Job Description
Job Title: Chief Financial Officer - Global Freight ForwardingLocation: Felixstowe, Suffolk, UK - On-site with occasional travel to global officesReports to: CEO / Group BoardDepartment: Finance
About the CompanyOur client are a global shipping and freight forwarding company with operations across sea, air, and road. Based in the UKs largest container port, Felixstowe, they manage end-to-end logistics for clients worldwide.
Role PurposeThe CFO will own the financial strategy, governance, and performance of the group. Youll partner with the CEO and global leadership to drive profitability, manage risk, and ensure robust financial controls across multiple entities, currencies, and jurisdictions. This is a hands-on, strategic role for someone who understands logistics margins, working capital, and port-based operations.
Key Responsibilities
1. Strategic Finance & Leadership- Develop and execute financial strategy aligned to global growth plans- Board reporting, investor relations, and M&A due diligence support- Lead budgeting, forecasting, and long-range planning for all entities- Drive commercial insight: lane profitability, customer P&L, contract pricing
2. Operations & Commercial Finance- Oversee finance for freight forwarding: ocean/air/road margins, agent commissions, demurrage & detention- Manage working capital: AR/AP, credit control, and cash conversion in a high-volume, low-margin business- Partner with Operations, Sales, and Customs teams on pricing, cost recovery, and contract negotiations- Optimize use of port fees, warehousing, and 3PL costs
3. Governance, Risk & Compliance- Ensure compliance with UK GAAP/IFRS, HMRC customs/bond requirements, and global tax/VAT rules- Lead audit, treasury, and insurance programs including marine cargo and liability cover- Manage FX exposure across USD, EUR, GBP and other trading currencies- Oversee AML, sanctions screening, and trade compliance controls
4. Team & Systems- Lead a finance team of X people across UK + global hubs- Own the ERP/TMS/WMS finance integration. Drive automation and MI dashboards- Implement strong controls across multiple legal entities and currencies
Key Requirements
Experience- ACA/ACCA/CIMA qualified or equivalent- 8+ years senior finance experience, with 3+ years at CFO/Finance Director level- Proven experience in shipping, freight forwarding, logistics, or port operations essential- Experience managing multi-entity, multi-currency group structures- Track record of driving margin improvement and cash management in asset-light logistics
Skills- Deep understanding of Incoterms, freight rates, customs duties, and bonded warehousing- Strong commercial acumen and ability to translate ops data into financial decisions- Excellent communicator to board, banks, and non-finance stakeholders- Advanced Excel + ERP experience. Experience with CargoWise, AEB, or similar TMS a plus
Personal Attributes- Resilient, pragmatic, and hands-on. Felixstowe is an operational port environment- Strategic thinker with strong governance mindset- Able to travel internationally 10-15%
What's on offer- Competitive salary: £120k - £160k + bonus + benefits- Pension, private healthcare, and port location allowance- Opportunity to shape finance for a growing global operator from a key UK port- Relocation support considered
About the CompanyOur client are a global shipping and freight forwarding company with operations across sea, air, and road. Based in the UKs largest container port, Felixstowe, they manage end-to-end logistics for clients worldwide.
Role PurposeThe CFO will own the financial strategy, governance, and performance of the group. Youll partner with the CEO and global leadership to drive profitability, manage risk, and ensure robust financial controls across multiple entities, currencies, and jurisdictions. This is a hands-on, strategic role for someone who understands logistics margins, working capital, and port-based operations.
Key Responsibilities
1. Strategic Finance & Leadership- Develop and execute financial strategy aligned to global growth plans- Board reporting, investor relations, and M&A due diligence support- Lead budgeting, forecasting, and long-range planning for all entities- Drive commercial insight: lane profitability, customer P&L, contract pricing
2. Operations & Commercial Finance- Oversee finance for freight forwarding: ocean/air/road margins, agent commissions, demurrage & detention- Manage working capital: AR/AP, credit control, and cash conversion in a high-volume, low-margin business- Partner with Operations, Sales, and Customs teams on pricing, cost recovery, and contract negotiations- Optimize use of port fees, warehousing, and 3PL costs
3. Governance, Risk & Compliance- Ensure compliance with UK GAAP/IFRS, HMRC customs/bond requirements, and global tax/VAT rules- Lead audit, treasury, and insurance programs including marine cargo and liability cover- Manage FX exposure across USD, EUR, GBP and other trading currencies- Oversee AML, sanctions screening, and trade compliance controls
4. Team & Systems- Lead a finance team of X people across UK + global hubs- Own the ERP/TMS/WMS finance integration. Drive automation and MI dashboards- Implement strong controls across multiple legal entities and currencies
Key Requirements
Experience- ACA/ACCA/CIMA qualified or equivalent- 8+ years senior finance experience, with 3+ years at CFO/Finance Director level- Proven experience in shipping, freight forwarding, logistics, or port operations essential- Experience managing multi-entity, multi-currency group structures- Track record of driving margin improvement and cash management in asset-light logistics
Skills- Deep understanding of Incoterms, freight rates, customs duties, and bonded warehousing- Strong commercial acumen and ability to translate ops data into financial decisions- Excellent communicator to board, banks, and non-finance stakeholders- Advanced Excel + ERP experience. Experience with CargoWise, AEB, or similar TMS a plus
Personal Attributes- Resilient, pragmatic, and hands-on. Felixstowe is an operational port environment- Strategic thinker with strong governance mindset- Able to travel internationally 10-15%
What's on offer- Competitive salary: £120k - £160k + bonus + benefits- Pension, private healthcare, and port location allowance- Opportunity to shape finance for a growing global operator from a key UK port- Relocation support considered
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