Finance Business Leader

Based:
Richmond, UK
Contract period: 6 months
Functions:
Finance | Technology | Product | R&DOur client is seeking a strategic, execution-oriented Global Tech Finance Business Leader to play a pivotal role at the intersection of finance, technology, and product innovation. This is a senior leadership opportunity to partner closely with Product, Engineering, and Operations teams and drive financial excellence across a global portfolio of technology investments.

In this role, you will own financial planning, forecasting, and performance management for Product Management, R&D organizations, and SaaS hosting and infrastructure costs, ensuring resources are deployed efficiently to accelerate innovation and enable scalable, profitable growth.

Your role :

Strategic Finance Leadership

Lead end-to-end financial management for global Product, R&D, and Technology organizations, including budgeting, forecasting, long-range planning, and investment prioritization
Partner with senior executives to translate product strategy and technology roadmaps into clear financial insights, trade-offs, and ROI analyses
Drive financial stewardship and operational rigor across global engineering teams, improving spend governance while supporting sustainable growth

Product & R&D Investment Management

Design and own financial frameworks to evaluate product investments, including feasibility analysis, burn rate tracking, capacity planning, and capital allocation
Support product leaders with business cases, pricing strategy, and scenario modelling
Implement and monitor performance metrics (OKRs, KPIs, productivity, release efficiency) to measure R&D effectiveness and value creation

SaaS Hosting, Cloud & Infrastructure Cost Management

Own forecasting, reporting, and optimization of cloud and hosting spend (AWS, Azure, Oracle, data platforms)
Partner with Engineering, Dev Ops, and Fin Ops teams to identify savings opportunities, support vendor negotiations, and improve unit economics
Build scalable frameworks for COGS modelling, multi-tenant cost allocation, and internal chargebacks

Business Partnership & Cross-Functional Leadership

Influence decision-making at all levels through clear communication of financial risks, opportunities, and insights
Act as the primary finance partner to global product and engineering leadership teams
Collaborate across business units to ensure strong alignment on product P&Ls and performance outcomes

Financial Operations & Governance

Strengthen financial processes, systems, and reporting capabilities across global regions
Ensure compliance with accounting standards, internal controls, and audit requirements related to technology investments
Drive continuous improvement in financial modelling, SaaS metrics reporting, and planning cycle efficiency

The person:

10+ years of progressive finance leadership experience in global technology organisations
Deep experience supporting Product Management, R&D, Engineering, or Technology Operations
Strong expertise in SaaS hosting, cloud cost management, Fin Ops principles, and COGS modelling
Exceptional analytical and strategic thinking skills, with the ability to translate complex technical concepts into actionable financial insights
Proven ability to influence senior executives and drive cross-functional alignment

Experience in high-growth SaaS, enterprise software, or platform businesses preferred

MBA, CPA, CFA, ACA, ACCA, CIMA, or equivalent advanced qualification is a plus