Job Description
Sowena Group has been retained by a market leading online fashion retailer known for delivering trend-led premium brand, our client has seen explosive growth and ambitious expansion – both organically and through acquisition. With FY25 revenues forecasted to again hit double-digit growth, the business is scaling rapidly and is preparing for private equity investment within the next 36 months.
Our client is hiring a Finance Director with a strong commercial orientation to partner with the executive team, spearhead strategic financial decision-making, and support the company's journey to becoming a £300m+ revenue business.
The Finance Director will act as a strategic partner to the CFO and wider leadership team, shaping and delivering their ambitious growth strategy. This is a high-impact, hands-on role focused on value creation, commercial decision support, financial planning, and investment readiness. You will also lead the finance function, ensuring operational excellence and best-in-class reporting to support performance and scale.
Responsibilities
Strategic Finance Leadership
- Own and drive the company’s financial strategy in alignment with the wider growth plan.
- Play a lead role in PE readiness including due diligence, modelling, and investor relations.
- Identify and evaluate commercial opportunities including international expansion, category extension, pricing optimisation, and acquisition targets.
Commercial & Operational Finance
- Develop robust financial models to support strategic decisions, scenario planning, and ROI analysis.
- Partner with Marketing, Buying, Merchandising, and Operations to drive profitable growth and margin enhancement.
- Enhance the company’s understanding of unit economics, customer lifetime value, and acquisition costs.
Financial Planning, Analysis & Control
- Oversee all budgeting, forecasting, and long-range planning activities.
- Deliver accurate and timely monthly reporting, KPIs, and insights to the board and investors.
- Drive improvements in margin, cash conversion, and working capital efficiency.
M&A and Integration
- Evaluate and execute on strategic M&A opportunities.
- Lead integration of acquired businesses including financial consolidation and synergy realisation.
Governance, Risk, and Compliance
- Ensure robust financial controls, compliance, and risk management processes are in place.
- Act as a key point of contact for auditors, advisors, and (in future) investors.
Systems & Process Improvement
- Leverage Microsoft Business Central to improve automation, reporting, and scalability.
- Continually assess and evolve processes to support a high-growth environment.
Qualifications/Skills
Essential Experience
- Proven experience in a senior finance role within a fast-paced, high-growth consumer/retail or e-commerce environment.
- Demonstrated ability to drive commercial performance and strategic initiatives.
- Experience in private equity or investment readiness desirable but not essential
- M&A exposure – ideally having experience with deals from evaluation through integration.
Desirable Attributes
- Energetic, strategic, and data-led thinker with strong commercial instincts.
- Hands-on and adaptable leader – thrives in entrepreneurial, high-growth settings.
- Excellent communicator with strong stakeholder management and influencing skills.
- Systems literate (ERP experience preferred – ideally Microsoft Business Central).
Details
