Harper May is working with a founder-led media and events business that produces large-scale conferences, festivals, and branded experiences across the UK and Europe. The company has grown consistently over the past five years and now operates across multiple revenue streams-ticketing, sponsorship, content licensing, and venue management. Recent expansion into continental markets has increased operational complexity, and the board recognises that finance leadership needs to scale ahead of the next phase of growth. The business is now seeking a Chief Financial Officer to build financial infrastructure, drive profitability, and provide strategic counsel to the founder and board.

The Role

You will join as a core member of the leadership team, reporting directly to the founder and board chair. The role combines hands-on finance management with strategic partnership across operations, commercial, and event delivery. You will own financial planning, control frameworks, and insight that directly inform investment decisions, pricing strategy, and resource allocation in a fast-moving, calendar-driven business.

• Establish and oversee financial planning, forecasting, and management accounts across multiple event portfolios and geographic markets
• Build and lead a finance function from current capacity, defining processes, standards, and team capability
• Develop financial controls and governance structures appropriate to a growing, multi-site operation with complex project management
• Partner with commercial and operations leadership to evaluate investment opportunities, sponsorship deals, and venue partnerships
• Manage banking relationships, cash flow forecasting, and working capital to support event delivery cycles
• Oversee statutory reporting, tax compliance, and relationships with external advisers
• Provide the board with clear, timely reporting on performance, cash position, and emerging risks

What we are looking for

• ACA, ACCA, or CIMA qualified with senior finance leadership experience, ideally in media, events, hospitality, or project-based businesses
• Proven track record building and leading finance teams in a growth environment
• Strong technical accounting and financial control knowledge, with experience designing systems and processes from the ground up
• Commercial acumen-comfortable with P&L responsibility and able to partner with non-finance stakeholders on investment and pricing decisions
• Experience managing stakeholder reporting to boards, investors, or advisory bodies
• Comfort working in a founder-led culture with high operational pace and ambition