Chief Financial Officer - PE-backed support services

The Company

Our client is a market leader in the provision of testing, certification and critical services into the commercial and residential property, facilities management and construction sectors. The company received private equity backing in 2018 and since then, it has doubled in size, revenues and EBITDA. Headquartered in West Yorkshire, the company has sites and clients throughout the UK and will continue to expand nationally. With ambitious plans to double in size again over the next three years, the company is now seeking a CFO to help them on this journey.

Requirement for a new CFO

The CFO role is a key board position in the next stage of the company's development. We are looking for a dynamic individual who will exert influence across all company activities, helping to deliver the strategy and a successful exit for current shareholders. The company is going through a period of rapid growth and the appointment of an effective CFO is critical in coordinating corporate finance and managing the policies in areas including cash management, contract control and acquisitions.

The role will preferably be located at the West Yorkshire HQ where its finance function is located but could also be located in the northern Home Counties where it has a sizable back office and operational team. The CFO is expected to have a presence at both sites and across the wider business (regional offices in the Midlands and South West).

THE ROLE.

Working alongside the CEO, the CFO will be a first-class qualified finance professional who is highly commercially aware and be able to work closely with the board to advise on the best paths for the growth and development of the business.

The CFO will have overall control and responsibility for all financial aspects of the group's strategy and through detailed analysis of the business information will recommend and subsequently implement improvements, ensuring the most profitable outcome.

DUTIES AND RESPONSBILITIES

The new CFO will -

• work as a partner to the CEO and work closely with other senior executives and non executives as part of the team leading the business;

• be a leader of the group's finance function which includes an experienced Financial Controller and finance team located in West Yorkshire;

• as part of the senior team, contribute to the development of the group strategy across all areas of the business, challenging assumptions and decision making as appropriate and provide the financial analysis and guidance on all activities and plans;

• lead the group budgetary process;

• review the financial information, recommend and take actions as required to improve profitability and working capital management;

• take responsibility for reporting to key stakeholders, including the private equity investor and bankers;

• lead the IT development of the business and ensure all systems are robust and support the current activities and future growth;

• have ultimate responsibility for the group cash management policies;

• maintain and develop relationships with all stakeholders including investors, bankers, auditors and tax advisors;

• ensure the business has best practice financial systems, processes and controls in place and ensure these are fit for purpose as the business scales from c. £20m sales to £50m sales;

• To develop the group's financial and operational KPI reporting and management information to allow better management of a rapidly-scaling business;

• ensure that all the group's financial practices are in line with statutory regulations and legislation;

• work closely with the executive team, non executives and PE investor in positioning the business for sale and ultimately managing the exit process for stakeholders via sale to a trade buyer or another PE fund.

CANDIDATE PROFILE.

The ideal candidate will -

• be an experienced CFO and qualified member of an accountancy body;

• have sector experience in one or more of the following sectors is desirable, but not a pre-requisite:

• contracting businesses in the building or building related sectors;
• repairs & maintenance contracting;
• facilities management;
• built environment compliance sectors.

• be astute, articulate and technically strong;

• be able to switch between being hands-on and strategic

• be an influential leader with the ability to operate at both strategic and operational levels;

• have exceptional communication skills;

• possess strong IT skills;

• be able to handle the pressure of a rapidly growing business;

• be able to make and follow through on critical decisions;

• be energetic and highly motivated;

• be a team player who can act as a true business partner to other members of the Executive team to drive improvements in performance of the business in areas outside the finance function;

• have experience of acquiring and disposing of businesses desirable;

• have private equity / venture capital experience with experience of a successful exit via trade sale or to private equity is highly desirable.