Finance Director PE-Backed Industrial Services Business

Mark Sattin Executive Search is working with a PE-backed specialist industrial business based in the South East of England. The business has established a strong position within its market, with a reputation for quality, technical capability, and long-standing customer relationships. As the business continues to develop and grow, it is seeking a Finance Director to lead the finance function, support the wider business, and play a key role in shaping and delivering its strategic objectives.

This role will suit a technically strong Finance Director who is comfortable operating within an operationally focused environment. The role will provide leadership across financial controls, reporting, systems, governance, budgeting, forecasting, management accounts, and statutory compliance, ensuring the business maintains the financial discipline expected within a private equity-backed environment. Working closely with the senior leadership team, the Finance Director will lead the finance team and provide financial insight across short-, medium-, and long-term planning.

This will include annual budgeting, rolling forecasts, scenario analysis, variance analysis, and performance reporting, alongside identifying trends, risks, and opportunities and ensuring appropriate action is taken.

A key part of the remit will be driving finance improvement initiatives, reviewing existing processes and systems and implementing improvements that enhance efficiency, accuracy, and accountability. Working closely with operational, supply chain, procurement, and commercial teams, the Finance Director will support cost control, margin analysis, working capital management, inventory performance, and wider commercial decision-making.

The role will require a hands‑on approach, with the Finance Director comfortable getting into the detail where required while maintaining a clear view of the wider business. The successful individual will be a trusted partner to the senior leadership team, combining technical financial expertise with commercial understanding and the ability to turn analysis into practical action.

The Ideal Candidate

• Qualified accountant (ACA, ACCA or ACMA)
• Finance Director, Head of Finance, Financial Controller or Divisional FD experience within Industrial Services, Manufacturing, or related sectors
• Strong technical accounting, financial reporting, and controls background
• Experience overseeing budgeting, forecasting, statutory reporting, and audit
• Strong operational finance background with hands‑on involvement in cost control, inventory management, and working capital
• Experience supporting manufacturing operations through robust financial insight and performance reporting
• Ability to translate financial data into practical, commercially focused actions
• Strong ability to produce clear and content-rich financial reporting and presentations

Due to the high level of applications, we can only reply to those candidates with relevant experience.