Finance Director

Harper May is working with a founder-led consumer non-durables business, scaled to £40m+ revenue with distribution across major UK retailers and growing direct-to-consumer channels. The company has maintained steady growth through the recent economic cycle and is now consolidating its operational platform ahead of the next phase of expansion. They are seeking a Finance Director to strengthen financial leadership and strategic capability.

The Role
Reporting to the Chief Executive, the Finance Director will lead the finance function and sit as a full member of the executive team. This is a strategic and commercial role: you will own financial planning, drive commercial insight, and ensure the business has the controls and visibility it needs to make confident investment decisions. You will work closely with operations, supply chain, and commercial leadership to translate market dynamics into financial reality.

Develop and own the three-year financial strategy, aligned to growth and margin targetsManage budgeting, forecasting, and scenario planning across product categories and channelsDrive working capital and cash conversion cycle improvements across procurement and inventoryLead commercial partnering with the sales and marketing teams on pricing, promotions, and customer profitabilityBuild financial governance, reporting, and control frameworks appropriate to current scaleSupport M&A or investment evaluation as the business explores bolt-on opportunitiesRecruit, develop, and lead a small finance team

What we are looking for

ACA, ACCA, or CIMA qualified with 8+ years in senior finance rolesGenuine experience in consumer products, retail, or distribution-heavy businessesCommercial mindset: able to articulate how finance decisions affect gross margin, customer economics, and cashComfortable operating informally at board level and steering senior stakeholders through ambiguityTrack record of building or improving finance capability in growing businessesHands-on leader who codes their own spreadsheets and isn't afraid of granular detail