Chief Financial Officer

Heidi Wright Recruitment is delighted to be exclusively representing a successful, medium-sized, privately owned business in Cumbria in the appointment of a Chief Financial Officer.

Established, profitable and growing at pace, the business has ambitious plans for its next phase of development, encompassing organic growth, strategic investment, potential acquisitions and further expansion.

This is a significant executive appointment, offering the opportunity to work directly alongside the owner and Managing Director, with genuine influence over business strategy, commercial performance and long-term direction.

We are looking for considerably more than a technically accomplished finance professional. The successful individual will bring the commercial instinct, strategic thinking, leadership presence and entrepreneurial drive to help take an already successful business to the next level.

As CFO, you will become a key member of the senior leadership team and a trusted strategic partner to the Managing Director.

Your remit will extend well beyond traditional financial stewardship, combining strategic leadership with commercial decision‑making, business development, investment appraisal and organisational improvement.

You will play an instrumental role in strengthening the business's financial and operational infrastructure, providing the insight, challenge and leadership required to support ambitious and sustainable growth.

• Working closely with the Managing Director to shape and deliver the business's long-term strategic objectives.
• Providing commercial insight, constructive challenge and informed leadership across major business decisions.
• Evaluating growth opportunities, potential acquisitions, strategic partnerships and significant capital investments.
• Driving profitability, cash generation and operational performance through meaningful financial analysis and management information.
• Developing financial and operational KPIs that provide greater visibility, accountability and support for decision‑making.
• Leading financial strategy, funding arrangements, banking relationships and investment planning.
• Strengthening corporate governance, risk management, internal controls and commercial compliance.
• Leading, developing and empowering the finance function, creating a proactive, commercially focused team.
• Working collaboratively across the wider business to identify opportunities, challenge established thinking and drive continuous improvement.

We are particularly interested in speaking with accomplished CFOs and Finance Directors who have demonstrated the ability to influence business performance and contribute meaningfully to strategic growth.

You will be a qualified accountant with substantial senior leadership experience, but equally important will be your broader commercial capabilities and the value you can bring beyond the finance function.

• A successful track record in a senior finance leadership role, with genuine involvement in business strategy and executive decision-making.
• Strong commercial acumen and the confidence to operate as a business leader, rather than solely a finance specialist.
• Experience supporting growth, investment, funding and ideally acquisitions or other significant strategic developments.
• The ability to translate complex financial information into clear, commercially focused recommendations.
• A sound understanding of corporate governance, business risk, contractual matters and wider commercial responsibilities.
• Strong…