Finance Director
Location: Stockport
Employment Type: Full-time
Department: Finance
Reports to: Chief Executive Officer
About the Role
We are seeking an experienced Finance Director to lead our financial strategy, governance, and decision support across the organisation. This is a key leadership role responsible for maintaining financial stability, enabling sustainable growth, and ensuring the business operates with strong commercial and operational discipline.
Key Responsibilities
Financial Governance & Control
*Oversee all statutory reporting, compliance, and financial controls.
*Ensure accurate and timely monthly, quarterly, and annual financial reporting.
*Manage cash flow, working capital, and financial risk.
*Lead relationships with auditors, tax advisors, banks, and other financial partners.
*Support the development of effective procurement and cost-management practices.
Financial Planning, Insight & Decision Support
*Provide clear, actionable financial insight to senior leaders and managers.
*Translate financial data into understandable guidance for non-financial stakeholders.
*Drive improved financial literacy across the organisation.
*Develop and enhance financial systems, forecasting, and performance reporting.
*Improve modelling, scenario planning, and analysis to support strategic decisions.
Commercial & Client Support
*Support commercial negotiations, pricing, bids, and contract structures.
*Provide financial expertise in customer and partner discussions.
*Ensure financial models and assumptions used externally are robust and transparent.
*Build trust with clients through professional financial communication.
Strategic Leadership
*Partner with operational and commercial teams to connect delivery performance to financial outcomes.
*Contribute to long-term business planning and investment decisions.
*Ensure future growth is aligned with financial capacity and risk appetite.
Finance Team Leadership
*Lead, develop, and mentor a high-performing Finance team.
*Promote a business-partnering culture within Finance.
*Continuously improve processes, systems, and controls to support scaling.
Authority
The Finance Director will have the authority to:
*Set financial policies, controls, and reporting standards.
*Approve financial assumptions used in bids, forecasts, and investment cases.
*Challenge or halt decisions that pose significant financial risk.
*Represent the organisation to clients, financial institutions, and auditors.
What Success Looks Like
*Reliable, trusted financial reporting and forecasting across the leadership team.
*Strong cash flow and working-capital performance.
*Leaders making faster, more informed commercial decisions.
*A Finance function recognised as a strategic partner, not just a control function.
*Improved financial understanding and discipline across the organisation.
*Clear, predictable financial outcomes with minimal late surprises.
Candidate Requirements
Essential Skills & Experience
*Fully qualified accountant (ACA, ACCA, or CIMA)
*Proven experience in a senior finance leadership role.
*Strong technical understanding of financial governance, planning, and reporting.
*Experience partnering with senior leadership and non-financial managers.
*Commercial acumen with experience supporting bids, pricing, and contract decisions.
*Strong analytical, communication, and stakeholder-management skills.
*Ability to lead, coach, and develop a high-performing team.
Desirable
*Experience in scaling organisations.
*Exposure to project-based or service-led environments.
*Familiarity with integrated financial or ERP systems.