Finance Director

Finance Director

• Location: London HQ, Marylebone
• Job Type: Full Time (on-site)
• Salary: £80,000
• Reports to: CEO / Managing Director

About Smartech Retail Group

Smartech Retail Group is a global destination for innovation, delivering immersive retail experiences across our concept stores worldwide. We showcase the latest in gaming, e-mobility, and cutting-edge technology, giving customers a hands-on experience of the future.

We are seeking a dynamic, strategic, and hands-on leader to take full ownership of our finance function, ensuring financial health, regulatory compliance, and operational excellence across the organisation.

The Role

The Finance Director will provide strategic and operational leadership of the finance function, taking full responsibility for the department’s performance, structure, and team engagement. This is a critical leadership role requiring a proactive, self-driven professional who can stabilise and transform the finance department, drive accountability, and implement robust processes while leading a team through a period of transition.

The ideal candidate will be a results-driven leader, combining financial expertise, operational know-how, and strong people management skills, capable of delivering both strategic vision and hands-on execution.

What You'll Be Doing

Finance Leadership & Strategy

• Lead the development and execution of the company’s financial strategy, including budgeting, forecasting, cash flow management, and reporting
• Ensure accurate financial records and compliance with statutory accounting and tax requirements across all jurisdictions
• Oversee monthly, quarterly, and annual accounting processes, reconciliations, and consolidations
• Monitor financial performance metrics, analyse revenue, expenses, and cash flows, and provide actionable insights to support management decisions
• Manage commercial agreements, contracts, and recovery processes in collaboration with legal counsel
• Lead strategic initiatives such as digitalisation, process improvements, cost optimisation, and departmental restructuring
• Develop and implement financial policies, procedures, and internal controls to mitigate risk
• Drive profitability improvement initiatives and ensure optimal credit management
• Support business development initiatives through financial planning and analysis

Team Leadership & Department Ownership

• Take full ownership of the finance team, leading, mentoring, and developing team members
• Conduct a thorough assessment of current processes, individual roles, and team performance to identify gaps and improvement opportunities
• Implement action plans to restructure, stabilise, and engage the team, ensuring high performance and retention
• Foster a culture of accountability, transparency, and collaboration
• Lead by example, combining hands-on operational involvement with strategic oversight

Corporate, Legal & Compliance

• Ensure compliance with all statutory, corporate, and regulatory obligations, including VAT, payroll, corporation tax, and other legal requirements
• Collaborate with legal counsel on corporate governance, contracts, trademarks, intellectual property, and risk management matters
• Oversee financial reporting and ensure zero significant compliance breaches

Key Performance Indicators

Financial Performance

• Accurate and timely monthly, quarterly, and annual financial reports
• Achievement of revenue, budget, and profitability targets
• Effective cash flow management and liquidity maintenance
• Successful implementation of cost-saving, efficiency, and restructuring initiatives

Team & Leadership

• Stabilisation, retention, and performance of the finance team
• Engagement, motivation, and clear accountability within the team
• Positive feedback from team members and internal stakeholders

Strategic & Operational

• Delivery of strategic finance projects, including process improvement, digitalisation, and international expansion
• Compliance with statutory, tax, and regulatory obligations
• Streamlined and optimised finance processes and reporting

What We're Looking For

• 10+ years of senior finance leadership experience, ideally in retail, international operations, or fast-growing consumer businesses
• Proven track record in restructuring and leading finance teams through periods of change or crisis
• Strong expertise in finance, accounting, corporate governance, and compliance oversight
• Hands-on operational experience, able to understand day-to-day tasks while implementing strategic initiatives
• Exceptional leadership, stakeholder management, and communication skills
• High integrity, discretion, and professionalism
• Proactive, self-driven, resilient, and motivated to work under pressure, including long hours when needed
• Ability to take full ownership of a department, driving engagement, performance, and sustainable improvements