Head of Finance - Commercial & Control

Head of Commercial Financial Planning & Control

Location: Central London (Hybrid)

Salary: £80,000 - £100,000 (DOE) + Benefits

Benefits include 25 days holiday, 6% employer pension contribution, private medical insurance, life assurance, employee assistance programme and additional wellbeing benefits.

Company

Stanton House is partnering with a private equity-backed international consulting business to appoint a senior commercial finance leader into its UK operation.

The organisation delivers large-scale transformation, technology, digital and advisory services across both public and private sector clients. Following a period of restructuring, leadership change and operational reset, the UK business has returned to profitability and is entering the next phase of growth.

This is a business that is rebuilding, not maintaining. Significant investment is being made in commercial performance, forecasting accuracy, operational controls and management information to support future expansion.

Role

Reporting directly to the UK CFO, this is the number two finance position within the UK business.

The successful candidate will lead a medium-sized finance team and take ownership of commercial finance, financial planning, forecasting, project profitability and financial performance across a consulting operation generating more than £20m in revenue.

This is a highly visible leadership role that combines commercial finance leadership with operational finance responsibility. It requires someone capable of influencing senior stakeholders while remaining hands‑on in improving reporting, controls, forecasting processes and management information.

The position offers a genuine opportunity to shape the future finance function and build the foundations for future progression into a Director‑level role.

Responsibilities

• Act as the lead commercial finance partner to the UK CFO and senior leadership team.
• Lead budgeting, forecasting and financial planning processes across the business.
• Improve forecasting accuracy, revenue visibility and commercial decision‑making.
• Provide insight into project profitability, utilisation, resource deployment and margin performance.
• Strengthen management information, reporting capability and financial controls.
• Build and enhance commercial reporting processes and reporting infrastructure.
• Lead operational finance activities across a project‑based consulting environment.
• Challenge and support senior stakeholders on financial performance and business decisions.
• Oversee revenue recognition, project accounting and engagement profitability analysis.
• Manage and develop a medium‑sized finance team.
• Drive process improvement, automation opportunities and operational efficiency initiatives.
• Support the business through its ongoing transformation and growth programme.
• Partner with the wider international finance organisation to improve consistency and reporting standards.

Requirements

Essential

• Qualified accountant (ACA, ACCA, CIMA or equivalent).
• Commercial finance, FP&A or finance leadership experience within consulting, professional services, technology services or project‑based environments.
• Strong forecasting, budgeting and financial planning experience.
• Experience managing and developing finance teams.
• Ability to influence senior stakeholders and challenge commercial decision‑making.
• Strong understanding of project profitability, utilisation and revenue drivers.
• Track record of improving processes, controls and management reporting.
• Comfortable operating in a hands‑on environment where finance processes are still developing.
• Advanced Excel and financial modelling capability.
• Strong communication and business partnering skills.

Desired

• ACA qualification and audit training background.
• Experience within a £20m-£150m professional services or consulting business.
• Exposure to private equity‑backed environments.
• Experience supporting business turnaround, restructuring or transformation programmes.
• Knowledge of project accounting, resource planning and consulting business economics.
• Experience building finance processes and reporting frameworks from the ground up.
• Ambition to progress into a future Finance Director or Director‑level role.

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