Finance Director

The Company

I am looking for a Finance Director for a highly entrepreneurial, emerging business that is ‘seizing the moment’ in these unprecedented times to launch a characterful, foodie, boutique hotel concept. The first site is up and running and doing incredibly well. Site number two is being negotiated and four other assets are being identified so an FD is required to grow alongside this wonderful entrepreneur. The business is well financed and is well positioned for success given the track history of my client. I am working with someone here in whom I have the utmost confidence! He’s also hired a cracking chef to take the lead on F&B.

The Role

The business needs an experienced, hands on yet forward thinking FD who can get behind managing the detail and financial structure of the business. You will be the ‘go-to’ to the founder. You are his right-hand person if you will….

• Needless to say you will take full ownership for the financial and accounting strategy, prepare budgets and longer terms plans and ensure the company financial systems are robust, compliant and can support future business growth.
• You will take ultimate responsibility for the all-important company cash flow forecast and work closely with the owner. You will prepare and issue monthly management accounts. Working closely with a highly talented operator you will provide quality commercial analysis and be instrumental in margin improvements across all areas of the business
• You will support the founder with capital requirements, debt, taxation, equity, acquisitions as appropriate.
• Ensure that all accounting policies comply with the relevant accounting and legal requirements and all statuary obligations are fully met

The Candidate

We are looking for experience yet someone with the ability to be nimble and proactive in the current market.

This is far from a purely technical FD role and you will not be operating from an ivory tower, this is a role where you will be equally happy embracing some day to day finance operations as well as demonstrating your worth strategically as this business will be on a fairly steep growth trajectory. I am looking for someone who wants to go on a journey and can flex and adapt accordingly.

This is a new role so you can, to a certain extent, shape your own future and my client here has a very progressive attitude – if the job can do done in three days – so be it, so this role could be modelled around other commitments. The only requirement is that you can get to SW London/Surrey twice a week.

The client will remunerate on merit so if you are a £150k+ candidate looking for 3-4 days a week then you could pick up £100k and work around other commitments. If you are an up and coming first time FD then your earnings will be commensurate with your experience and so will probably earn £100k for a 5 day week. Both options are being considered. Ideal areas in which you will have picked up your experience are hotels/gastros/quality dining/food service, probably more so than brands/retail but again all considered.