CFO - Retail

Tremendous career opportunity for a high calibre, commercially switched-on FD/CFO in this new role as "finance business partner" to the driven, inspirational CEO of this ambitious fast-growing independent Retail chain based at its HO in St Helens.

This successful profitable business currently has a chain of 35 Retail stores with a clear business strategy to grow to over 80 stores across the UK to reach £100m t/o target within the next 5-year period.

Reporting directly as "right hand" to the CEO, you will play a key role in supporting and facilitating this ambitious significant growth strategy - key responsibilities and challenges will include:

• Recruit and develop a strong in-house Finance team to provide timely and robust financial information and control.
• Develop monthly management accounts, bottom-up annual budgets and regular forecasts.
• Critically, to develop high quality MI/KPI's to inform insightful decision-making processes.
• Full commercial/strategic input and involvement to exploit business growth initiatives/opportunities - location of new Stores, investment in the re-furb and expansion of existing and new sites, Supplier negotiations, Pricing optimisation, sourcing of innovative new Product ranges ahead of the rest of the market etc.
• Work closely with the newly-appointed Corporate Finance firm to secure a new £multi-million Debt raise as well as potentially additional Private Equity investment in the medium term to fund this high investment growth "journey" going forward.
• Operate as the direct professional point of contact with all key stakeholders - Bank, Auditors, Tax authorities, CF advisors, Investors etc.
• Overall, to play a key role to facilitate this powerful and sustainable successful growth strategy leading to the appraisal of a range of exit options in the medium-longer term.

Candidate profile:

• Due to the full commercial/strategic involvement, the CEO confirms the successful candidate will need strong experience within a related Retail or Product Distribution business trading environment.
• Evidence of successfully supporting a similar fast-growing Retail/Distribution SME and/or operating in a similar larger business ie where this company has the clear ambition to reach.
• Personal qualities - Drive, Hands-on, Ambitious, Can-do "make it happen" mentality, Strong Delivery, Professional "right first time" approach, Strong Commercial/Business Nous.
• Based on the hands-on full day-to-day business involvement, you must be located within reasonable commutable range of the combined HO/central Distribution Logistics site here at St Helens.

In return, my exclusive client offers a competitive starting salary up to £130k + significant Bonus + personal involvement in the Share Options "pool" on the significant Debt Finance deal being successfully secured.

If your experience closely matches this specific profile required and you are excited by this opportunity, we want to hear from you now!

Please send your CV asap in confidence to Martin Morgan, the retained consultant - all strong relevant applicants can expect a prompt direct response.