London Head of Finance Recruitment

London Head of Finance Recruitment

FD Capital recruits and places Heads of Finance in London — on a permanent, interim, part-time, and fractional basis. Adrian Lawrence FCA, founder of FD Capital and a Fellow of the ICAEW, leads every Head of Finance search personally. The Head of Finance is a role specific to a particular stage of business development: typically found in businesses that have outgrown a Financial Controller in scope and seniority but are not yet structured for a full Finance Director or CFO at board level. In London’s technology, professional services, and scale-up communities, the Head of Finance is often the most senior finance executive in the business — combining the operational financial management of an FC role with the strategic and investor-facing responsibilities that approach FD or VP Finance territory.

The London Head of Finance market is competitive at both ends. Businesses struggle to attract strong candidates because the title sits between two better-defined roles — FC and FD — and the scope varies widely between organisations. Candidates struggle because the progression path from Head of Finance to FD or CFO is not always well structured. FD Capital’s approach to Head of Finance searches is to clarify the scope precisely at the outset — establishing whether the role is closer to a senior FC, a standalone FD, or a VP Finance function — before going to market. This investment at brief stage consistently produces better-matched shortlists and faster placements.

Call 020 3287 9501 or email recruitment@fdcapital.co.uk. Shortlists typically delivered within five to eight working days.

“Adrian worked with us as our Fractional CFO for six months and we are genuinely grateful for the contribution he made. His financial expertise and calm, professional approach gave us confidence in our numbers and supported better decision-making across the business. I would recommend Adrian and FD Capital without hesitation.”

— Josh Haugh, MAS Technicae Group (International) Ltd, West Sussex

What Is a Head of Finance and When Do London Businesses Need One?

The Head of Finance title is used inconsistently across London’s business community, which is itself a useful signal. In some businesses it is effectively a rebranded Financial Controller — the most senior person in the finance team who owns month-end, statutory accounts, and day-to-day financial management. In others it is a standalone Finance Director equivalent — sitting on the leadership team, owning financial strategy, and managing the investor and board relationship. In the most developed version, it is a VP Finance function — operating beneath a CFO, owning the finance function’s operational output while the CFO focuses on strategy and external relationships.

The common thread is that the Head of Finance is the most senior finance executive managing the function directly — not just setting direction but running the day-to-day. This distinguishes the role from a CFO or FD who may be more externally focused, and from an FC who typically does not carry the full P&L ownership and investor interface that a Head of Finance often does.

When a Head of Finance is the right hire

London businesses typically reach for the Head of Finance title rather than FC or FD in three situations. First, the business has grown to a scale where the FC role needs senior leadership capability — managing a small finance team, engaging directly with the CEO and board, and taking ownership of investor reporting — but where a full FD at senior level would be over-specified for the current complexity. This is common in Series A and B technology businesses, in PE-backed businesses in their first year post-investment, and in professional services firms with thirty to seventy employees.

Second, the business has a CFO or FD who is externally focused — managing investor relationships, leading M&A activity, or operating at group level — and needs a strong Head of Finance to own the operational finance function beneath them. This is effectively a VP Finance or Deputy CFO structure, and the Head of Finance in this context is a substantive leadership role in its own right.

Third, the business is in a transitional phase — between funding rounds, between FC and FD in its development, or going through a period of rapid growth — where the title serves as a holding position while the scope of the finance leadership role is defined. FD Capital advises clients in this situation on how to structure the brief and how to attract candidates who see the role as a genuine step up rather than a lateral move.

The London Head of Finance: Sector Context

Technology and SaaS scale-ups

London’s technology and SaaS community — concentrated in Shoreditch, King’s Cross, Clerkenwell, and Victoria — is the primary source of Head of Finance demand in the city. A Series B SaaS business with £5–20 million ARR typically needs a Head of Finance who can own the monthly close, manage the annual audit, produce investor-ready board packs, and take primary responsibility for the R&D tax credit claim and the IFRS 15 revenue recognition policy. This person usually manages a small team of two to four and reports directly to the CEO or COO. The Head of Finance in this context is frequently the most senior finance person in the business and must be comfortable operating without a CFO above them, while maintaining the relationships with investors and auditors that a more senior executive would normally own.

The specific technical requirements for a London technology Head of Finance typically include: SaaS revenue recognition under IFRS 15; capitalisation of development costs under IAS 38; R&D tax credit claims on software development and engineering expenditure; IFRS 2 share-based payment accounting for EMI or CSOP schemes; and the management of multi-currency transactions for businesses with international revenue. FD Capital assesses Head of Finance candidates for technology mandates on all of these dimensions. See our SaaS CFO and technology CFO pages for senior finance context.

PE-backed businesses

Private equity-backed businesses in London frequently use the Head of Finance title for the senior finance executive who owns the management accounts and reporting process — particularly in businesses where the CFO is focused primarily on value creation, M&A, and investor relations rather than operational finance. The Head of Finance in a PE-backed business must produce monthly management accounts to tight deadlines, manage the covenant compliance testing and lender reporting, maintain the financial model, and interface with the PE house’s finance team for portfolio reporting. This is a demanding and well-compensated role, and PE-backed businesses typically pay a significant premium over the market rate for Heads of Finance with direct PE environment experience. FD Capital maintains a specific network of candidates with PE-backed business finance experience. See our PE experience CFO page for senior finance context.

Professional services and financial services

London’s professional services firms — management consultancies, law firms, accountancy practices, and specialist advisory businesses — use the Head of Finance title for the senior finance executive managing billing, WIP, partner profitability, and the firm’s statutory accounts. The specific financial management demands of professional services — percentage-of-completion revenue recognition, rechargeable expense management, lock-up analysis, and partner draw accounting — require a Head of Finance with direct professional services experience rather than a generalist finance background. FD Capital places Heads of Finance across London’s professional services community.

In FCA-regulated financial services businesses — asset managers, fintech businesses, and insurance companies of the scale that sits below a full FC/FD structure — the Head of Finance must understand the regulatory reporting requirements applicable to the firm’s permission set. FD Capital assesses financial services Head of Finance candidates on their awareness of SMCR personal responsibilities, regulatory capital reporting, and client money and assets requirements where applicable. See our FCA regulated firm recruitment page for sector context.

Media, creative, and e-commerce

London’s media and creative sector — advertising agencies, production companies, digital media businesses, and creative consultancies — generates consistent Head of Finance demand from businesses with complex project accounting, retainer and campaign revenue recognition, and production cost recharge management. The Head of Finance in a London creative business must understand how to manage the financial interface between account management, project delivery, and client billing — a specific operational skill that differs from conventional management accounting. E-commerce businesses operating at scale require Heads of Finance who understand marketplace accounting, inventory management, and the specific revenue recognition questions that arise from returns, vouchers, and loyalty schemes. See our e-commerce CFO page for senior finance context.

Head of Finance Engagement Models in London

Permanent Head of Finance

Permanent Head of Finance recruitment in London is conducted by FD Capital on both a retained and contingent basis. Given the scope ambiguity that affects many Head of Finance searches, FD Capital recommends investing in brief clarity at the outset — defining precisely what the role owns, what it does not own, and how it interacts with the CFO or board — before any candidates are approached. This investment consistently reduces time-to-hire and improves placement quality. Permanent placement fee: 20–25% of first-year salary, 12-week rebate guarantee.

Interim Head of Finance

Interim Head of Finance appointments arise when a permanent Head of Finance departs and the business needs experienced cover, when a business is preparing for a fundraise or audit and needs additional senior finance capacity, or when a PE-backed business needs a strong operational finance leader while the CFO search runs. FD Capital can deploy interim Heads of Finance in London at short notice, and for urgent requirements can present initial candidates within 48 hours. See our interim Finance Director and interim FC pages for context on related engagement models.

Part-Time and Fractional Head of Finance

For London businesses that need senior finance leadership at Head of Finance level without the cost of a full-time appointment — typically businesses at Series A stage or professional services firms with under thirty employees — a part-time or fractional Head of Finance working two to three days per week provides the coverage required at significantly lower cost. FD Capital places fractional and part-time Heads of Finance across London. See our fractional Finance Director and part-time Finance Director pages for comparable engagement model detail.

“FD Capital has supported SBS Insurance Services over the past three years through the provision of a Fractional FD/CFO. Their expertise has made a significant difference in professionalising our finance function and delivering accurate, timely management information — exactly what our business needed to grow with confidence.”

— Tracey Rees, COO, SBS Insurance Services Ltd

London Head of Finance: Salary Guide

London Head of Finance salaries sit between FC and FD benchmarks, reflecting the role’s intermediate seniority. See our Financial Controller salary guide and Finance Director salary guide for context above and below the Head of Finance level.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Head of Finance the same as Financial Controller?

Not always, and the distinction matters when briefing a search. A Financial Controller is typically an operational role — owning the month-end close, statutory accounts, and financial controls, but not necessarily sitting on the leadership team or managing the investor and board relationship. A Head of Finance usually carries broader scope: ownership of the finance function’s output plus some or all of the strategic and board-facing responsibilities that a Finance Director would hold in a more developed business. In practice, London businesses use the titles interchangeably for roles at similar salary levels, and FD Capital advises clients on the right title based on the actual scope of the role rather than convention.

Should we hire a Head of Finance or a CFO?

For most London businesses below £10 million revenue, a Head of Finance or senior FC is the appropriate hire rather than a CFO. The CFO title carries seniority and cost expectations that may exceed the business’s actual finance leadership requirements at that stage. FD Capital advises on this question at brief stage and can structure searches at the appropriate level — including fractional or part-time arrangements where the business needs CFO-level input on a limited basis alongside a Head of Finance managing the function operationally. See our fractional CFO and when to hire a CFO pages for guidance.

How quickly can you find a Head of Finance in London?

Permanent Head of Finance shortlists are typically presented within five to eight working days. For interim requirements, FD Capital can present initial candidates within 48 hours for urgent situations. Call 020 3287 9501 directly for time-critical requirements.

Related Services

Head of Finance Recruitment | London Financial Controller Recruitment | London FD & CFO Recruitment | Financial Controller Recruitment | Finance Director Recruitment | Fractional Finance Director | Part-Time Finance Director | Interim FC Recruitment | Fractional CFO | SaaS CFO | FCA Regulated Firm Recruitment | FC Salary Guide | CFO Salary Guide