FP&A Director

Cedar is partnered with a PE-backed Consultancy within the IT and Data sector to support the appointment of an Interim FP&A Director. This role is based in Central London on a hybrid basis (2-3 days per week in the office) and is offered on a day-rate contract, paying £700 to £1,000 per day. The initial contract duration is 6 months.

The CompanyA consultancy specialising in IT and data services, backed by a mid-market private equity firm and entering a critical pre-exit phase. With strong underlying performance and a well-established client base, the business is now focused on optimising financial performance, enhancing forecasting capability, and strengthening commercial insight ahead of a planned exit within the next 12 months.

You'll join a high-growth, investor-backed environment with an engaged PE sponsor and a leadership team aligned on preparing the business for transaction, with a clear emphasis on quality of earnings, forecasting accuracy, and value maximisation.

The RoleAs Interim FP&A Director, you'll lead the planning, forecasting, and commercial finance agenda, with a strong emphasis on supporting pre-sale preparation. You will play a key role in driving insight, improving forecasting rigour, and ensuring the business is well-positioned from a financial and commercial perspective ahead of exit.

Key responsibilities include:

• Owning and enhancing the budgeting, forecasting, and long-range planning processes
• Building and refining financial models to support exit readiness, scenario planning, and value creation initiatives
• Delivering high-quality analysis and insight to support strategic decision-making and commercial performance
• Working closely with senior leadership and PE stakeholders to ensure alignment on financial performance and forecasts
• Supporting pre-sale preparation, including data integrity, financial diligence readiness, and quality of earnings considerations
• Improving the accuracy, consistency, and timeliness of management reporting and KPI tracking
• Partnering with commercial teams to challenge assumptions, analyse trends, and drive performance improvement
• Identifying key value drivers, risks, and opportunities across the business
• Enhancing FP&A processes, tools, and frameworks to support scalability and exit readiness
• Providing clear, credible financial narratives to support investor communications and potential buyer engagement

Your Profile

• Qualified accountant (ACA/ACCA/CIMA or equivalent)
• Proven experience operating at FP&A Director, Head of FP&A, or senior commercial finance level within PE-backed or high-growth environments
• Demonstrable experience supporting a business through a private equity exit from an FP&A or commercial finance perspective
• Strong track record in budgeting, forecasting, financial modelling, and performance analysis
• Experience working closely with investors, senior leadership, and cross-functional teams
• Commercially minded with the ability to translate financial data into actionable insight
• Hands-on, pragmatic approach with the ability to operate both strategically and operationally
• Available at short notice or immediately

Compensation & BenefitsThis Interim FP&A Director role is offered at a rate of £700 to £1,000 per day. Based in Central London, it offers hybrid working (2-3 days per week) along with:

• A clearly defined mandate focused on FP&A enhancement and exit preparation
• Direct exposure to PE stakeholders and senior leadership
• The opportunity to play a key role in preparing a business for sale within the next 12 months
• A fast-paced, commercially driven environment with tangible impact on value creation and exit outcomes