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 targets Manage budgeting, forecasting, and scenario planning across product categories and channels Drive working capital and cash conversion cycle improvements across procurement and inventory Lead commercial partnering with the sales and marketing teams on pricing, promotions, and customer profitability Build financial governance, reporting, and control frameworks appropriate to current scale Support M&A or investment evaluation as the business explores bolt-on opportunities Recruit, develop, and lead a small finance team What we are looking for ACA, ACCA, or CIMA qualified with 8 years in senior finance roles Genuine experience in consumer products, retail, or distribution-heavy businesses Commercial mindset: able to articulate how finance decisions affect gross margin, customer economics, and cash Comfortable operating informally at board level and steering senior stakeholders through ambiguity Track record of building or improving finance capability in growing businesses Hands-on leader who codes their own spreadsheets and isn't afraid of granular detail