Chief Financial Officer | Fast Growth Management Consulting

Harmonic Finance are proud to have been retained to recruit the next Chief Financial Officer for one of the United Kingdom's fastest growing technology-focused Management Consultancies.

Having established a national award-winning brand over the past 8 years, a dynamic CFO is now required to drive the business towards a planned exit event in 3-5 years' time.

The business

Providing technology advisory and organisational transformation services to private sector clients, the business is growing exponentially with a forecast turnover of circa £25 million for 2022/23. Present headcount is circa 160 full time employees, supplemented by consultant freelancers.

The role

Balancing both high level commercial analysis and hands-on accounting focus, the position would best suit a candidate who possesses the ability to shape the company strategy alongside a willingness to 'get in the weeds' with both the balance sheet and FP&A accounting.

The role sits as right-hand person to the CEO: you will contribute to commercial and operational decision -making across the business, and will be expected to help shape the vision for the future, including driving innovative thinking around fresh revenue streams (e.g. partnerships, new verticals etc) and refining the target operating model.

Revenues will likely exceed £40 million in the near future, and you will be tasked with delivering a Finance function which runs smoothly from a business-as-usual perspective in the present, while also being rapidly scalable in anticipation of significant growth in future.

Core responsibilities include:

• Day-to-day management of the Finance team

• Delivery of insightful MIS dashboards and data visualizations to supercharge commercial decision making.

• Successful delivery of the annual audit and timely and accurate filing of all statutory reporting, VAT etc.

• Production of the Board pack and investor updates.

• Overseeing best-in-class FP&A, including cash flow forecasting, detailed margin analysis and project accounting.

• Analysis (and subsequent delivery of recommendations) to the CEO and Board surrounding market analysis, partnership opportunities and M&A activity.

• Process analysis and improvement across Accounting and MIS.

What we need to see (Essential)

• Fully qualified ACA / ACCA / CIMA

• Recent experience at Finance Director or Chief Financial Officer level within a consulting or professional services business (e.g. management consulting, marketing, architecture, engineering) of minimum £10 million t/o.

• An in-depth understanding (both hands-on and strategic) of the nuances of accounting within a fast-growth professional services business. This should include: utilisation rate, variation analysis, cost allocation, revenue recognition, WIP billing, timesheet billing, gross/net margin analysis and non-recoverable expenses.

• Ability to communicate clearly and with gravitas.

• Experience of successfully supporting buy and sell-side M&A activities including data room preparation and collaboration with corporate finance advisors.

• Proven track record of overseeing high-performance teams in fast-growth companies.

What we would like to see

• Experience of establishing and managing commercial partnership agreements.

• Private Equity or VC-backed company experience.

• MBA qualified.

Work location

Hybrid working, with circa 3 days expected from our client's offices in Kings Cross.

Remuneration & Benefits

• 130-180k base salary

• Equity

• Discretionary annual bonus

• Healthcare

• Excellent pension

• Generous annual leave allowance

If you are interested - to be considered for the role please forward your CV or ring 0203 773 3530.