Finance Director Job Description

UK Finance Director Job Description

Comprehensive Reference Guide for the Commercial Finance Director Role at UK SMEs and Mid-Market Firms Across UK Companies Act 2006 Statutory Framework, FRS 102 UK GAAP, ICAEW/ACCA/CIMA Qualifications and Senior Commercial Finance Leadership at UK Privately-Held Firms

A UK Finance Director (FD) is the senior commercial finance leader at a UK SME or mid-market firm with senior accountability for the firm’s financial reporting and statutory accounts framework, financial planning and analysis (FP&A), management accounts framework, treasury and cash management, audit framework engagement, tax framework engagement, payroll framework leadership, financial controls infrastructure, finance team leadership, and the wider senior commercial finance leadership dimensions specific to UK privately-held firm operations. The Finance Director designation is the most common senior finance leadership designation at UK SMEs and UK mid-market firms (typical revenue £5-100 million) — distinct from the Director of Finance designation more typical at UK public sector and mission-driven sector organisations and from the Chief Financial Officer (CFO) designation more typical at UK scaling firms, UK FTSE-listed firms, UK PE-backed firms operating at scale, UK IPO-track firms, and larger UK firms operating with senior C-Suite tier organisational designs. The Finance Director typically reports to the Managing Director or Chief Executive at UK SMEs and mid-market firms, with senior commercial finance accountability extending across the firm’s principal commercial finance dimensions specific to UK privately-held firm operations. For the UK Director of Finance Job Description reference covering UK public sector, NHS, charity, university, housing and academy trust contexts see Director of Finance Job Description; for the UK CFO Job Description reference covering scaling, PE-backed, and listed firm contexts see CFO Job Description.

This UK Finance Director job description reference covers the role specification at UK SMEs and mid-market commercial firms, the principal UK financial reporting regulatory framework applicable to UK privately-held firm senior finance leadership, the ICAEW/ACCA/CIMA professional qualification framework, the principal Finance Director responsibilities across statutory accounts, management accounts, FP&A, treasury, audit, tax, and finance operations, the senior commercial distinction between Finance Director, Director of Finance, and Chief Financial Officer designations across UK firm contexts, the realistic compensation calibration by firm scale, and a sample Finance Director job description structure that UK SMEs and mid-market firms can adapt for senior Finance Director recruitment. For senior Finance Director recruitment service engagement see Finance Director Recruitment; for senior Finance Director hiring methodology guidance see our How to Hire a Finance Director Knowledge Centre guide; for delivery-model variants see Interim Finance Director and Fractional Finance Director; for senior commercial CFO and FD search at UK scale firms see sister site FD Capital for senior commercial CFO and FD authority.

The Finance Director Role at UK SMEs and Mid-Market Firms

The Finance Director at a UK SME or mid-market commercial firm is the senior commercial finance leader with senior accountability for the firm’s financial reporting and statutory accounts framework, management accounts framework, financial planning and analysis (FP&A), treasury and cash management, audit framework engagement, tax framework engagement, payroll framework leadership, financial controls infrastructure, finance team leadership, and the wider senior commercial finance dimensions specific to UK privately-held firm operations. The role typically reports to the Managing Director or Chief Executive at UK SMEs and mid-market firms, with senior commercial finance accountability extending across the firm’s commercial finance leadership at firm scale where senior C-Suite tier broader strategic finance leadership designs are not yet warranted by the firm’s commercial scale.

The senior FD designation is most prevalent at the following UK firm scenarios.

UK SMEs (typical revenue £5-30 million) — UK SMEs frequently appoint Finance Directors as senior commercial finance leaders combining hands-on senior finance delivery accountability with senior commercial finance strategy ownership. UK SME FD scope typically extends across direct hands-on statutory accounts preparation under FRS 102 framework or FRS 102 Section 1A small entities regime, hands-on monthly management accounts production, direct treasury and cash management, audit framework engagement at firms within statutory audit scope (typically £10.2 million turnover threshold for company audit requirements), tax framework engagement, payroll framework leadership, and the wider senior commercial finance dimensions specific to UK SME operations. UK SME FDs frequently operate with a small senior finance team typically including 2-4 senior finance team members.

UK mid-market firms (typical revenue £30-100 million) — UK mid-market commercial firms appoint Finance Directors as senior commercial finance leaders with broader senior finance scope across multiple finance functions. UK mid-market firm FD scope typically extends across senior team management of the firm’s senior finance team typically numbering 5-12 senior finance direct reports (typically including Financial Controller, Senior Management Accountant, Treasury Manager, Tax Manager, Financial Reporting Manager, FP&A Manager, depending on firm structure), senior FP&A leadership across multi-year planning horizons, senior audit committee or Board engagement on financial governance, senior bank and lender relationship management, and the wider senior commercial finance dimensions specific to UK mid-market privately-held firm operations.

UK owner-managed firms — UK owner-managed firms across the UK SME and mid-market scale frequently appoint Finance Directors as senior commercial finance leaders working closely with the founder-owner or family-owner shareholder group. Owner-managed firm FD scope typically extends across senior owner-shareholder engagement on commercial finance matters, senior commercial finance partnership with the founder-owner across strategic commercial dimensions, senior commercial finance leadership at firm scale where the FD operates as the senior finance partner to the owner-manager senior leadership team, and the wider senior commercial finance dimensions specific to UK owner-managed firm operations.

UK PE-backed SME and mid-market firms — UK PE-backed firms at SME and mid-market scale (typically PE platform firms with revenue £10-100 million) frequently appoint Finance Directors as senior commercial finance leaders working with the firm’s PE investor partnership. UK PE-backed firm FD scope typically extends across senior PE investor reporting framework, senior commercial value-creation plan delivery, senior commercial finance engagement on PE-backed firm commercial dimensions, M&A integration leadership at PE-backed firms with active bolt-on acquisition strategies, exit-readiness positioning toward trade sale or secondary buyout, and the wider senior commercial finance dimensions specific to UK PE-backed firm operations. UK PE-backed firm FDs frequently transition to CFO designation as the firm scales beyond the SME and mid-market scale.

UK family office and family-owned firms — UK family offices and UK family-owned firms frequently appoint Finance Directors as senior commercial finance leaders working with the family office governance structure. Family office FD scope operates with selected dimensions specific to family office commercial finance operations including family wealth structuring engagement at senior level, family office investment performance reporting, family office tax framework engagement (typically with external tax advisor support), and the wider commercial finance dimensions specific to UK family office operations.

UK manufacturing, engineering, distribution and trading firms — UK manufacturing firms, UK engineering firms, UK distribution firms, and UK trading firms at SME and mid-market scale frequently appoint Finance Directors as senior commercial finance leaders with sector-specific commercial finance scope including manufacturing-specific commercial finance dimensions (production cost accounting, manufacturing inventory framework, manufacturing capital expenditure framework), distribution-specific commercial finance dimensions (distribution working capital framework, distribution credit management framework), and the wider sector-specific commercial finance dimensions specific to UK SME and mid-market manufacturing, engineering, distribution and trading firms.

Finance Director vs Director of Finance vs CFO — The Three-Way Senior Distinction

The senior distinction between Finance Director, Director of Finance, and Chief Financial Officer designations at UK firms operates principally across the firm’s commercial sector context, firm scale, senior tier within firm structure, regulatory framework dimensions, and the senior commercial finance dimensions specific to each designation.

Finance Director (FD) — the most common UK senior finance designation at UK SMEs and mid-market commercial privately-held firms (typical revenue £5-100 million). FD designation reflects senior commercial finance leadership at UK privately-held firm scale where senior C-Suite tier broader strategic finance leadership designs are not yet warranted. UK FD scope operates within the UK Companies Act 2006 statutory framework with FRS 102 UK GAAP financial reporting framework. UK FDs typically hold ICAEW (ACA/FCA), ACCA (FCCA), or CIMA (FCMA) professional qualification credentials.

Director of Finance (DoF) — the standard senior finance designation at UK public sector and mission-driven sector organisations including NHS Trusts, NHS Foundation Trusts, ICBs, UK local authorities (frequently combined with Section 151 Officer statutory designation), UK universities, major UK charities, UK housing associations, and UK multi-academy trusts. DoF designation reflects senior finance leadership operating within UK public sector and mission-driven sector regulatory frameworks distinct from UK commercial firm regulatory frameworks. UK DoFs typically hold CIPFA (the principal UK public sector finance qualification) or CCAB-recognised professional accountancy qualification. For full UK Director of Finance Job Description reference see Director of Finance Job Description.

Chief Financial Officer (CFO) — the typical UK senior finance designation at UK FTSE-listed firms, UK AIM-listed firms, UK PE-backed firms operating at scale, UK scaling firms (particularly UK SaaS and technology scaling firms), UK IPO-track firms, and UK firms operating with senior C-Suite tier organisational designs. CFO designation reflects senior strategic finance leadership operating with broader scope including capital markets engagement (where applicable), institutional investor relations, M&A leadership at scale, audit committee engagement at formal Board governance structures, and the wider senior strategic finance dimensions specific to UK scale firm operations. UK CFOs typically hold ICAEW (FCA), CFA, MBA, or other senior strategic finance credentials. For full UK Chief Financial Officer Job Description reference see Chief Financial Officer Job Description.

Compensation calibration — UK Finance Director compensation typically operates in the £75,000-£180,000 range depending on firm scale and sector. UK Director of Finance compensation operates within UK public sector and mission-driven sector pay frameworks with sub-sector ranges from £75,000-£200,000. UK Chief Financial Officer compensation typically operates in the £200,000-£500,000+ range plus material equity participation depending on firm scale, sector, and senior commercial finance dimensions.

UK SME and Mid-Market Financial Regulatory Framework

UK Finance Director regulatory scope operates within a specific UK financial reporting and commercial regulatory framework that meaningfully shapes senior commercial finance leadership accountability at UK SMEs and mid-market commercial firms. Understanding the framework is essential for senior FD search engagement design.

Companies Act 2006 — the principal UK companies legislation establishing the statutory framework for UK private and public companies including statutory accounts framework, directors’ duties framework (Sections 170-177), statutory audit framework (typically applicable above the £10.2 million turnover threshold for company audit), Companies House filing framework, dividend distribution framework, and the wider statutory framework. UK FDs frequently operate as company secretary alongside FD scope at smaller UK SMEs, with associated Companies Act 2006 framework leadership.

FRS 102 — UK GAAP financial reporting framework — the principal UK GAAP framework applied at most UK SMEs and mid-market privately-held firms. FRS 102 framework is administered by the Financial Reporting Council (FRC) and operates as the standard UK GAAP framework at UK privately-held commercial firms outside UK listed firm scope. FRS 102 framework covers financial reporting principles, financial statement presentation, accounting policy framework, and the wider UK GAAP dimensions specific to UK privately-held firms.

FRS 102 Section 1A — small entities regime — the FRS 102 small entities regime applicable to UK firms qualifying as small under Companies Act 2006 small entity criteria (typically firms with turnover below £10.2 million, balance sheet total below £5.1 million, and average employees below 50, meeting any two of the three criteria). FRS 102 Section 1A framework operates with reduced disclosure requirements compared to full FRS 102 framework and is widely applied across UK SME senior FD scope.

FRS 105 — micro-entities regime — the FRS 105 micro-entity regime applicable to UK firms qualifying as micro-entities under Companies Act 2006 micro-entity criteria (typically firms with turnover below £632,000, balance sheet total below £316,000, and average employees below 10, meeting any two of the three criteria). FRS 105 framework operates with the most reduced disclosure requirements and is applied at UK micro-entity firms with selected senior FD appointments.

HMRC corporation tax framework — the UK corporation tax regulatory framework with associated senior FD accountability for UK corporation tax compliance including corporation tax return preparation (Form CT600), corporation tax payment framework, R&D tax credit framework where applicable, capital allowances framework, group relief framework where applicable to UK firms operating in groups, transfer pricing framework where applicable to UK firms with international related party transactions, and the wider HMRC corporation tax dimensions specific to UK SME and mid-market firms.

VAT framework — the UK Value Added Tax framework with associated senior FD accountability for UK VAT compliance including VAT registration framework (typically required above the £90,000 turnover threshold), VAT return submission framework (typically quarterly), VAT scheme selection (Standard, Flat Rate, Cash Accounting, Annual Accounting, Margin schemes where applicable), Making Tax Digital (MTD) compliance framework, and the wider UK VAT dimensions specific to UK SME and mid-market firms.

PAYE and payroll framework — the UK PAYE (Pay As You Earn) framework with associated senior FD accountability for UK payroll compliance including PAYE Real Time Information (RTI) submission framework, employer National Insurance contributions framework, statutory pay framework (Statutory Sick Pay, Statutory Maternity Pay, Statutory Paternity Pay), employment allowance framework, apprenticeship levy framework where applicable (typically required above the £3 million payroll threshold), pension auto-enrolment payroll integration, and the wider UK PAYE dimensions specific to UK SME and mid-market firms.

Statutory audit framework — the UK statutory audit framework with associated senior FD accountability for statutory audit engagement at UK firms within statutory audit scope. UK statutory audit scope typically applies to UK firms above the £10.2 million turnover threshold, £5.1 million balance sheet total threshold, or 50 average employees threshold (meeting any two of the three criteria). Senior FD audit framework engagement covers audit firm relationship management, audit planning engagement, audit fieldwork engagement, audit committee or Board engagement on audit matters where applicable, audit completion engagement, and the wider statutory audit dimensions.

Modern Slavery Act 2015 — turnover threshold dimensions — UK firms with annual turnover exceeding £36 million operate under Modern Slavery Act 2015 section 54 annual statement obligations covering the firm’s policies, supply chain due diligence, risk assessment, training, and effectiveness measurement on modern slavery dimensions. Senior FD accountability typically extends to Modern Slavery Act framework intersection with finance dimensions where the firm operates within scope.

Late Payment of Commercial Debts (Interest) Act 1998 — UK statutory framework establishing the right to claim interest on late commercial debt payment with associated senior FD accountability for late payment commercial framework leadership at UK SMEs and mid-market firms managing material commercial credit dimensions.

Bribery Act 2010 — UK anti-bribery framework with associated senior FD accountability for adequate procedures framework application across the firm’s commercial dimensions where applicable to the firm’s commercial sector. Senior FD accountability typically extends to financial controls framework intersection with anti-bribery framework, third-party due diligence framework intersection with finance, and the wider Bribery Act framework dimensions.

Principal UK Finance Director Responsibilities

UK Finance Director responsibilities vary across UK SME and mid-market firm sectors but typically extend across the following senior commercial finance dimensions at most UK firms.

Statutory accounts and financial reporting framework — owning the firm’s statutory accounts and financial reporting framework under Companies Act 2006 and FRS 102 (or FRS 102 Section 1A / FRS 105 where applicable). Senior FD accountability covers annual statutory accounts preparation, statutory accounts filing at Companies House within statutory deadlines (typically nine months from year end for UK private companies), audit framework engagement at firms within statutory audit scope, audit completion and signed accounts preparation, and the wider statutory accounts dimensions specific to the firm.

Management accounts and FP&A framework — leading the firm’s management accounts framework across monthly management accounts production typically including profit and loss, balance sheet, cash flow statement, key performance indicators (KPIs), variance analysis against budget and forecast, departmental and product line analysis where applicable, and the wider management accounts dimensions specific to the firm. Senior FD FP&A leadership covers annual budget framework, in-year forecast framework, multi-year financial planning framework where applicable, scenario planning framework, and the wider FP&A dimensions.

Treasury and cash management framework — leading the firm’s treasury and cash management framework across cash flow management at firm scale, working capital management framework, banking facility relationship management with the firm’s primary banks, debt facility management at firms operating with debt facilities, cash flow forecasting framework, foreign exchange framework where applicable to UK firms with international commercial dimensions, and the wider treasury and cash management dimensions specific to UK SME and mid-market firms.

HMRC tax framework leadership — leading the firm’s HMRC tax framework engagement across UK corporation tax compliance, UK VAT compliance, UK PAYE and payroll tax compliance, R&D tax credit framework where applicable, capital allowances framework, employment-related securities framework where applicable to UK firms operating share plans, and the wider HMRC tax framework dimensions. Senior FD tax framework leadership typically operates in partnership with the firm’s external tax advisor at most UK SMEs and mid-market firms.

Financial controls and risk framework — leading the firm’s financial controls infrastructure across segregation of duties framework, payment authorisation framework, financial reconciliation framework, financial governance framework, financial risk assessment framework, financial fraud prevention framework, internal financial reporting framework, and the wider financial controls dimensions specific to UK SME and mid-market firm operations.

Audit framework engagement — leading the firm’s audit framework engagement at firms within statutory audit scope. Senior FD audit framework engagement covers audit firm tender process where applicable, audit firm relationship management, audit planning engagement, audit fieldwork engagement, management representation framework, audit findings response framework, audit completion and signed accounts engagement, and the wider audit framework dimensions specific to UK SME and mid-market firms.

Banking and lender relationship management — leading the firm’s banking and lender relationship management across primary banking relationship management, banking facility renewal and review framework, debt facility relationship management at firms operating with debt facilities (typically including invoice finance, asset finance, term loan facilities at UK SME and mid-market firms), banking covenant compliance framework where applicable, lender reporting framework where applicable, and the wider banking and lender dimensions specific to UK SME and mid-market firm operations.

Senior shareholder and Board engagement — engaging with the firm’s senior shareholders, owner-manager shareholders at owner-managed firms, PE investors at PE-backed firms, family shareholders at family-owned firms, and the firm’s Board where applicable on senior commercial finance reporting, financial governance reporting, audit framework reporting, financial planning and performance reporting, and the wider senior commercial finance dimensions specific to senior shareholder and Board engagement at UK SME and mid-market firms.

Senior finance team leadership — leading the firm’s senior finance team typically numbering 2-12+ senior finance direct reports at UK SME and mid-market firm scale (typically including Financial Controller, Senior Management Accountant, Treasury Manager where applicable, Tax Manager where applicable, Financial Reporting Manager, FP&A Manager, Payroll Manager where applicable, depending on firm scale and structure). Senior finance team leadership covers senior finance recruitment and retention, senior finance development, senior finance succession planning, and the wider senior finance team leadership dimensions.

M&A and corporate finance support where applicable — leading the firm’s commercial finance dimensions during M&A and corporate finance activity at UK SMEs and mid-market firms with active M&A or corporate finance dimensions. Senior FD M&A engagement typically extends to acquisition financial due diligence support, acquisition integration commercial finance leadership, divestment commercial finance leadership where applicable, fundraising commercial finance leadership at PE-backed or scaling UK firms, and the wider M&A commercial finance dimensions specific to UK SME and mid-market firms.

Commercial decision support — providing senior commercial finance decision support to the firm’s MD/CEO, senior leadership team, and senior shareholders across pricing decisions at senior commercial level, commercial contract financial dimensions analysis, commercial investment decision analysis, commercial strategy financial analysis, and the wider commercial decision support dimensions specific to UK SME and mid-market firm operations.

UK Finance Director Required Experience

UK Finance Director appointments typically require senior commercial finance career experience across the following dimensions, with specific requirements varying by firm scenario and sector.

Senior commercial finance leadership career background — typically 10-20+ years of senior commercial finance career experience including prior FD experience at peer UK SME or mid-market firms, prior senior commercial finance leadership experience (Financial Controller, Head of Finance, Senior Finance Manager) at major UK firms with senior commercial finance scope that meaningfully maps to FD scope. First-time FD appointments are common at UK SMEs where the senior career background depth requirement is correspondingly more flexible, frequently following Financial Controller-to-FD progression at the same firm or at a peer firm.

Sector-specific career background — UK FD appointments frequently require senior career background in the firm’s commercial sector or commercially adjacent sectors with senior commercial finance dimensions that meaningfully map to the firm’s senior commercial finance requirements. Sector-specific senior commercial finance career background requirements operate with material variation across UK firm sectors — UK manufacturing firms typically require manufacturing finance career background including production cost accounting and inventory framework familiarity, UK distribution firms typically require distribution finance career background including working capital framework familiarity, UK PE-backed firms typically require PE-backed firm finance career background including PE investor reporting framework familiarity, and so on.

Senior finance team leadership career background — UK FD appointments typically require demonstrable senior finance team leadership career background including prior senior finance team management of typically 2-12+ senior finance direct reports, prior senior finance recruitment of finance team members, prior senior finance development and senior succession planning, and the wider senior finance team leadership career dimensions specific to UK SME and mid-market firm finance operations.

Statutory accounts and audit framework career background — UK FD appointments typically require demonstrable career background in statutory accounts preparation under FRS 102 framework (or FRS 102 Section 1A / FRS 105 where applicable), statutory audit framework engagement at firms within statutory audit scope, audit firm relationship management, and the wider statutory accounts and audit framework career dimensions. Statutory accounts and audit framework familiarity is a fundamental UK FD career background requirement.

HMRC tax framework career background — UK FD appointments typically require demonstrable career background in UK corporation tax compliance, UK VAT compliance, UK PAYE compliance, and the wider HMRC tax framework dimensions. UK FD career background does not typically require deep tax specialist credentials (which are typically held by external tax advisors) but does require commercial-level tax framework familiarity sufficient to operate as the senior FD partner to the firm’s external tax advisor.

UK Finance Director Required Qualifications

UK Finance Director appointments typically require senior commercial finance professional accountancy qualification credentials.

ICAEW (ACA / FCA) — Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales — the principal UK chartered accountancy qualification, with ICAEW membership operating as the standard senior commercial finance professional credential at UK FD appointments. ICAEW ACA qualification (Associate Chartered Accountant) operates as the entry-level ICAEW credential, with ICAEW FCA qualification (Fellow Chartered Accountant) operating as the senior credential at the most senior UK FD tier. ICAEW credentials are widely held across UK FD appointments at UK SMEs and mid-market firms.

ACCA (FCCA) — Association of Chartered Certified Accountants — the second principal UK chartered accountancy qualification, with ACCA membership operating as a standard senior commercial finance professional credential at UK FD appointments. ACCA FCCA qualification (Fellow ACCA) operates as the senior ACCA credential at the most senior UK FD tier. ACCA credentials are widely held across UK FD appointments alongside ICAEW credentials.

CIMA (FCMA) — Chartered Institute of Management Accountants — the principal UK management accounting qualification, with CIMA membership operating as a standard senior commercial finance professional credential at UK FD appointments particularly at UK firms with strong management accounting and commercial finance dimensions. CIMA FCMA qualification (Fellow CIMA) operates as the senior CIMA credential at the most senior UK FD tier. CIMA credentials are widely held across UK FD appointments at UK manufacturing firms, UK commercial firms operating with strong management accounting dimensions, and UK firms operating with strong commercial finance dimensions.

Educational background — UK FDs typically hold undergraduate degrees in accountancy, business, finance, or commercial disciplines (most commonly from UK universities) alongside one of the principal professional accountancy qualifications. Educational background dimensions typically operate as supporting credentials alongside the principal professional accountancy qualification.

Sector-specific qualifications — selected UK FD appointments operate with sector-specific qualification preferences including ATT or CTA tax qualifications at UK firms with strong tax framework dimensions, ICAEW Diploma in Corporate Finance at UK firms with active M&A dimensions, and sector-specific commercial finance qualifications where applicable.

UK Finance Director Compensation Calibration

UK Finance Director compensation varies materially with firm scale, sector, and senior accountability scope. Realistic compensation calibration matters because FD compensation expectations diverge across UK SME and mid-market firm tiers.

UK SME Finance Director (typical revenue £5-15 million) — typical UK base salary range £75,000-£120,000, with bonus typically 10-25% of base plus selected long-term incentive arrangements where applicable at PE-backed UK SMEs. Total compensation typically £85,000-£155,000 across cash and selected equity arrangements at smaller UK SMEs.

UK SME Finance Director (typical revenue £15-30 million) — typical UK base salary range £90,000-£140,000, with bonus typically 15-30% of base plus selected long-term incentive arrangements. Total compensation typically £100,000-£185,000 across cash and selected equity arrangements at larger UK SMEs.

UK mid-market firm Finance Director (typical revenue £30-100 million) — typical UK base salary range £120,000-£180,000, with bonus typically 20-40% of base plus long-term incentive arrangements. Total compensation typically £140,000-£250,000 across cash and equity arrangements at UK mid-market firms.

UK PE-backed SME and mid-market firm Finance Director — typical UK base salary range £130,000-£190,000, with bonus typically 25-40% of base plus material sweet equity participation in the platform structure. Total cash compensation typically £160,000-£270,000 plus sweet equity that potentially adds material economic value at successful PE-firm exits across multi-year hold periods. UK PE-backed firm FDs operating at scaling firm tier frequently transition to CFO designation and CFO compensation calibration as the firm scales.

UK manufacturing, engineering, distribution and trading firm Finance Director — typical UK compensation operates within the broader UK SME and mid-market firm FD ranges with selected senior commercial finance dimensions specific to manufacturing, engineering, distribution and trading commercial finance complexity. For UK senior commercial finance compensation reference see our Salary Guide for Chief Financial Officers.

Sample UK Finance Director Job Description Structure

The following sample UK Finance Director job description structure can be adapted by UK SMEs and mid-market firms specifying senior FD requirements internally and externally.

Position title — Finance Director [or alternative designation: Director of Finance and Operations at firms combining FD with operations scope, Group Finance Director at firms operating in groups with multiple subsidiary entities, FD and Company Secretary at smaller UK SMEs combining FD with company secretarial scope].

Reporting line — Reports to [Managing Director / Chief Executive] with senior accountability to [Board where applicable, senior shareholders, owner-manager shareholders at owner-managed firms, PE Investment Director at PE-backed firms, family office governance structure at family-owned firms].

Senior direct reports — Senior finance team typically including [list senior direct reports — typically Financial Controller, Senior Management Accountant, Treasury Manager where applicable, Tax Manager where applicable, Financial Reporting Manager, FP&A Manager, Payroll Manager where applicable, and other senior finance team members specific to the firm’s structure].

Role purpose — to lead [firm name] across [statutory accounts and financial reporting framework, management accounts and FP&A framework, treasury and cash management framework, HMRC tax framework leadership, financial controls and risk framework, audit framework engagement, banking and lender relationship management, senior shareholder and Board engagement, senior finance team leadership, and the wider senior commercial finance dimensions specific to the firm].

Principal responsibilities — adapt the principal responsibilities section above (Statutory accounts and financial reporting framework, Management accounts and FP&A framework, Treasury and cash management framework, HMRC tax framework leadership, Financial controls and risk framework, Audit framework engagement, Banking and lender relationship management, Senior shareholder and Board engagement, Senior finance team leadership, M&A and corporate finance support where applicable, Commercial decision support) to the specific senior commercial finance dimensions of the firm.

Required experience — adapt the required experience section above (Senior commercial finance leadership career background, Sector-specific career background, Senior finance team leadership career background, Statutory accounts and audit framework career background, HMRC tax framework career background) to the specific senior career background requirements of the firm.

Required qualifications — typically specify ICAEW (ACA/FCA), ACCA (FCCA), or CIMA (FCMA) as the required UK professional accountancy qualification, with sector-specific qualifications (ATT/CTA for tax-heavy roles, ICAEW Corporate Finance Diploma for M&A-active firms) specified where applicable.

Compensation framework — base salary range, bonus arrangements, long-term incentive participation where applicable (sweet equity at PE-backed firms, profit share at owner-managed firms, deferred compensation at selected firms), benefits framework including pension, and any sector-specific compensation arrangements.

Application process — application instructions, senior search firm engagement where applicable, interview process structure, senior reference and assessment requirements.

From Finance Director Job Description to Senior Search

The Finance Director job description is the principal artifact through which UK SMEs and mid-market firms specify the senior FD role. The job description supports senior FD recruitment by articulating the senior specifications externally to candidates, internally to the senior leadership team, and to senior search firms engaged on senior FD recruitment mandates. Strong FD job descriptions support strong senior FD recruitment outcomes.

For senior UK Finance Director recruitment service engagement, see Finance Director Recruitment for full-time permanent FD senior search, Interim Finance Director for time-bound 3-9 month gap-fill FD appointments, and Fractional Finance Director for ongoing day-rate fractional FD arrangements. For senior FD hiring methodology guidance covering the senior search framework see our comprehensive How to Hire a Finance Director Knowledge Centre guide. For UK Director of Finance senior search at UK public sector and mission-driven sector organisations see Public Sector Executive Recruitment and Charity and Not-for-Profit Executive Recruitment. For UK Chief Financial Officer senior search at UK scaling, PE-backed, FTSE-listed, AIM-listed, and IPO-track firms see CFO Recruitment and sister site FD Capital for senior commercial CFO and FD authority across UK scale firms.

Senior UK Finance Director recruitment at Exec Capital follows a retained methodology calibrated to the specific dynamics of UK SME and mid-market commercial firm FD recruitment. Senior search engagement begins with structured brief development that articulates the firm scenario (UK SME or mid-market commercial firm), the firm’s sector context, the qualification requirements (ICAEW, ACCA, or CIMA depending on the firm’s commercial finance dimensions), and the senior commercial finance dimensions specific to the firm. Every senior FD mandate at Exec Capital is led personally by Adrian Lawrence FCA.