Finance Business Leader

• Based: Richmond, UK • Contract period: 6 months • Functions: Finance | Technology | Product | R&D Our client is seeking a strategic, execution-oriented Global Tech Finance Business Leader to play a pivotal role at the intersection of finance, technology, and product innovation. This is a senior leadership opportunity to partner closely with Product, Engineering, and Operations teams and drive financial excellence across a global portfolio of technology investments. In this role, you will own financial planning, forecasting, and performance management for Product Management, R&D organizations, and SaaS hosting and infrastructure costs, ensuring resources are deployed efficiently to accelerate innovation and enable scalable, profitable growth. Your role: Strategic Finance Leadership • Lead end-to-end financial management for global Product, R&D, and Technology organizations, including budgeting, forecasting, long-range planning, and investment prioritization • Partner with senior executives to translate product strategy and technology roadmaps into clear financial insights, trade-offs, and ROI analyses • Drive financial stewardship and operational rigor across global engineering teams, improving spend governance while supporting sustainable growth Product & R&D Investment Management • Design and own financial frameworks to evaluate product investments, including feasibility analysis, burn rate tracking, capacity planning, and capital allocation • Support product leaders with business cases, pricing strategy, and scenario modelling • Implement and monitor performance metrics (OKRs, KPIs, productivity, release efficiency) to measure R&D effectiveness and value creation SaaS Hosting, Cloud & Infrastructure Cost Management • Own forecasting, reporting, and optimization of cloud and hosting spend (AWS, Azure, Oracle, data platforms) • Partner with Engineering, DevOps, and FinOps teams to identify savings opportunities, support vendor negotiations, and improve unit economics • Build scalable frameworks for COGS modelling, multi-tenant cost allocation, and internal chargebacks Business Partnership & Cross-Functional Leadership • Influence decision-making at all levels through clear communication of financial risks, opportunities, and insights • Act as the primary finance partner to global product and engineering leadership teams • Collaborate across business units to ensure strong alignment on product P&Ls and performance outcomes Financial Operations & Governance • Strengthen financial processes, systems, and reporting capabilities across global regions • Ensure compliance with accounting standards, internal controls, and audit requirements related to technology investments • Drive continuous improvement in financial modelling, SaaS metrics reporting, and planning cycle efficiency The person: • 10+ years of progressive finance leadership experience in global technology organisations • Deep experience supporting Product Management, R&D, Engineering, or Technology Operations • Strong expertise in SaaS hosting, cloud cost management, FinOps principles, and COGS modelling • Exceptional analytical and strategic thinking skills, with the ability to translate complex technical concepts into actionable financial insights • Proven ability to influence senior executives and drive cross-functional alignmentExperience in high-growth SaaS, enterprise software, or platform businesses preferredMBA, CPA, CFA, ACA, ACCA, CIMA, or equivalent advanced qualification is a plus