Interim Associate Finance Director

Interim Finance Director - Must be available on site 3 days per week in Manchester. Non negotiable. Day Rate £500 - £600 DOE

A Bit About You: You are a passionate, hands-on finance leader who enjoys building businesses and contributing to ambitious growth agendas. You bring significant experience in senior finance roles, are comfortable operating at pace, and lead with confidence, high standards, and a solutions-focused approach.

What You’ll Bring

• A strong track record as a senior finance professional—either as a second-in-command in a complex, high-turnover organisation or leading the finance function in a fast-growing SME.
• Deep expertise across financial operations, compliance, and strategic planning, with a proven ability to drive high standards and establish robust financial frameworks.
• First-hand experience in the rollout and optimisation of ERP and business intelligence systems to improve transparency, efficiency, and data-driven decision-making.
• Demonstrable experience working within regulated sectors, with an advantage given to those from Big 4 backgrounds or with private equity exposure.
• An inspiring and collaborative leadership style, with the ability to guide and develop high-performing finance teams while effectively influencing senior stakeholders.
• Outstanding interpersonal and communication skills, with a natural ability to adapt your style across a range of business contexts and individuals.
• Thrive in a fast-moving environment where priorities shift quickly and a strong grasp of accountability and delivery is essential.
• Comfortable addressing complex or sensitive topics clearly and constructively with team members and executive stakeholders alike.
• Energetic and future-focused, with a proactive mindset that seeks out barriers to progress and removes them to accelerate growth and transformation.

Your Core Responsibilities

• Direct and support the finance function, ensuring strong leadership, structured performance development, and a culture of excellence.
• Collaborate closely with group-level stakeholders to define long-term strategy, embedding operational alignment that supports expansion, investment, and future M&A activity.
• Serve as a key financial advisor to the executive and board teams, ensuring clear visibility of financial results, forecasts, and operational impacts.
• Lead on budgeting, forecasting, investment appraisal, and working capital management, ensuring optimal use of resources and strong cashflow.
• Oversee the delivery of all financial reporting—including monthly performance reports, annual financial statements, and key metrics—aligned to group requirements.
• Manage treasury functions, aligning with group-wide policies while ensuring adequate liquidity, forecasting funding needs, and facilitating intra-group finance arrangements.
• Ensure efficient operation of all finance processes including accounts receivable/payable, general ledger, and other transactional functions.
• Ensure ongoing compliance with international and domestic accounting standards (IFRS, local GAAP), as well as relevant legal and regulatory frameworks.
• Develop and maintain internal policies around taxation and financial governance, seeking opportunities to enhance tax efficiency within the group framework.
• Design and oversee financial controls and procedures to improve operational integrity and mitigate risk.
• Lead on risk and assurance activities including enterprise risk management, insurance oversight, and general financial risk mitigation.
• Act as the UK-based liaison for internal and external auditors, as well as tax and insurance advisors, ensuring smooth collaboration and reporting.