Finance Director

DNA Recruit is working with an ambitious, Independent Creative agency, looking for an operationally led Finance Director to sit at the heart of the business. This is a hands-on, commercially focused role for someone who enjoys being close to the detail while shaping better decisions across the agency.

You’ll act as the senior day-to-day financial lead, translating high-level strategy into clear, practical financial leadership that supports growth, performance and sustainability.

About the Role

• Lead the agency’s operational finance function on a day-to-day basis
• Convert high-level financial strategy into workable plans, budgets and decisions
• Act as a trusted commercial partner to the CEO and leadership team
• Take ownership of monthly reporting alongside the Financial Controller, ensuring it drives insight, not just compliance
• Manage budgeting, forecasting and ongoing re-forecasting activity
• Monitor and interpret performance across revenue, margin, utilisation, costs and cash flow
• Identify risks and opportunities early and provide clear, practical recommendations
• Improve reporting tools and dashboards to support smarter decision-making
• Work closely with operations and client teams to strengthen resourcing and utilisation
• Support pricing models, scoping and commercial frameworks for client work
• Build financial models to assess growth plans, hiring and investment scenarios
• Act as the operational link between agency leadership and the CFO
• Develop and mentor the finance team, setting clear standards and expectations
• Continuously refine systems, processes and controls to support scale

 
Skills and Experience Required

• Experience in a senior operational finance role, ideally at Finance Director level
• Proven experience within a Creative, Marketing or Media agency
• Strong understanding of agency financial dynamics, including project delivery and utilisation
• Comfortable operating beneath a CFO while owning execution and accountability
• Commercially astute with strong analytical and modelling capability
• Able to balance attention to detail with senior-level influence
• Confident communicator who translates financial information into plain English
• Practical, collaborative and delivery-focused approach
• Calm and credible presence in a fast-paced leadership setting

Note: Due to the urgency of this role, our client is open to temp-perm applications

Salary: £100K-£120K Benefits
Location: London (Hybrid)
Reference: 226298

DNA is committed to promoting a diverse and inclusive community and welcomes applications from candidates of all backgrounds.
Although we try to respond to all applications, unfortunately, due to the high number we receive, we are unable to respond to all of those who are unsuccessful. 

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DNA Recruit deliver dynamic recruitment, search and talent solutions and provide insight, knowledge, and credible introductions necessary for client-side and agency roles. Areas we specialise in New Business, Account and Project Management, Strategy and Planning, Events, Experiential, Creative and User Experience Design, Technology, Product, Marketing and Data roles in permanent, contract and freelance recruitment, search and selection, talent advisory and consulting across the UK and globally.