Finance Director

Harper May is working with an independent, founder–led restaurant operator managing a diverse portfolio across London and the South East. The business has expanded steadily over the past five years through a combination of organic growth and selective acquisitions, with a reputation for strong operational discipline and customer loyalty. Recent investment has enabled accelerated site development and a significant uplift in back–office capability. The operator is now seeking a Finance Director to lead financial strategy, embed commercial rigour across the estate, and support the next phase of expansion.

The Role Reporting to the Managing Director, you will head the finance function and serve as a strategic commercial partner to the leadership team. You will combine forward–looking financial planning with hands–on oversight of performance, working closely with operations to drive profitability and support capital deployment across new and existing venues.

• Develop and own financial strategy aligned to growth targets and shareholder returns
• Build robust monthly and annual budgeting and forecasting processes across all sites
• Work directly with operations leadership on unit economics, labour productivity, and cost management
• Lead capital planning and investor relations, including securing and managing external funding
• Oversee site–level P&L reporting, pricing analysis, and margin optimisation
• Ensure strong financial controls, audit readiness, and compliance with statutory obligations
• Recruit, develop, and mentor a growing finance team to support scaling

What we are looking for

• ACA, ACCA, or CIMA qualified with demonstrable senior finance leadership experience
• Track record in hospitality, food and beverage, or multi–unit retail environments
• Commercial acumen with genuine interest in operations and unit–level performance
• Comfort working hands–on in a fast–moving, growth–focused business
• Experience leading financial transformation, new site launches, or systems integration
• Clear communicator able to distil complexity and influence at board level