Head of Finance

Head of Finance & Operations – Premium Spirits Brand (Confidential) Vauxhall (Hybrid) | Reporting to CEO About the Company Our client is a founder-led premium spirits brand growing fast in a category dominated by giants. Topline grew 50% last year, and the business is forecasting 70% this year. Around 80% of sales come from bars and restaurants, with national listings at major UK premium grocers. The first export market has just launched, and the range is expanding across on-trade, grocery and RTD. The business believes the next two years are a real window for challenger brands in spirits, and it intends to make the most of it. The Role This is a new leadership role. Until now, finance has been led by a founder with fractional support. Your job is to bring finance in-house, take ownership of operations, and become the person the CEO turns to for a straight answer on what the numbers mean. This isn’t a traditional controller role. You’ll sit on the senior leadership team as a peer to the Heads of Sales and Marketing. Some things need fixing, and some need building from scratch. What You’ll Be Doing: Build and own the financial model, and use it to advise on how to grow faster and more profitably Lead annual planning and budgeting, and keep forecasts current as the business changes Track channel and product economics across on-trade, grocery, RTD and export, so the business knows where every pound of growth comes from Support fundraising and investor reporting, including the model and due diligence Reporting, Cash and Control Own monthly management accounts and a board pack that tells the story behind the numbers Own the cash flow forecast, and flag early when a decision will change the cash position Keep costs, controls and statutory accounts in order alongside external accountants on audit and tax Build a finance function that’s fast, reliable and fit for a business growing at pace Operations Take ownership of supply, production, stock and logistics Manage key supplier relationships and terms Set up the operational and financial foundations for new export markets Cross-functional Partnership Partner with Sales on commercial planning, pricing and trade terms, with clear ownership on each side Shape company strategy and OKRs as an active member of the senior leadership team Lead by influence across the business, not just within finance How We’ll Know It’s Working A financial model and forecast the CEO and board trust and use to make decisions Clear visibility of cash, margin and channel economics, with no surprises Management accounts and board reporting delivered on a predictable timetable Operations that keep pace with 70% growth What You’ll Bring A professional accounting qualification (ACA, ACCA, CIMA or equivalent) Experience in a fast-growing consumer business, ideally FMCG, drinks or another brand-led business Strong modelling, forecasting and cash management, used to drive commercial decisions Experience running operations alongside finance, or a clear appetite to take it on The judgement to give the CEO a straight answer, and the confidence to push back Strong interpersonal leadership: you build trust, influence peers and fit a close-knit senior team Comfort in a small, fast-moving team where you’ll help shape the process Bonus points: Experience in spirits, drinks or on-trade led businesses, grocery retail or export markets, or supporting a fundraise or investor reporting. 🥃 Why This Role 🤔 Join at a pivotal moment, with two years of opportunity ahead for challenger spirits brands Build the finance and operations functions outright, rather than inheriting someone else’s decisions Sit on the leadership team as a genuine peer, shaping strategy and OKRs from day one