Finance Director; Designate - FinTech Startup

We are exclusively retained on a confidential search for a Finance Director (Designate) on behalf of a fast-growing, FCA and DFSA-authorised B2B payments business operating across the UK and MENA region.

Please read before applying: this is a hands‑on, build‑from‑scratch finance role with a clear and defined path to CFO. If you are looking for a strategic seat with a team already in place, this is not it. If you are energised by rolling your sleeves up, building the foundations, and earning the top finance seat as the business hits its next major milestone — read on.

You will join as Finance Director (Designate) and take hands‑on ownership of the finance function from day one. Over an initial period of approximately six‑eight months, you will build the financial infrastructure the business needs — processes, controls, reporting and systems — ahead of the company's full trading launch. At that point, subject to performance, you will step up into the CFO role.

This is a genuine opportunity to build something from the ground up and grow into the most senior finance position in the business. The CFO seat is the destination — this is the path to get there.

• Hands‑on ownership of day‑to‑day financial operations — from management accounts to reconciliations
• Building financial processes, controls and reporting frameworks from scratch
• Managing regulatory capital requirements across FCA (UK) and DFSA (UAE) frameworks
• Selecting and implementing finance systems and tools suited to a scaling payments business
• Direct engagement with the CEO and Board on financial performance and strategy
• Treasury management and FX exposure oversight
• Supporting commercial decision‑making, budgeting and forecasting
• Preparing the business financially for full trading launch
• Hiring and developing a finance team as the business scales toward and beyond launch

• Qualified accountant (ACA, ACCA, CIMA or equivalent)
• Proven experience in a senior finance role — ideally within a regulated fintech, payments or e‑money business
• Comfortable being the only finance person in the room initially — no team to delegate to from day one
• Strong understanding of FCA regulatory capital and reporting requirements — DFSA experience a distinct advantage
• Experience in cross‑border payments, FX or e‑money environments highly desirable
• A genuine builder's mindset — you enjoy the detail as much as the strategy
• The commercial acumen and gravitas to step up to CFO and operate at Board and investor level

This is not a role for someone looking to manage a team and delegate the detail. It is for a driven, technically strong finance professional who wants to build something real, prove themselves, and take the top seat when the business is ready for them.