Harper May is working with a UK-listed retail group operating 200+ stores across mainstream fashion and homeware.

The business generates sustained revenues in the mid-£500m range, operates across owned and concession channels, and is backed by institutional shareholders.

Following the departure of its previous CFO, the group is now seeking a Chief Financial Officer to rejoin the executive team and lead financial strategy through a period of operational refocus and channel modernisation.

The Role
Reporting directly to the CEO and the Board, you will own all aspects of financial leadership: group strategy, capital allocation, financial controls, and performance management.

This is a full CFO mandate.

The business is mature, operationally sound, and well-governed - the challenge now is to optimise working capital efficiency, support the acceleration of online channels, and build stakeholder confidence in a refreshed financial narrative.

• Develop and communicate a multi-year financial strategy that balances store productivity, ecommerce growth, and margin protection across the estate
• Lead budgeting, forecasting, and monthly performance reporting to the Board with commercial insight and rigorous analysis
• Partner with the Chief Operating Officer and buying teams to drive inventory discipline and cash conversion
• Oversee capital expenditure decisions, lease negotiations, and working capital management across a complex store estate
• Strengthen finance function capability, systems, and governance to support scale and reduce reliance on manual processes
• Lead statutory reporting, audit relationships, and compliance with listed company requirements
• Build and manage a finance team of 8-12 people aligned to group priorities and cultural standards

What we are looking for

• ACA, ACCA, or CIMA qualified with proven CFO or Deputy CFO experience in multi-channel retail
• Demonstrated success in cash flow optimisation, inventory management, and margin protection in a retail environment
• Experience operating as a trusted member of a listed company Board
• Strong systems knowledge and comfort with financial planning tools and ERP platforms
• Leadership maturity, clarity of communication, and the ability to influence without authority
• Knowledge of ecommerce economics and omnichannel financial dynamics is a genuine advantage