The Opportunity
Finatal is partnering with an ambitious and fast-growing Education start-up on a search for a highly capable and hands-on Finance Director to support its rapid expansion towards a £25m turnover and £3m EBITDA target by the end of 2025. With significant Private Equity (PE) backing, the business is executing a buy-and-build strategy, with further debt and equity raises planned ahead of an exit in the next 3-4 years.
The Role
This is a unique opportunity for a finance leader who thrives in an entrepreneurial, high-growth environment. Reporting directly to the CEO, Founders, and Private Equity team, the Finance Director will take full ownership of the finance function, ensuring it is structured to PE-grade standards while maintaining the agility required in a start-up setting.
- Finance Leadership: Establish and scale the finance function, providing strategic and technical expertise while ensuring seamless financial operations within a people-led, fast-moving culture.
- Stakeholder Management: Engage directly with the PE investors, C-suite, banks, and auditors to maintain strong relationships and provide insightful financial reporting.
- Start-Up & SME Finance Expertise: Assess and enhance financial systems, controls, and processes suited for a rapidly scaling business, balancing structure with flexibility.
- Outsourced Finance Assessment: Evaluate the current outsourced finance model and develop a strategy for potential in-house transition.
- Financial Reporting & Audit: Build a seamless, reliable reporting framework aligned with PE expectations while ensuring agility in financial operations.
- Banking & Debt Management: Oversee banking relationships, manage covenants, and ensure compliance with financial obligations.
- M&A & Integration: Support acquisition strategy, including due diligence, integration, and financial modelling, ensuring smooth transitions in a fast-paced environment.
- FP&A & Commercial Partnering: Develop robust FP&A processes to support agile decision-making, financial forecasting, and strategic planning, ensuring a balance between growth ambition and financial discipline.
The Requirements
The ideal candidate will be a finance leader with a background in start-ups or SMEs, comfortable operating in a fast-moving and often ambiguous environment. Experience in Private Equity-backed businesses is essential, ideally within Education, Healthcare, or multi-site sectors experiencing M&A-driven growth.
- Qualified accountant (ACA/ACCA/CIMA), preferably with a background in Audit (Big 4/Top 10 desirable).
- Proven experience in a start-up, scale-up, or SME environment, with a hands-on approach to finance leadership.
- Strong PE experience, including financial reporting, covenant management, and investor engagement.
- Demonstrable controllership experience, including systems implementation and outsourced finance management.
- Extensive commercial finance exposure (FP&A, financial modelling, and business partnering).
- Experience working within a fast-scaling, acquisitive business is highly desirable.
- A proactive, problem-solving mindset, with the ability to balance structure with entrepreneurial agility in a people-first culture.
This is a pivotal role in the company’s growth journey, offering direct exposure to high-calibre investors and leadership teams. The Finance Director will play a critical role in shaping the financial strategy and infrastructure of a business poised for substantial growth and a successful exit.
Compensation
Competitive salary & package, including equity participation potential.
If you are a high-calibre finance leader looking for a number one role in a fast-scaling, PE-backed start-up environment, apply now.
