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.