Head of Finance

Harper May is working with a founder-led consumer non-durables business that has doubled revenue over the past three years through direct-to-consumer channels and selective retail partnerships. The company manufactures and distributes a portfolio of branded household essentials across the UK and EU, with a lean management structure and a clear roadmap for the next expansion phase. Operations are scaling faster than the finance function, and the business now needs a Head of Finance to bring rigour, clarity, and strategic perspective to capital allocation and business planning.

The Role
Reporting to the Managing Director, you will lead all financial and accounting operations for the group. This role sits at the commercial table-you will shape investment decisions, underpin pricing strategy, and ensure the finance team can keep pace with operational complexity as the business grows.

You will own monthly management accounts, cash flow forecasting, and annual budgeting. You will also strengthen financial controls, drive working capital discipline, and support expansion into new markets and product categories.

Key Responsibilities

• Prepare and own financial statements, management reporting, and board packs with clear commercial narrative
• Lead annual budgeting and rolling forecasts across manufacturing, distribution, and sales channels
• Manage cash flow, inventory valuation, and working capital in a capital-intensive operation
• Build and embed robust financial controls, compliance procedures, and audit readiness
• Partner with operations and commercial teams to identify cost optimisation and margin-improvement opportunities
• Lead a small but growing finance team and establish systems and processes for future scale
• Support evaluation of capital expenditure, acquisition, and strategic partnership decisions

What we are looking for

• ACA, ACCA, or CIMA qualified with 8+ years in senior finance roles
• Hands-on experience in manufacturing, logistics, or product-led businesses
• Proven ability to build finance functions and lead small teams through periods of growth
• Commercial mindset with genuine interest in unit economics, supply chain, and customer profitability
• Comfort with ambiguity and willingness to roll up sleeves on execution, not just strategy
• Strong stakeholder management and ability to influence without formal authority