Corporate Strategy Director

Location: London

Education

Competitive Package

We are partnering with a leader in the UK higher education and professional training sector, empowering people worldwide to build and transform their careers. They are seeking a Corporate Strategy Director to play a pivotal role in shaping and advancing the organisation’s corporate strategic agenda and value creation plan. The successful candidate will lead high-impact projects across the organisation, working closely with the executive leadership team to support the design, execution, and monitoring of the corporate-level strategic plan.

This role provides analytical, research, and programmatic support for corporate-level and business unit strategic initiatives, driving clarity, alignment, and execution excellence across the organisation. It offers the opportunity to shape the long-term direction while delivering immediate value through targeted, high-profile projects.

The successful candidate will be a highly motivated self-starter with proven ability to work in an agile manner in a fast-paced environment, both independently and collaboratively.

Key Responsibilities:

• Support the development and implementation of the corporate strategic plan in partnership with the executive team.
• Translate strategic priorities into actionable initiatives, ensuring alignment across the group and business units.
• Provide in-depth analysis of industry trends, regulatory changes, and competitive dynamics to inform decision-making.
• Conduct financial modelling, scenario planning, and business case development for key initiatives.
• Deliver bespoke research and analysis to support executive and board-level discussions.
• Lead and coordinate high-impact, cross-functional strategic projects that span multiple business units.
• Drive clarity of scope, ensure alignment of outcomes, and support execution against strategic objectives.
• Manage timelines, risks, and progress reporting for key initiatives.
• Build and maintain strong working relationships with senior stakeholders across the organisation.
• Collaborate with functional teams to gain buy-in and ensure delivery of recommendations.
• Provide support for external engagements, including strategic partnerships and potential corporate development opportunities.
• Support due diligence and assessment of strategic synergies for potential partnerships or acquisitions.
• Work with integration teams on relevant strategic topics related to post-merger integration processes.

The Ideal Candidate:

• Proven experience in strategic planning, execution, and project management at the corporate level.
• Experience in strategy consulting or within a corporate strategy function.
• Exposure to education, professional services, digital transformation, technology, or knowledge-based industries is advantageous.
• Strong financial modelling, analytical, and problem-solving skills.
• Track record of delivering strategic projects in areas such as growth strategies, internationalisation, digital transformation, and value creation.
• Excellent stakeholder management and communication skills, with the ability to engage senior leaders.
• Self-motivated and adaptable, capable of managing multiple priorities in a fast-paced environment.
• Proven track record in driving complex operational strategy projects such as operating model creation, business transformation, and related strategic initiatives.

Head of UK – Commercial Director

Location: London, United Kingdom

IT Consulting

Competitive Package

We are exclusively partnered with a high-growth, PE-backed European technology consultancy that is redefining the ERP and digital transformation space. With a strong foothold in continental Europe and flagship clients in the automotive and manufacturing sectors, the business is now launching its UK growth journey—anchored by a major existing relationship with a world-renowned automotive brand.

This is a rare, high-impact opportunity to establish and lead the UK business from the ground up. You will be the company’s senior representative in the market—combining strategic leadership, commercial drive, and operational oversight to accelerate growth in one of Europe’s most competitive consulting sectors.

Key Responsibilities:

• Leading the UK operation with full commercial and legal authority, reporting directly to Group leadership.
• Driving growth from an existing anchor client into new ERP and digital transformation engagements across manufacturing, automotive, and defence.
• Building and maintaining senior client relationships, winning large-scale ERP consulting projects (SAP, Oracle, Infor, etc.).
• Establishing and grow a London-based consulting team, ensuring delivery excellence and client satisfaction.
• Representing the business at the highest level in the UK market, building brand presence and credibility.

The Ideal Candidate:

• Senior commercial leader with significant experience within IT consultancies.
• Deep expertise in ERP consulting with a strong UK network in manufacturing and industrial sectors.
• Proven track record of winning and delivering large transformation programmes.
• Comfortable bridging corporate structure with entrepreneurial agility.
• Strong communicator and relationship builder with the credibility to operate at C-level.
• This role offers the chance to take the helm of a new market entry, shape its success story, and work with some of the most prestigious names in industry.

For more information, please apply for this role or contact Alba Amigo at alba.amigo@phippscameron.com

Location: Near Mannheim, Germany
Sector: White Collar Consulting & Professional Services
Ownership: Private Equity-backed (Buy & Build)

We are recruiting a Chief Financial Officer for a consulting and professional services business headquartered near Mannheim. The company is private equity-backed and pursuing a dynamic, international buy-and-build growth strategy.

The CFO will be a strategic partner to the CEO and investors, responsible for leading the finance function, professionalising reporting, and supporting integration of acquisitions. This role requires strong operational finance skills and proven experience in PE-backed growth environments.

Key Responsibilities:

• Lead and develop the finance function to support rapid growth.
• Drive financial planning, budgeting, forecasting, and liquidity management.
• Ensure high-quality management reporting, KPIs, and dashboards for internal and investor use.
• Oversee M&A integration from a financial perspective, ensuring smooth onboarding of acquired entities.
• Partner with management and investors on strategic decision-making.
• Ensure compliance with statutory, tax, and regulatory requirements.

Candidate Profile:

• Experienced finance leader with a strong background in consulting/professional services or similar people-driven sectors.
• Prior CFO or Head of Finance experience in a PE-backed environment.
• Proven track record in buy-and-build or M&A-heavy growth strategies.
• Hands-on, pragmatic, and commercially minded.
• Strong communication skills in both German and English.
• This is an outstanding opportunity to join a high-growth, PE-backed company at a pivotal stage of expansion, with direct impact on value creation and exit readiness.

Job Description: Chief Financial Officer (CFO)

Overview

We are seeking an experienced and dynamic Chief Financial Officer (CFO) to join our leadership team. This role is pivotal in driving the financial strategy, planning, and operations of our organization. The ideal candidate brings a wealth of experience in the C-Suite, preferably within the consultancy or people services industry, and has a successful track record of supporting Private Equity (PE) exits.

We are committed to fostering a diverse and inclusive workplace. We welcome applicants from all backgrounds and experiences to bring their unique perspectives to our team.

Responsibilities

As the CFO, you will:

• Strategic Leadership: Collaborate with the executive team to steer the company’s financial strategy and business direction, ensuring alignment with our overall goals.
• Financial Planning & Analysis: Oversee financial planning, budgeting, forecasting, and reporting operations. Develop robust analytics to provide data-driven insights for decision-making.
• Private Equity Management: Lead preparations for PE exit, including managing investor relationships, optimizing financial structures, and ensuring regulatory compliance.
• Operational Excellence: Drive efficiencies across finance operations, identifying and implementing industry-leading financial systems and processes.
• Risk Management: Assess financial risks and opportunities, and implement effective risk mitigation strategies.
• Team Leadership: Cultivate a collaborative and high-performing finance team by fostering professional growth, diversity, and inclusion.
• Stakeholder Engagement: Serve as a trusted advisor to the CEO, Board of Directors, and investors, effectively communicating financial insights and updates.

Qualifications

To be successful in this role, you bring:

• Proven experience as a CFO or senior financial executive, ideally within the consultancy or people services industry.
• Track record of leading or playing a key role in a successful Private Equity (PE) exit.
• Strong understanding of financial principles, regulations, and best practices.
• Expertise in financial modeling, planning, and analytics.
• Experience building, mentoring, and leading finance teams in a people-first way.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, with a proven ability to collaborate across cross-functional teams.
• Bachelor's degree in Finance, Accounting, Economics, or related field; Advanced degree (MBA) and/or CPA is strongly preferred.
• A commitment to upholding diversity, equity, and inclusion in every aspect of your role.

Day-to-Day

Every day as a CFO, you’ll:

• Lead strategic discussions with the executive team and board on financial objectives and progress toward goals.
• Oversee the preparation and presentation of detailed financial reports, including profit and loss statements, balance sheets, and cash flow projections.
• Guide your team to provide actionable insights based on financial data to drive business performance.
• Collaborate with legal and compliance teams to ensure adherence to financial regulations and standards.
• Manage negotiations with investors, banks, and other financial partners as needed.
• Create and support a culture of innovation, accountability, and inclusivity within the finance team.
• Proactively monitor business risks and implement necessary financial safeguards.

We are excited to find someone who thrives in a dynamic environment and is eager to shape the future of our organization. Join us as we make an impact together!

Equal Employment Opportunity: We are an equal opportunity employer and are committed to creating an inclusive environment where everyone feels valued, respected, and supported to succeed.

Director of M&A Integration

Overview

We are partnering with a leading private equity–backed education group that has doubled in size over the past three years and is accelerating its global expansion. This high-growth organization is committed to reshaping the education landscape through geographic growth and product innovation. To support this scale, we are seeking a Director of M&A Integration to ensure seamless post-merger integration across its international portfolio, driving operational excellence and unlocking the full value of each acquisition.

This is an unparalleled opportunity to play a pivotal role in shaping the integration strategy of a PE-backed, high-growth organization within the vibrant and meaningful sector of education. The successful candidate will bring expertise in M&A integration and operational transition services (OTS) while exuding resilience, adaptability, and thought leadership in complex environments.

The Role

As the Director of M&A Integration, you will:

1. Lead Global Integration Across Diverse Geographies:

   • Oversee post-merger integration across the UK, Canada, Australia, and Asia-Pacific regions, aligning acquired entities with the organization’s objectives, culture, and operational frameworks.
   • Design and implement a best-in-class integration framework to navigate cross-border complexities while ensuring consistency of execution.

2. Develop and Implement Integration Strategy:

   • Partner with the deal team during diligence stages to define integration strategy early in the M&A lifecycle.
   • Work collaboratively with functional leads across finance, HR, IT, legal, commercial, and operations to ensure seamless alignment with the group’s strategic goals.

3. Operational Excellence and Synergy Realization:

   • Establish robust processes to track and deliver synergies post-integration, ensuring all acquisitions meet their financial and operational objectives.
   • Drive structured post-merger reviews to gain insights and elevate the effectiveness of future integrations.

4. Champion Culture and Change Management:

   • Lead the charge in driving cultural alignment while respecting the unique identities of acquired businesses.
   • Foster inclusivity and collaboration, ensuring workforce transitions are rooted in engagement and clear communication.

5. Stakeholder Management at the Highest Level:

   • Report regularly to the leadership team and Board, providing accurate and actionable insights on integration progress, milestones, risks, and outcomes.
   • Provide the gravitas and expertise needed to engage with senior stakeholders and investors, ensuring alignment across strategic and financial objectives.

Candidate Profile

We are looking for candidates with demonstrable experience and capabilities, including but not limited to:

Experience:

• Proven Senior-Level Expertise:

  • Extensive experience (7-10+ years) in M&A integration, operational transition services (OTS), or comparable leadership roles.
  • A proven track record of delivering complex post-merger integrations, particularly across geographies and functions, in white-collar, people-focused industries such as education, professional services, or related sectors.

• Cross-Border Integration Knowledge:

  • Hands-on expertise in integrating businesses across international markets, understanding the cultural, operational, and financial nuances of different regions.

Skills & Competencies:

• Strong commercial acumen with the ability to link integration efforts to broader strategic and financial goals.
• Exceptional leadership skills and the gravitas to engage and influence C-suite, Board members, and investors.
• Outstanding project management capabilities, with a track record of on-time, on-budget integration delivery.
• Deep understanding of change management and the ability to balance empathy and execution during organizational transitions.
• Resilience, adaptability, and a problem-solving mindset in high-growth, fast-paced environments.

Education:

• Bachelor’s degree in business, finance, management, or a related field (MBA or equivalent advanced degree strongly preferred).

Technical Acumen:

• Proficiency in integration dashboards, financial modeling, project management software, and systems alignments.

Cultural Sensitivity and Values Alignment:

• A collaborative, team-first mindset with a demonstrated ability to foster equity, diversity, and inclusion in global organizations.

Why This Role?

This is a career-defining role for a seasoned M&A professional looking to leave a tangible impact. Joining at this stage of growth, you will:

• Operate at the forefront of a global M&A strategy, owning integration for an ambitious PE-backed education group as it transforms into an international powerhouse.
• Shape and execute a vision of seamless and scalable integrations, ensuring every acquisition delivers maximum value for the business and its stakeholders.
• Be part of a purpose-driven organization that is expanding access to high-quality education at a global level.
• Thrive in an environment that is high-growth, fast-paced, and relentlessly focused on achieving excellence while honoring cultural richness across teams and geographies.

Join Us:

We are committed to building a diverse, equitable, and inclusive workplace where every voice is valued, and every background is celebrated. If you’re ready to take on the challenge of leading integration within a fast-moving, innovative organization and are inspired by the opportunity to transform the global education sector, we encourage you to apply.

Finance Director – Hull (Hyrbrid working)

I’m working exclusively with a high-growth international group that is looking to appoint a Finance Director for its UK operations. This senior leadership role reports directly into the Group CFO and sits on the senior management team. It’s an opportunity to lead the UK finance function and play a key role in shaping performance, controls and strategy.

The role

• Lead, motivate and develop the UK finance team, creating a high-performing function that adds value to the wider business

• Deliver timely and accurate monthly management accounts, financial reporting and analysis for the UK entity

• Oversee statutory reporting, annual audit processes and tax compliance, ensuring deadlines are consistently met

• Manage budgeting and forecasting cycles, challenging assumptions and supporting informed decision-making

• Take ownership of UK treasury and cash management, including short- and long-term forecasting and banking relationships

• Develop and enhance financial systems and processes to ensure best practice, efficiency and strong internal controls

• Partner with senior leadership to provide commercial insight, identify risks and support growth initiatives

• Monitor and analyse project profitability and the wider cost base to drive margin improvement

• Ensure robust corporate governance and compliance with all regulatory and legal requirements

• Act as a trusted advisor to the Group CFO and senior leadership team, influencing strategy and supporting major business decisions

The profile we’re looking for

• Qualified accountant (ACA/ACCA/CIMA) with proven experience in senior finance leadership

• Strong technical background in financial and management accounting, consolidations and group reporting

• Demonstrable treasury and cash management experience

• Track record of implementing best practice systems, controls and governance

• Excellent leadership and communication skills, able to build credibility across the organisation

This is a fantastic opportunity to join a business at an exciting stage in its journey, with the scope to make a significant impact across the UK operations.

Title: Finance Manager, 15 months FTC

Location: Central London

Sector: Pharmaceutical

Salary: £75,000 - £85,000 per annum

We are delighted to be partnering with a global, fast-growing pharmaceutical business that is expanding its commercial finance team and seeking to appoint a Finance Manager on a fixed-term contract. With operations across multiple jurisdictions, the business is experiencing rapid growth and requires a strong finance professional to support budgeting, forecasting, and strategic decision-making.

Reporting into the Head of FP&A, the successful candidate will play a key role in providing high-quality financial insights, supporting global market teams, and ensuring accurate reporting across both local and central functions.

Key Responsibilities:

• Delivering management reporting against budget and prior year for selected markets and head office functions
• Leading budgeting and forecasting processes across multiple geographies
• Partnering with senior stakeholders to analyse business performance and identify opportunities to drive revenue growth, margin improvement, and cost optimisation
• Ensuring accurate financial reporting and compliance during month-end and year-end close
• Supporting projects linked to acquisitions, integrations, and market launches
• Driving continuous improvements in processes and reporting efficiency

The Ideal Candidate:

• Qualified accountant (ACA/ACCA/CIMA)
• Strong FP&A and commercial finance background, ideally within a global organisation
• Excellent Excel and data analysis skills, with the ability to turn complex datasets into actionable insight
• Confident communicator, capable of presenting to and influencing senior stakeholders
• Highly organised, detail-oriented, and able to prioritise effectively in fast-paced environments
• An interest in the pharmaceutical or healthcare sector is highly desirable