The Opportunity:
A high-growth, Private Equity-backed SaaS business headquartered in Derby is seeking a dynamic and commercially astute Financial Controller to join its leadership team during a pivotal phase of strategic growth and imminent exit.
With a turnover of circa £10m and EBITDA margins exceeding 15%, the business has delivered consistent organic growth of 10–20% year-on-year. As it prepares for a likely exit within the next 6 months — either through secondary Private Equity investment or a trade sale (potentially to an international strategic acquirer) — the Financial Controller will play a critical role in supporting the business through its next phase of maturity and readiness.
The company operates a recurring revenue, B2C-focused SaaS model, with an expanding international footprint across Europe, the Middle East, and the APAC region. Despite its global growth, a significant portion of revenue still derives from the UK and Ireland. With a game-changing new product set to launch, the company expects exponential growth over the next 12–18 months.
The Role:
Reporting directly to an experienced Private Equity CFO — with a proven track record of leading successful PE-backed exits — and working closely with the investment team, the Financial Controller will take ownership of all day-to-day finance operations. This is a hands-on leadership role that demands both strategic insight and operational excellence.
Key responsibilities include:
- Leading, mentoring, and developing a small but capable finance team
- Driving improvements in financial controls, systems, and processes (SAGE Intact & Salesforce CRM)
- Enhancing the quality, consistency, and timeliness of reporting and management information
- Supporting commercial decision-making through insightful financial analysis and FP&A
- Partnering with the C-Suite and senior stakeholders across the business
- Playing a lead role in supporting due diligence, investor reporting, and the exit process
- Championing best practices in SaaS metrics, recurring revenue reporting, and cost optimisation
The Requirements:
This role requires a high-calibre, qualified finance professional (ACA, ACCA, or CIMA) with experience in fast-paced, high-growth environments — ideally Private Equity-backed businesses.
The ideal candidate will demonstrate:
- A proven ability to lead, upskill, and develop finance teams
- Strong technical and commercial finance acumen
- Excellent communication skills and gravitas to influence stakeholders at all levels
- Hands-on experience of systems and process improvement
- A proactive, “roll your sleeves up” attitude with a sharp eye for detail and operational rigour
- Prior exposure to SaaS, recurring revenue models, and/or B2C sectors
- Experience supporting or delivering a transaction event (e.g. PE exit, M&A, due diligence)
This is a rare opportunity to join a scaling technology business at a strategically critical moment — offering both challenge and reward, as well as direct exposure to a high-performing PE team and a seasoned CFO.