Interim Chief Operating & Financial Officer (COFO)
Posted Today by MA Executive Search
£120,000 Per year
Undetermined
Remote
England, United Kingdom
Summary: The role of Interim Chief Operating & Financial Officer (COFO) involves building the financial and operational framework for a consumer health and beauty business preparing for a China-first cross-border e-commerce launch. This hands-on position requires the candidate to establish core financial controls and oversee operations while preparing the organization for future growth and investor diligence. The engagement is interim, lasting 6-9 months, with potential for permanent placement. The role is remote-first but may require international travel.
Key Responsibilities:
- Build core financial controls, reporting, forecasting, and cash governance.
- Implement ERP and operating cadence from first principles.
- Establish SKU-level unit economics and margin visibility.
- Oversee China CBEC operations via third-party platforms.
- Embed operational discipline across finance, ops, and commercial teams.
- Prepare the business for investor diligence and fundraising.
Key Skills:
- Experience as an interim or fractional CFO/COO/COFO.
- Background in building finance and operations from scratch in early-stage or pre-revenue businesses.
- Experience in consumer goods, beauty, personal care, FMCG, or CPG.
- Strong exposure to e-commerce, DTC, or marketplace models.
- Practical understanding of China cross-border operations.
- Ability to work in founder-led, ambiguous environments.
- Commercially grounded and culturally fluent.
Salary (Rate): £120,000 yearly
City: undetermined
Country: United Kingdom
Working Arrangements: remote
IR35 Status: undetermined
Seniority Level: undetermined
Industry: Other
Interim Chief Operating & Financial Officer (COFO) Consumer | E-commerce | China Cross-Border
Location: UK-based (remote-first) with international travel
Engagement: Interim (6–9 months) with a clear path to permanent
Start: Immediate / short notice
Compensation: £100,000–£120,000 pro-rated + meaningful equity on conversion
The Opportunity
A founder-led, early-stage consumer health & beauty business is preparing for China-first cross-border e-commerce (CBEC) launch ahead of a planned 2026 investment round. The business has secured:
- A China-based commercial team
- Established CBEC platform access (e.g. Tmall Global, Douyin)
- Supply-chain and logistics partners
- A cornerstone European supplier
It is now seeking an Interim COFO to personally build the financial and operational backbone from zero and prepare the organisation for scale. This is a hands-on builder role, not an advisory or optimisation mandate.
Role Focus (Phase 1)
- Build core financial controls, reporting, forecasting and cash governance
- Implement ERP and operating cadence from first principles
- Establish SKU-level unit economics and margin visibility
- Oversee China CBEC operations via third-party platforms
- Embed operational discipline across finance, ops and commercial teams
- Prepare the business for investor diligence and fundraising
Longer-term, the role will support planning for domestic China and ASEAN expansion, but Phase 1 is deliberately focused on CBEC execution and infrastructure build.
Who This Will Suit
You are likely to be an interim or fractional CFO / COO / COFO who has:
- Built finance and operations from scratch in early-stage or pre-revenue businesses
- Experience in consumer goods, beauty, personal care, FMCG or CPG
- Strong exposure to e-commerce, DTC or marketplace models
- Practical understanding of China cross-border operations
- Comfort working in founder-led, ambiguous environments
This suits a true builder, not a delegator or advisor. You are commercially grounded, culturally fluent, and prepared to be deeply hands-on in the first six months.
Interested? If you are immediately available and motivated by building something meaningful with long-term upside, we’d welcome a confidential conversation. Please apply or message directly to discuss further.