Head of Finance

Harper May is partnering with a profitable, acquisitive, PE-backed technology group based in Kingston upon Thames. The group runs across a cluster of trading entities serving regulated UK B2B markets, has grown rapidly through strong organic performance alongside targeted acquisitions, and is now entering a new phase of scale under institutional ownership. A Head of Finance is being hired to run the day-to-day group finance function alongside the current CFO and be developed into the longer-term CFO successor.

The Role
Reporting to the CFO, the Head of Finance will be a hands-on operator across the group's trading entities, owning consolidated reporting, FP&A, controls, and the finance stream of the group's post-deal priorities. The role suits a fully qualified, fast-rising accountant currently reporting into a CFO or FD inside a PE-backed business, who is ready to step into a genuine number-two seat with a clear line of sight to CFO over the next 12 to 24 months.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead the monthly group close and the consolidated management accounts across the operating entities
• Produce monthly reporting for the PE sponsor and quarterly covenant reporting for the lender
• Own FP&A end to end: annual budget, rolling forecast, 13-week cash flow, and board-grade variance commentary
• Work alongside the CFO on the value creation plan and ongoing investor reporting
• Project-manage the integration of acquired businesses onto a single group accounting platform
• Oversee statutory reporting, the group audit and tax compliance across the trading entities
• Drive cost control, cash management and working capital discipline across the group
• Develop and build out the finance team across multiple sites
• Deputise for the CFO at board and committee level as the role matures

What we are looking for

• Fully qualified accountant (ACA, ACCA or CIMA)
• Prior experience inside a PE-backed business is essential, not preferred
• Currently reporting into a CFO or FD inside a group, on a clear upward trajectory
• Hands-on group consolidation experience across multiple trading entities
• Experience of PE sponsor reporting and bank covenant reporting
• Strong FP&A, with the ability to explain variances crisply at board level
• Experience of bringing multiple companies onto a single accounting platform is a plus
• Hands-on team leader, comfortable owning the detail and the strategic picture together
• Based within a comfortable commute of Kingston upon Thames; office-first initially, moving to hybrid