Finance Director

Harper May is working with a founder-led property and construction business that has grown substantially over the past five years through a combination of organic expansion and strategic acquisition. The group now operates across residential and commercial development, with a strengthened balance sheet and ambitious pipeline for the coming three years. Recent investment in infrastructure and headcount means the finance function needs reinforcement at the top, and the business is now seeking a Finance Director to lead financial operations and reporting. The Role Reporting to the Chief Executive, you will manage the full finance function and sit at the heart of strategic decision-making. You will own financial planning, statutory compliance, project accounting, and cash management across a portfolio of live developments. This is a hands-on role: you will oversee a team of three, maintain relationships with external advisers and funders, and ensure the finance infrastructure scales with the business. • Establish and execute the annual budget and rolling forecast process; challenge assumptions and flag commercial risks • Own project-level financial tracking, including WIP, cost control, and margin reporting • Manage bank facilities, working capital, and funding rounds; support investment committee discussions • Lead year-end statutory accounts, audit, and tax compliance; manage external auditor relationships • Design and strengthen financial controls and governance frameworks as the group scales • Build and mentor the finance team; implement tools and processes that reduce manual work and improve visibility • Provide the CEO and Board with timely, accurate financial commentary and recommendations What we are looking for • ACA, ACCA, or CIMA qualified with at least seven years in senior finance roles • Hands-on experience in property development, housebuilding, or construction contracting environments • Demonstrable understanding of project accounting, margin tracking, and development cash flow management • Comfort with spreadsheet modelling, financial systems, and the mechanics of funding and valuation • Direct Board exposure and confidence presenting to non-finance stakeholders • Leadership track record; ability to recruit, develop, and motivate a finance team