Finance Director

Harper May is working with a growing financial services firm backed by established private ownership and operating across multiple regulated markets. The business has expanded its client base significantly over the past two years and is now maturing its financial infrastructure to support this scale. With ambitious plans for organic growth and potential M&A activity on the horizon, they need a Finance Director who can build robust financial capability and bring clear strategic thinking to the leadership table.

The Role
Reporting to the Chief Executive, you will own the financial direction and governance of the organisation. This is a hands-on role that combines strategic responsibility-shaping financial policy and capital allocation-with direct oversight of reporting, compliance, and control across a growing finance function. You will be a trusted adviser to the Board on financial performance and risk, and a key player in supporting the business through its next phase of development.

• Shape and execute financial strategy aligned with growth objectives and shareholder expectations
• Build and lead a finance team, setting standards for technical rigour and commercial awareness
• Establish and maintain financial controls, governance frameworks, and audit readiness across a maturing organisation
• Prepare statutory accounts, manage audit relationships, and ensure regulatory compliance across all jurisdictions
• Deliver management reporting and financial analysis that supports confident decision-making at executive level
• Oversee cash management, working capital, and capital planning to support growth while maintaining financial discipline
• Engage with lenders, investors, and external advisers as a credible financial voice

What we are looking for

• ACA, ACCA, or CIMA qualified with significant post-qualification experience in a senior finance role
• Track record in financial services or another regulated sector, with familiarity of multi-jurisdictional compliance
• Strong technical grounding in statutory accounting, tax, and regulatory reporting
• Experience building or scaling a finance function, with clear capability to mentor and develop others
• Commercially astute with the ability to translate numbers into insight for non-financial audiences
• Composed, analytical communicator comfortable holding the line on control without losing sight of business objectives