Head of Finance

Optima Recruitment

Head of Finance

Location: Surrey / South East (Office-based)
Reporting to: CEO / Founder
Salary: £80,000–£100,000 per annum, plus pension, potential equity participation, 25 days' holiday plus bank holidays.

The Role

We are seeking an experienced and commercially minded Head of Finance to lead our finance function and play a key role in the next stage of the company's growth. Reporting to the CEO, you will provide strategic financial leadership, deliver high-quality management information, strengthen financial controls, and support business growth through acquisitions and future corporate transactions.

Key Responsibilities

Financial Leadership

  • Lead the finance function, ensuring robust financial controls, compliance and statutory reporting.
  • Oversee cash flow, treasury and working capital management.
  • Manage relationships with auditors, banks, tax and legal advisers.

Financial Planning & Performance

  • Lead budgeting, forecasting and monthly management reporting.
  • Develop meaningful KPIs, dashboards and financial analysis to support decision-making.
  • Partner with operational teams to improve profitability, margins and business performance.

Strategy & Corporate Finance

  • Support the CEO and senior leadership team with strategic planning and commercial decision-making.
  • Lead the financial evaluation, due diligence and integration of acquisitions.
  • Help prepare the business for future investment, sale or other corporate transactions.

Leadership & Systems

  • Lead, develop and mentor the finance team.
  • Drive continuous improvement in finance systems, processes and reporting to support business growth.

Person Specification

  • Qualified accountant (ACA, ACCA or CIMA).
  • Significant senior finance leadership experience within an SME or growing business.
  • Strong commercial acumen with excellent budgeting, forecasting and financial modelling skills.
  • Proven experience of business partnering, cash flow management and financial controls.
  • Experience of acquisitions, corporate transactions or investment activity is highly desirable.
  • Strong leadership, communication and stakeholder management skills.
  • Experience of developing finance systems, processes and reporting to support business growth.
  • A proactive, commercially focused leader who is comfortable operating in a dynamic, entrepreneurial environment.

Refer a friend and earn £100! If you have a friend who is also searching for a new opportunity in the local area, recommend Optima and if we place them (providing they complete their 3-month probation period), you will receive a £100 retail voucher of your choice! Please note that if you have not been contacted within 5 working days, then unfortunately on this occasion your CV has not been shortlisted. By applying for this vacancy, you accept Optima Recruitment Limited’s Privacy and GDPR Policy which can be found on our website and therefore gives us consent to contact you. Optima Recruitment Limited are acting as a recruitment agency in relation to this vacancy and are an equal opportunities employer.

Apply Now →

Application opens at the source listing. Free for jobseekers.