

About You

Sector Experience: You have demonstrable experience as a Finance Director or senior finance leader within a multi-site hospitality or restaurant business .Tronc Expertise: You have experience with Tronc payroll arrangements in the hospitality industry and understand the tax and compliance benefits .Funding & Growth: You have experience working with funder-led businesses, managing banking relationships, and overseeing capital expenditure for new sites .M&A Mindset: You are commercially astute and have experience or a strong desire to be involved in M&A activity, helping to acquire and integrate new sites.Hands-On: You are happy working in a non-corporate environment where you will be frequently on-site to support operations, with the ability to liaise effectively between the boardroom and the front-line teams.