Group Finance Director - UK

Drive Financial Leadership Across a Multi-Entity Consumer and Distribution Group

Our client is a long-established, UK-based consumer products and distribution group operating across multiple entities and international markets. The business designs, sources and distributes a broad portfolio of consumer goods to major retail and wholesale customers, supported by a well-invested operational infrastructure and a diverse leadership team.

With a strong balance sheet, consistent profitability and an appetite for continued growth, the group is now entering a new phase of development focused on operational efficiency, systems optimisation and strategic expansion, including potential acquisition activity.

To support this next stage, the organisation is seeking to appoint a Group Finance Director to lead financial strategy, strengthen systems and processes, and act as a key partner to the executive team and shareholders.

The Role

This is a senior leadership role within a multi-entity, operationally complex environment, requiring a commercially minded finance leader who can combine strategic input with hands-on delivery.

The Group Finance Director will:

• Act as a strategic partner to the Group CEO, Managing Directors and Board, supporting performance and long-term direction
• Lead and develop the finance team, embedding a collaborative, high-performance culture aligned to the wider business
• Oversee consolidated group reporting across multiple UK and international entities, ensuring clarity, accuracy and insight
• Strengthen financial systems, processes and controls, leveraging and optimising ERP capability (Microsoft Business Central)
• Drive process improvement and operational efficiencies across finance and the wider business
• Provide robust financial analysis and commentary to support decision-making and performance visibility
• Lead cash management and working capital optimisation across the group
• Support strategic planning, business cases and evaluation of new opportunities, including potential acquisitions
• Ensure delivery of statutory reporting, audit processes and regulatory compliance
• Build strong relationships with internal stakeholders, external advisers and shareholders

The role requires an individual comfortable operating in a fast-moving, evolving environment, balancing operational involvement with strategic influence across a diverse group structure.

The Person

We are seeking a commercially focused and systems-driven finance leader with the credibility to operate effectively at Board level within a multi-entity business.

You will bring:

• • Proven experience as a Finance Director or Group Finance Director within an SME or mid-market environment
• • Full professional accountancy qualification (FCA, ACCA or equivalent)
• Strong background in managing and consolidating multi-entity group structures
• Demonstrated ability to lead, develop and engage finance teams
• High levels of systems and IT literacy, with experience driving ERP optimisation and process improvement
• Strong commercial awareness, with the ability to translate financial information for non-finance stakeholders
• Experience working closely with Managing Directors and Boards to support decision-making
• A hands-on approach, with the ability to operate effectively across both strategic and operational levels
• A proactive, resilient mindset suited to a complex and evolving business environment

Experience within consumer products, manufacturing, import/distribution, wholesale or hard goods environments would be advantageous.

The Opportunity

• Base salary £130,000 - £150,000
• Salary dependent on experience
• Bonus and comprehensive benefits package, including pension and private healthcare
• Direct exposure to Board and shareholder stakeholders
• Opportunity to influence systems, process improvement and operational efficiency at group level
• Involvement in strategic growth initiatives and potential acquisition activity
• A key leadership role within a well-capitalised, profitable and evolving business

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