CFO (Interim to Permanent)

Our client is a c£100m turnover privately owned motor trade business operating from multiple sites across the North West.  The business’s operations encompass sales and servicing of commercial vehicles.  

Following a recent change in ownership the business is now seeking an experienced and commercially astute CFO, ideally with prior experience in the automotive trade, who is available to start immediately on an interim basis which may become permanent.

The Role

Reporting to the CEO the role has a remit to work with the business to drive business performance through improving profit margins, cost control and working capital management.  Key responsibilities include the following:-

• Work with the Board in developing and implementing a business strategy aimed at improving margins, business profitability and working capital management;
• Carry out a thorough review of P&L account and balance sheet and ensure that controls and cost base are robust and appropriate for the current and planned scale of the business;
• Develop an improved KPI report and work with the senior leadership team to spread a culture of commercial awareness throughout the business;
• Maintain sound principles of working capital management;
• Provide leadership and motivation of the finance team;
• Work closely with the heads of non-finance functions to support and improve their commercial decision making;
• Develop business processes and systems and ensure that optimal use is made of the business’s Kerridge operating/finance system.

The Candidate

• A commercially astute qualified accountant with a proven track record of driving business performance improvement;
• Experience in the motor trade would be very advantageous as would experience of working with Kerridge systems in a motor trade business;
• Experience of working in a successful business turnaround / performance improvement project;
• Excellent communication and relationship building skills;
• Strong user of Excel including modelling.

This is an exciting opportunity to play a key role from the start in formulating and delivering on a strategic plan for the turnaround of a business with a strong market proposition.  

Please note that owing to very high volumes of applicants, we will only be able to respond to candidates whose CVs demonstrate experience that we consider to be a potentially strong fit.