Chief Financial Officer

The group is seeking an outstanding, commercially focused CFO to join the executive leadership team and play a central role in shaping the next stage of its development.

This is a broad, highly commercial position that extends well beyond traditional financial control. Reporting directly to the CEO and working closely with the COO and founders, the successful candidate will act as a strategic partner to the Board, balancing two critical priorities: defence—tight cash flow management, robust controls, and navigating sector headwinds and attack—funding acquisitions, integrating new sites, and driving data‑led commercial decisions.

This role offers a rare opportunity to influence the future direction of a highly entrepreneurial business with substantial growth ambitions, operating at pace across a multi‑site consumer environment.

Key Responsibilities

Strategic Leadership & Commercial Partnering

• Partner with the CEO, COO, and Board in defining and executing the group’s long‑term strategy.
• Drive value creation initiatives across the business, providing robust financial and commercial insight to support key decisions.
• Lead strategic planning, budgeting, and forecasting processes.
• Evaluate new growth opportunities, including new formats, market expansion, and site acquisitions.

Capital Allocation, Funding & Corporate Development

• Lead capital allocation decisions across the group and tightly manage cash flow.
• Evaluate acquisition opportunities, support transaction execution, and lead financial due diligence.
• Oversee post‑acquisition integration programmes to ensure smooth onboarding of new brands.
• Maintain strong relationships with banking and funding partners, negotiating facilities and leading refinancing initiatives.
• Assess financing options to support future growth and optimise the debt/equity mix.
• Maintain best‑in‑class financial control, governance, and reporting across all sites.
• Ensure compliance with all statutory and regulatory obligations.
• Drive continuous improvement across financial processes, systems, and controls.
• Develop scalable reporting and management information capabilities to support a significantly larger organisation.

Investor Relations & Stakeholder Engagement

• Lead engagement with investors, analysts, and advisers, building credibility with existing and prospective shareholders.
• Support the preparation and presentation of full‑year results.
• Work closely with the Board and Chair to ensure strong governance, risk management, and compliance frameworks.

Data, Systems & Transformation

• Develop a finance function capable of supporting significant future growth.
• Improve forecasting, reporting, and business intelligence capability.
• Drive technology‑enabled improvements across finance and reporting.
• Create a data‑led culture that improves decision‑making throughout the business.

Leadership & Team Development

• Lead, develop, and inspire a finance team of 12 (3 direct reports, 9 indirect reports).
• Build organisational capability and succession strength.
• Foster a culture of accountability, collaboration, and continuous improvement.
• Act as a visible and influential member of the Executive Leadership Team.

Key Attributes

• Fully qualified accountant (ACA, ACCA, CIMA, or equivalent).
• Previous CFO or senior Finance Director experience, or an exceptional divisional FD ready for a first group‑level appointment.
• Proven track record in a multi‑site, consumer‑facing business—ideally hospitality, leisure, or experiential venues.
• Strong systems knowledge and a demonstrable ability to build best‑practice financial infrastructure.
• Experience leading finance transformation and organisational scaling.
• Strong governance, reporting, and control expertise.
• Experience working closely with boards, investors, and senior stakeholders.
• Track record of developing high‑performing teams.
• Experience building and streamlining processes in an effective, scalable manner.

Highly Desirable

• M&A, integration, and corporate development experience.
• Sector exposure to hospitality, leisure, or consumer services.

Personal Characteristics

• Exceptional commercial judgement and a problem‑solving, solutions‑focused mindset.
• Strategic thinking with a long‑term orientation.
• Intellectual curiosity and an entrepreneurial, growth‑oriented approach.
• High emotional intelligence and a collaborative, people‑first style.
• Comfort working at pace in a dynamic, fast‑moving environment.
• Strong leadership capability with the ability to inspire and develop teams.
• Personal resilience and adaptability, remaining calm and clear‑headed under pressure.
• Gravitas and credibility, with the ability to influence at Board level and build trust with investors, operational teams, and external stakeholders.
• A hands‑on, pragmatic approach—willing to roll up sleeves and get into the detail when required.
• Strong alignment with an energetic, ambitious, and people‑first culture.