Chief Financial Officer

Sowena Group has been exclusively retained by an acquisitive international private equity–backed manufacturing group in Warrington to appoint a new Chief Financial Officer.

This is a pivotal CFO appointment within a high-growth, private equity-backed business generating £20m+ EBITDA and executing an ambitious buy-and-build strategy ahead of a planned exit.

Reporting to the CEO, Board and Private Equity investors, you will lead a sophisticated finance function spanning FP&A, Operational Finance, Financial Control and Technical Finance, while partnering the Executive Team to drive growth, value creation and strategic decision-making.

The role combines commercial leadership with financial rigour, taking ownership of performance, forecasting, cash generation, governance, investor relations, debt management and M&A activity. You will play a central role in acquisition execution and integration, strengthening the financial platform and ensuring the business is exit-ready.

This opportunity requires an accomplished CFO with a proven track record ideally within a private equity-backed environment, leading strong finance teams, delivering transformational growth and operating at Board and investor level.

• Act as a trusted strategic partner to the CEO, Executive Team, and PE shareholders.
• Shape and deliver the Group’s long-term financial strategy, aligned to growth, value creation, and exit planning.
• Build, mentor, and inspire a high-performing finance team capable of scaling with the business. Foster a culture of accountability, pace, and continuous improvement.
• Provide commercial insight to support decision-making on pricing, investment, capital allocation, and organic growth initiatives.
• Lead scenario planning, forecasting, and financial modelling to support strategic
• Lead the financial aspects of acquisitions, including due diligence, valuation, deal structuring, and funding.
• Drive systems, reporting, and process integration across newly acquired businesses.
• Ensure robust financial control, reporting, and compliance across a multi-entity, complex group structure.
• Produce timely, insightful management accounts, board packs, and PE-level reporting.
• Strengthen governance frameworks while maintaining pace and agility.

• Proven CFO or Finance Director experience in a high-growth business, ideally within a multi-entity or group structure, within manufacturing, logistics or similar environment.
• Strong track record in acquisition-led growth.
• Experience of working with Private Equity / investors would be highly desirable, supporting value creation and exit readiness.
• Highly commercially minded, able to translate numbers into action.
• Deep technical finance expertise (financial control, reporting, tax, treasury).
• Comfortable operating in complexity, ambiguity, and fast-changing environments.
• A doer, who is pragmatic, decisive, and execution-focused.
• Naturally collaborative, with the gravitas to challenge and influence senior stakeholders.
• Engaging communicator who can inspire trust and confidence across the organisation.