Market Talent have been shortlisted and formally selected to partner with an ambitious new motor-finance start-up as they assemble their founding leadership team. With a proven track record in building high-performing senior teams across banking and specialist lending, we are now mandated to appoint a commercially minded, strategically anchored CFO who will help shape the organisation from inception through scale.
This mandate represents a flagship appointment — a genuine opportunity to influence the DNA of a new, well-backed market entrant at a transformative moment. We’re seeking a commercially driven, agile and resilient CFO who enjoys building, not inheriting; someone comfortable switching between strategic leadership and hands-on delivery. High ownership, high accountability, and the gravitas to support a founder-led, values-driven leadership team.
Overview
This role offers a rare opportunity to join a highly capitalised and fully backed lending start-up at greenfield stage and help create a modern, innovative and values-led motor-finance business from the ground up. With a seasoned executive team already in place and a compelling market proposition, the business now requires a CFO who can partner closely with the CEO and Board to build the financial engine that will underpin long-term, sustainable growth.
You’ll shape strategy, stand up the finance function, drive funding and capital initiatives, and play a pivotal role in guiding the commercial direction of the company. This is a blank-canvas environment with no legacy barriers — the ideal landscape for a CFO who enjoys building, influencing and delivering at pace.
Responsibilities
Strategic & Commercial Leadership
- Define the financial strategy across build, launch and scale phases.
- Act as a core strategic partner to the CEO and Board on commercial decisions, pricing, unit economics and long-term planning.
- Lead financial modelling, scenario analysis and forward-looking commercial insight.
Capital, Funding & Treasury
- Source, structure and manage funding lines, wholesale facilities and future institutional capital.
- Build a modern treasury and liquidity management framework that supports sustainable scaling.
- Oversee lender reporting, covenant management and investor communications.
Financial Controls, Reporting & MI
- Build a robust finance function with strong controls, governance and reporting.
- Lead statutory accounts, budgeting, forecasting, board MI, and audit relationships.
- Implement finance systems, tooling and reporting architecture appropriate to a digital-first lender.
M&A & Portfolio Transactions
- Lead assessment of strategic transactions, including potential loan-book acquisitions.
- Oversee modelling, pricing, diligence and integration evaluations.
- Provide strategic financial leadership on future inorganic growth opportunities.
Operational Finance Build
- Define and implement finance processes, policies, reconciliation frameworks and cost structures.
- Establish and grow the finance team to support launch and future scaling.
- Partner cross-functionally with Risk, Compliance, Operations, Technology and Product.
Experience Profile
Essential
- Currently sitting in a CFO or Finance Director role from financial services banking, motor finance, consumer lending, specialist lending, etc all ideal
- Proven ability operating in a start-up, green field, scale-up or high-growth environment.
- Commercial, tactical and strategic mindset and able to absorb a startup environment (resilient)
- Ideally have experience evaluating M&A opportunities and working with wholesale funding lines.
- Deep understanding of IFRS9, credit provisioning and lending P&L/BS dynamics.
- Fully qualified / chartered accountant (ACA/ACCA/CIMA).
- You must be looking for a career opportunity with longevity – the business is looking for long term tenures of all its C Suite team. You will have a stable CV, with solid reasoning on your career moves.
Location
- Candidates can be located anywhere in the UK, as long as you can make a monthly meeting whilst the business grows. As headcount grows (After year 1) you may be required more the in offices (once a week).
Compensation (all Cash)
- The board and investors have decided on a all cash package made up of a base salary and yearly bonus.
- Equity / profit-share: No founding-stage equity, profit-share, or LTIP schemes at present.
- Benefits: Pension, healthcare, bonus structures, and hybrid working — all from day one.
- Future evolution: Compensation will evolve in line with market standards once the business becomes revenue-generating and licensed.
If you’re exploring opportunities like this or scaling your own team, simply google "Market Talent" to see how we support high-growth organisations across the UK.
