Chief Financial Officer

Harper May is working with a multi-channel retail operator with a portfolio of established consumer brands across fashion and lifestyle. The business is privately owned, turning over £80m+ annually, with stores across the UK and controlled wholesale presence. Recent platform investment has unlocked capacity to accelerate omnichannel capability and geographic reach, and the business is now seeking a Chief Financial Officer to strengthen its financial leadership and support the next phase of disciplined expansion.

You will report to the Chief Executive and serve as a core member of the Board. You own full accountability for financial planning, capital allocation, and performance reporting across the group. The role is substantive: you will shape financial strategy alongside the executive team, ensure governance meets stakeholder expectations, and provide rigorous challenge on investment decisions as the business scales omnichannel operations and extends its geographic footprint.

• Develop and deliver a three-year financial strategy that balances growth ambition with disciplined returns
• Lead annual budgeting, monthly forecasting, and scenario planning across all trading channels
• Oversee working capital, cash flow, and inventory investment to protect liquidity during expansion
• Build and manage the finance function, setting standards for reporting and control quality
• Work with the business to drive unit economics and margin discipline in a competitive market
• Manage stakeholder reporting: Board packs, investor updates, and audit liaison
• Support the MD on M&A evaluation and capital project appraisal

• ACA, ACCA, or CIMA qualification
• Eight-plus years at CFO, Finance Director, or equivalent senior leadership level, ideally in retail, consumer goods, or multi-site operations
• Hands-on experience with P&L ownership, working capital management, and cash forecasting
• Demonstrable comfort operating at Board level: strategic thinking, financial storytelling, and stakeholder confidence
• Real understanding of retail economics: inventory risk, seasonal cash cycles, and channel profitability
• Collaborative leadership style with an appetite to mentor and develop the team