The Opportunity:
An exciting opportunity has arisen for a commercially astute and operationally driven Finance Director to join a high-growth, Private Equity-backed international education group headquartered in London. With a turnover exceeding £200m and a robust £40m EBITDA, the business is on a fast-paced trajectory—achieving consistent year-on-year growth through both organic expansion and strategic M&A, averaging 5–10 acquisitions annually across the UK and Europe.
As the company gears up for a planned exit within the next 3 years, the Finance Director will play a pivotal role in navigating key milestones including debt and equity raises, a refinancing, and a group-wide transformation project spanning systems, reporting, and commercial strategy.
Reporting to a highly experienced Group CFO with a strong Private Equity pedigree, the Finance Director will act as a strategic partner to the C-Suite—bringing financial rigour, commercial acumen, and an operational mindset to the forefront. This is a hands-on leadership role, overseeing a high-performing team of 8 across FP&A, Reporting, Controls, and Finance Operations, while working closely with non-finance stakeholders to inform data-driven decision-making and unlock value across the Group.
The Role:
- Partner with the CFO and Executive Team to shape and deliver commercial and financial strategy.
- Lead the financial integration of acquisitions across multiple jurisdictions.
- Drive best-in-class financial reporting, planning, and control across the Group.
- Lead systems and process optimisation in preparation for scale and exit.
- Manage capital structuring activities, including refinancing and investor reporting.
- Build and mentor a finance team that thrives on pace, ownership, and continuous improvement.
The Requirements:
- Professionally qualified accountant (e.g. ACA, ACCA, CIMA).
- Proven experience in a senior finance leadership role within a Private Equity-backed and international high-growth environment.
- Strong technical grounding coupled with sharp commercial insight.
- Demonstrated experience leading transformation across finance systems and reporting frameworks.
- A credible leader with the ability to influence and engage at all levels.
Culture & Environment:
- This is a purpose-led, people-centric business that places a strong emphasis on inclusivity, innovation, and collaboration.
- The successful candidate will join a tech-enabled and forward-thinking environment that celebrates drive, resilience, and ambition—underpinned by a supportive leadership culture where talent is recognised and empowered to deliver impact.