Interim CFO

This interim CFO role sits within a PE-backed services SME with approximately £10m turnover, based in Manchester. The business is navigating a significant period of change and requires an experienced finance leader to quickly establish control, restore confidence, and align the finance function with the board's revised strategic direction. Office presence of at least three days per week is expected.

The successful candidate will bring both hands-on execution capability and the commercial rigour to challenge assumptions at board level. There is also the possibility for this interim engagement to transition into a permanent appointment, and the opportunity to build a profile with a leading North West private equity investor.

• Rapidly establish control of financial reporting and cashflow management to stabilise business performance.
• Formulate a financial plan aligned to the board's new strategic direction, applying commercial challenge to underlying assumptions.
• Supervise and mentor the small finance team to maintain operational efficiency throughout the transition.
• Manage relationships with external stakeholders including auditors and investors.
• Provide a stabilising leadership presence to the broader business during a critical period of change.
• Deliver a structured handover to an incoming permanent CFO where appropriate.

• Proven financial leadership experience gained in change environments, ideally within PE-backed or investor-backed businesses.
• Strong commercial and strategic skills, with the ability to rigorously appraise and challenge a new strategic plan.
• Ability to build board-level relationships quickly, both internally and with external stakeholders.
• Hands-on approach suited to working with a small finance team and clear deliverables.
• Comfortable with regular on-site presence in Manchester (minimum three days per week).
• Prior experience in an investor-backed business is advantageous but not essential.

Page Executive is an executive search and interim management firm operating globally. They partner with organisations across sectors to place senior and board-level leaders, including interim executives, into critical roles. This assignment is placed on behalf of a PE-backed SME client in the North West of England.