Interim Head of Finance

Intro

Cedar is partnered with a private equity-backed, technology-enabled business to appoint an interim Head of Finance. This is a minimum of 6 months assignment, based in London, offering a day rate of £800-900 per day. The role supports a PE-backed organisation operating at pace and requiring strong, pragmatic financial leadership.

The Company

The business is a private equity-backed organisation with a technology-led offering and a strong commercial focus. It operates in a fast-moving environment where finance is expected to provide control, clarity, and reliable execution while enabling continued growth. The leadership team values hands-on support, sound judgement, and finance that works closely with the commercial realities of the business.

The Role

Reporting to the Group Finance Director, the Head of Finance will take ownership of the effectiveness and delivery of the finance function, ensuring strong day-to-day performance and clear ways of working.

Key areas of focus include:

• Overall ownership of finance execution, ensuring reliable BAU delivery and operational stability.
• Providing visible, hands-on leadership across the finance function, particularly during peak or high-pressure periods.
• Setting clear expectations around standards, accountability, and delivery, while supporting teams to operate more effectively.
• Improving how finance operates through clearer processes, stronger controls, and more consistent ways of working.
• Driving practical process improvement initiatives that enhance efficiency and quality without disrupting business momentum.
• Supporting teams to find better ways of working, embedding incremental improvements into day-to-day activity.
• Maintaining strong financial discipline, accuracy, and timeliness across core finance outputs.
• Providing operational finance input into acquisition activity, including integration planning and embedding group practices.
• Working closely with senior stakeholders to ensure finance supports commercial decision-making and business priorities.
• Acting as a trusted, pragmatic finance leader within a PE-backed environment operating at pace.

Your Profile

• Senior finance leader with experience owning core finance delivery in complex environments.
• Comfortable operating in interim roles where pace, pragmatism, and judgement are essential.
• Proven ability to improve finance execution and ways of working without disrupting BAU.
• Confident leading and coaching teams while remaining hands-on when required.
• Experience supporting acquisitions and embedding consistent operating approaches post-deal.
• Exposure to private equity-backed or high-growth settings is beneficial.

Compensation & Working Arrangements

This Head of Finance assignment offers £800-900 per day, reflecting the seniority, influence, and visibility of the role. The engagement provides direct exposure to senior leadership, involvement in commercially meaningful decisions, and the opportunity to shape how finance supports a PE-backed business at a critical point in its journey.

The role is based in London, with hybrid working in place and flexibility aligned to business needs. The £800-900 per day rate reflects a high-impact interim mandate offering both pace and substance for an experienced Head of Finance operating in a private equity-backed environment.