Finance Director

Sowena Group has been retained by a market leading online fashion retailer known for delivering trend-led, premium products. Our client has seen explosive growth and ambitious expansion – both organically and through acquisition. With revenues forecasted to again hit double-digit growth, the business is scaling rapidly and is preparing for private equity investment.

Our client is hiring a Finance Director with a strong commercial orientation to partner with the executive team, spearhead strategic financial decision-making, and support the company's journey to becoming a £300m+ revenue business.

Role Summary

The Finance Director will act as a strategic partner to the CFO and wider leadership team, shaping and delivering their ambitious growth strategy. This is a high-impact, hands-on role focused on value creation, commercial decision support, financial planning, and investment readiness. You will also lead the finance function, ensuring operational excellence and best-in-class reporting to support performance and scale.

Key Responsibilities

Strategic Finance Leadership

• Own and drive the company’s financial strategy in alignment with the wider growth plan.
• Play a lead role in PE readiness including due diligence, modelling, and investor relations.
• Identify and evaluate commercial opportunities including international expansion, category extension, pricing optimisation, and acquisition targets.

Commercial & Operational Finance

• Develop robust financial models to support strategic decisions, scenario planning, and ROI analysis.
• Partner with Marketing, Buying, Merchandising, and Operations to drive profitable growth and margin enhancement.
• Enhance the company’s understanding of unit economics, customer lifetime value, and acquisition costs.

Financial Planning, Analysis & Control

• Oversee all budgeting, forecasting, and long-range planning activities.
• Deliver accurate and timely monthly reporting, KPIs, and insights to the board and investors.
• Drive improvements in margin, cash conversion, and working capital efficiency.

M&A and Integration

• Evaluate and execute on strategic M&A opportunities.
• Lead integration of acquired businesses including financial consolidation and synergy realisation.

Governance, Risk, and Compliance

• Ensure robust financial controls, compliance, and risk management processes are in place.
• Act as a key point of contact for auditors, advisors, and (in future) investors.

Systems & Process Improvement

• Leverage Microsoft Business Central to improve automation, reporting, and scalability.
• Continually assess and evolve processes to support a high-growth environment.

Candidate Profile

Essential Experience

• Proven experience in a senior finance role within a fast-paced, high-growth consumer/retail or e-commerce environment.
• Demonstrated ability to drive commercial performance and strategic initiatives.
• Experience in private equity or investment readiness desirable but not essential
• M&A exposure – ideally having experience with deals from evaluation through integration.

Desirable Attributes

• Energetic, strategic, and data-led thinker with strong commercial instincts.
• Hands-on and adaptable leader – thrives in entrepreneurial, high-growth settings.
• Excellent communicator with strong stakeholder management and influencing skills.
• Systems literate (ERP experience preferred – ideally Microsoft Business Central).

Why this business?

• Transformational Role: Be at the heart of one of the UK’s fastest-growing fashion businesses.
• Growth Opportunity: Shape and execute a growth plan aimed at £300m+ T/O within 3 years.
• Strategic Impact: Work closely with founders and be instrumental in PE transaction and future value creation.
• Innovative Culture: Join a business that combines creativity, data, and ambition to deliver unique value to consumers worldwide.