Financial Director

Role Overview

FD Recruit is collaborating with a highly respected, design-led, creative, luxury B2C/B2B global retailer who provides high-quality products in the gift sector. They are seeking an experienced Finance Director who can hit the ground running and provide strong, steady financial leadership during the next phase of the company’s growth. Working hand-in-hand with the COO on the day-to-day running of the business and bringing immediate clarity on cash, margin, planning, and commercial decisions. You will manage, lead, and develop a Financial Controller and a small finance team, as well as support close partnerships across operations, commercial, and creative functions, and ownership of legal and commercial contracts across the business, supporting ongoing projects where required.

This is a role for someone who is a ‘doer, not a delegator’ and has done it before, knows what “good” looks like in a multi-channel, multi-market consumer business, and is energized by getting into the detail quickly while holding a clear strategic line.

Key Responsibilities

• Provide steady, credible financial leadership from day one, partnering closely with the COO on operational and commercial decisions.
• Actively contribute to commercial decision-making across the business – pricing, channel investment, market choices, and trade-offs between growth, margin, and cash.
• Monitor and manage the control environment to ensure an appropriate balance between allowing managers to operate dynamically and protecting the business’ finances.
• Liaise with external financial advisers in relation to tax, accounting, insurance, and related matters.
• Lead the production of timely, accurate, and insightful monthly financial reports for the senior management team.
• Provide deeper financial and commercial analysis where required, presenting the results and implications to non-financial managers.
• Continue to develop reporting to reflect the dynamic nature of the business’ operating environment.
• Oversee treasury and foreign exchange management.
• Own cash forecasting and working capital management across an inventory-led, seasonal business.
• Manage and lead the budgeting cycle and rolling forecasts, partnering with department heads to set realistic, ambitious plans that they will own and deliver.
• Provide robust scenario planning to support decisions on inventory, sourcing, pricing, and market expansion.
• Provide deeper insight into margin by channel – D2C, B2B/wholesale, and by market – to drive commercial action.
• Partner with operations on inventory planning, ensuring stock supports service across markets without tying up unnecessary cash.
• Own the financial implications of an outsourced production model with internal distribution and logistics, including landed cost, freight, FX, and the financial impact of tariff changes.
• Lead UK and US tax and VAT/Sales Tax compliance, and other markets.
• Own transfer pricing across the group, ensuring a structure that is compliant, efficient, and fit for international growth.
• Stay ahead of tariff changes affecting imports and cross-border movement, advising the business on commercial and operational responses.
• Take ownership of all legal contracts across the business, working with external counsel where appropriate.
• Bring commercial rigour to negotiations and key decisions, ensuring terms protect the business and support its growth ambitions.
• Help the leadership team navigate the legal and commercial implications of operating across multiple jurisdictions.
• Provide support for IT and operations where needed, to ensure the technology stack supports a multi-channel, multi-market business reliably and securely.
• Review existing financial systems and operations to ensure it is fit for purpose, identifying improvements and streamlining.
• Work effectively with NetSuite, Excel, and Shopify, ensuring finance, commercial, and operational data flow through to a single, trusted view.
• Lead the finance team through the Financial Controller, supporting their development and setting clear standards for accuracy, accountability, and commercial curiosity.
• Build further stability and confidence to the team while raising the bar on how finance partners with the wider business.
• Identify any critical gaps and make recommendations for the function as the business continues to grow.