W Talent Staffordshire, England, United Kingdom
PE-Backed SME | Manufacturing | Midlands
Lead the finance function. Shape the future. Drive the exit.
We’re supporting a PE-backed SME manufacturing business based in The Midlands in the search for a commercially minded, strategically astute Finance Director/CFO. This is a Number 1 in Finance position, working in partnership with the CEO, investors, and board to deliver ambitious growth plans and position the business for a future sale.
The Opportunity
In this pivotal role, you’ll take full ownership of the finance function, leading a small, experienced team and driving the financial performance of the business. It’s a hands-on, high-impact position where you’ll be instrumental in shaping financial strategy, supporting operational improvement, and driving value creation ahead of an eventual exit.
You’ll work closely with the board and private equity investors, providing commercial insight, financial leadership, and challenge where needed - with a sharp focus on scalability, operational efficiency, and delivering against growth milestones.
Key Responsibilities
1. Lead and develop the finance function, overseeing day-to-day financial operations, reporting, compliance, and cash management.
2. Partner with the CEO, board, and investors to shape and deliver the business’s growth strategy and value creation plan.
3. Provide clear, commercial insight and financial reporting, supporting decision-making, performance improvement, and investment planning.
4. Drive financial and operational performance, identifying opportunities for margin enhancement, working capital optimisation, and cost control.
5. Play a key role in preparing the business for exit, supporting due diligence, financial positioning, and stakeholder management.
What We’re Looking For
1. A proven Finance Director/CFO with experience in private equity-backed businesses - ideally within manufacturing, engineering, or a related product-led environment.
2. A strong commercial mindset with a track record of driving business performance and value creation.
3. Comfortable operating in a hands-on capacity within an SME environment, while also contributing at board level.
4. Experienced in leading small, capable finance teams — developing people, processes, and systems to support scalable growth.
5. Excellent stakeholder management skills, with the ability to build strong, trusted relationships with CEOs, boards, and investors.
If you’re a commercially driven finance leader with a passion for operational improvement and value creation - and you thrive in a fast-paced, PE-backed environment - we’d love to hear from you.
Seniority level
Executive
Employment type
Full-time
Job function
Accounting/Auditing
Industries
Manufacturing
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