Part time​/Fractional Finance Director

Initial three-month contract, with potential to extend to six months

Approximately three days per week, with scope for ongoing fractional involvement

PHIX | Manchester headquarters

Initial three-month contract, with potential to extend to six months

Approximately three days per week, with scope for ongoing fractional involvement

PHIX is an independent British menswear brand bringing together distinctive design, music heritage and an international outlook. From tailoring and leather to statement shirting and outerwear, we create clothing with a strong identity and a clear point of view.

Our newly launched PHIX x The Beatles collaboration marks an important chapter for the brand, building on the relationship between fashion and music that sits at the heart of PHIX.

With an international customer base, operations across the UK and US, multiple warehouses and a global supplier network, the business offers considerable scope for an experienced finance leader to make an impact. We’re now investing in our in-house finance team and the systems, reporting and processes to support our next stage of growth.

We’re looking for an experienced, commercially minded Finance Director to work directly with the founder and help build an excellent finance function.

This is a hands-on leadership assignment for someone who enjoys being close to the detail while contributing to wider commercial decisions. You will help establish financial discipline, improve visibility of performance and identify opportunities to strengthen margins, cash flow and operational efficiency.

Working alongside our incoming Finance Manager, you will set the direction and standards for the function, support implementation and develop the team’s capability. The Finance Manager will take ownership of day-to-day finance, while you lead the wider improvement programme and ensure the processes being established can support continued growth.

The business is evolving, giving you meaningful scope to introduce structure, challenge existing arrangements and implement improvements while preserving the pace and agility of an independent brand.

• Assess the current finance function and establish a prioritised improvement plan covering people, processes, systems, reporting and controls.
• Define clear responsibilities across the Finance Manager, bookkeeping support, external accountants and other advisers.
• Lead, support and develop the finance team, ensuring effective ownership of routine matters and appropriate escalation of significant issues.
• Document key processes and embed ways of working that the permanent team can confidently maintain beyond the assignment.

• Establish an accurate, timely monthly reporting process covering the P&L, balance sheet, cash flow and meaningful commentary on business performance.
• Oversee the quality of month-end reporting, journals and reconciliations, resolving weaknesses in data or process.
• Strengthen controls across accounts payable, receivables, banking, expenses, payroll, supplier payments and approval processes.
• Improve reconciliation between ecommerce platforms, payment providers, bank accounts, inventory records and the accounting system.
• Coordinate year-end preparation, audit requirements where applicable, and routine tax and compliance work with the relevant external advisers.

• Build practical budgets and rolling forecasts that connect sales expectations, margins, operating costs, stock purchases and cash requirements.
• Establish a reliable short-term cash-flow forecast and a longer-term view of working-capital and investment needs.
• Challenge assumptions, analyse…