Head of Finance

Harper May is working with a founder-led consumer non-durables business that has built a strong, diversified product range and established direct-to-consumer and wholesale channels across the UK and Northern Europe. The company has grown steadily over the past four years and is now at an inflection point: operational complexity is increasing, new supply partnerships are coming online, and the leadership team recognises that finance needs to step up as a strategic function. They are now seeking a Head of Finance to establish this capability.

The Role
Reporting to the founder and Chief Operating Officer, the Head of Finance will own financial strategy, reporting, and control for the business. This role is central to how the company makes investment decisions, manages cash, and scales its operations. You will be expected to challenge assumptions, flag risks early, and translate financial data into clear commercial recommendations.

You will establish quarterly business reviews with each business line, tighten forecasting discipline, and build the finance function from a small team into a credible strategic partner. This is a hands-on role where you will do substantial work yourself while building capability around you.

• Build and lead multi-year financial planning aligned to product and geographic expansion
• Establish robust monthly management accounts with clear variance analysis and commercial commentary
• Work across sales, operations, and procurement to identify margin improvement opportunities and cost efficiency
• Manage cash flow, working capital, and inventory levels across multiple supply routes
• Implement finance systems and processes that scale with the business without adding bureaucracy
• Support M&A and partnership evaluation, including due diligence and integration planning
• Hire and develop a small finance team, instilling rigour and commercial thinking

• ACA, ACCA, or CIMA qualified with at least seven years in finance roles, ideally including head of finance or controller experience
• Hands-on background in FMCG, consumer goods, or a similar product-and-distribution-led business
• Proven ability to build financial systems and processes from the ground up or rebuild them for scale
• Commercial mindset: you think in terms of margin, cash, and customer economics, not just compliance
• Comfortable in a lean, founder-led environment where you wear multiple hats and thrive on autonomy
• Strong communication skills; you can translate numbers into insights and challenge the room respectfully