CFO

Cedar is partnered with a PE-backed professional services business to appoint an Interim Chief Financial Officer. This is a 6-9 month contract offering £1,750-£2,250 per day, based in Central London with hybrid working (3-4 days per week in the office).

The role sits at Board level and focuses on exit readiness, financial leadership and transaction delivery across a mid-market, investor-backed consulting business, with close interaction with the CEO, Board and private equity sponsor.

The CompanyThe organisation is a PE-backed professional services platform with revenues of c.£100M, operating across multiple service lines and a diversified client base.

The business has grown significantly under private equity ownership, supported by a combination of organic expansion and targeted acquisitions. It is now entering a critical phase as it prepares for a near-term exit, with a focus on enhancing financial visibility, strengthening reporting quality and presenting a compelling equity story to the market.

Finance plays a central role in this phase, underpinning both operational performance and transaction readiness.

The RoleThe Interim CFO will lead the business through the final stages of exit preparation and transaction execution, ensuring a robust, credible and investor-ready finance function.

The role requires a balance of strategic oversight and hands-on delivery, with responsibility for shaping the financial narrative, managing diligence processes and supporting valuation discussions.

Key responsibilities include:

• Leading all aspects of exit readiness, including vendor due diligence, financial modelling and preparation of investor materials.
• Owning the financial narrative, ensuring consistency across forecasts, data room outputs and management presentations.
• Partnering with the CEO and private equity sponsor to shape exit strategy and support buyer engagement.
• Ensuring high-quality financial reporting, with full audit readiness and robustness of historical financials.
• Overseeing forecasting, budgeting and long-range planning processes to support valuation and transaction discussions.
• Driving working capital optimisation and cash management ahead of exit.
• Managing external advisors including diligence providers, auditors and corporate finance teams.
• Leading and stabilising the finance function through a high-pressure transaction period.
• Supporting any final integration, carve-out or restructuring activity to enhance exit positioning.

Your Profile

• Proven Interim CFO with a track record of delivering exits within private equity-backed businesses.
• Experience operating within mid-market, investor-backed environments, ideally within professional services or consulting.
• Strong experience leading vendor due diligence processes and engaging directly with investors and buyers.
• Deep technical grounding across financial reporting, consolidation and audit processes.
• Commercially astute, with the ability to articulate a clear and compelling equity story.
• Hands-on, delivery-focused and comfortable operating at pace in a high-stakes environment.
• Strong stakeholder management experience across Board, investors and external advisors.

Compensation & Working ArrangementsThe day rate for this Interim CFO role is £1,750-£2,250 per day. The role is based in Central London with hybrid working (typically 3-4 days per week in the office). This is a 6-9 month assignment offering direct exposure to a near-term exit within a PE-backed professional services business.