Job description
Chief Financial Officer c£130,000 plus equity, bonus and benefits
PE backed Logistics and Distribution Liverpool
Our retained client is a PE backed port-centric warehousing, logistics and distribution business operating from locations around the UK. They provide a range of specialist services to support their clients’ exportation operations; ensuring goods arriving in the UK are unloaded, stored and distributed efficiently and cost effectively.
With PE backing the business has invested significantly in its operations and grown both organically and via M&A, providing a strong platform for future growth and value creation. As part of their ongoing plans for development the Board and investors seek to appoint an experienced CFO.
The role:
The incoming CFO must be able to add value to the strategic direction and growth of the business whilst adopting a hands on approach with regard to the financial detail of the company and development of the team.
Leading a small and experienced finance team, the CFO will professionalise the established finance function; improving systems, procedures and controls in order to generate improved reporting with more detailed and better quality financial information around such information as customer/ product profitability and margin mix etc.
Responsibilities will include:
The Candidate:
The successful candidate will be a Qualified Accountant and experienced CFO/ FD; a natural leader with the communication skills, credibility and gravitas to influence at Board level and throughout the business. They should be capable of operating strategically and prepared to be hands on and in the detail where necessary.
The CFO will be a strategic financial business partner to the CEO; complementing their operational background with a commercial financial outlook across the business and the market, in order to ensure profitable growth and increase in shareholder value.
A background in port environments/ logistics/ shipping would be advantageous, although not essential but the incoming CFO should have experience within a private equity backed environment together with a broad range of finance and business skills:
PE backed Logistics and Distribution Liverpool
Our retained client is a PE backed port-centric warehousing, logistics and distribution business operating from locations around the UK. They provide a range of specialist services to support their clients’ exportation operations; ensuring goods arriving in the UK are unloaded, stored and distributed efficiently and cost effectively.
With PE backing the business has invested significantly in its operations and grown both organically and via M&A, providing a strong platform for future growth and value creation. As part of their ongoing plans for development the Board and investors seek to appoint an experienced CFO.
The role:
The incoming CFO must be able to add value to the strategic direction and growth of the business whilst adopting a hands on approach with regard to the financial detail of the company and development of the team.
Leading a small and experienced finance team, the CFO will professionalise the established finance function; improving systems, procedures and controls in order to generate improved reporting with more detailed and better quality financial information around such information as customer/ product profitability and margin mix etc.
Responsibilities will include:
- Ensuring the business has a commercially integrated, robust finance function capable of delivering incisive and responsive reporting, supporting the business as it grows
- Preparation and presentation of all aspects of financial reporting required to both the business and the Board
- Monthly reporting of full management accounts including P&L, Balance Sheet, Cash Flow and rolling forecasts
- Cashflow monitoring prepared on a consolidated basis
- Alongside the senior leadership team, play an integral part in driving strategy, business development and future plans to optimise the company’s financial performance and strategic position
- Establish and monitor performance reporting systems, ensuring Directors are provided with regular, quality reports inclusive of value added KPIs around profitability/ margin etc
- Regularly evaluate operating procedures to create/adapt best practices to ensure uniform performance throughout the organisation
- Build strong working relationships with private equity stakeholders and be a main point of contact for the banks, auditors and other relevant advisors
- Maintain focus on maximisation of shareholder value and helping the business prepare for a successful exit
The Candidate:
The successful candidate will be a Qualified Accountant and experienced CFO/ FD; a natural leader with the communication skills, credibility and gravitas to influence at Board level and throughout the business. They should be capable of operating strategically and prepared to be hands on and in the detail where necessary.
The CFO will be a strategic financial business partner to the CEO; complementing their operational background with a commercial financial outlook across the business and the market, in order to ensure profitable growth and increase in shareholder value.
A background in port environments/ logistics/ shipping would be advantageous, although not essential but the incoming CFO should have experience within a private equity backed environment together with a broad range of finance and business skills:
- Ability to lead, plan and manage change in a growing organisation
- Commercially astute, articulate, technically strong, dynamic, insightful and influential leader with the ability to operate at both strategic and operational levels
- High integrity and openness combined with commitment to good governance
- Ability to handle high levels of pressure and critical decision making
- Strong commercial acumen, including a thorough understanding of risk management
- Ability to develop and implement effective financial objectives and operational plans, to achieve desired outcomes
- A strong track record within a fast-moving multi-site distribution type environment
- An effective, culturally sensitive and fluent communicator capable of presenting complex financial information in a user friendly manner
