Chief Financial Officer (CFO) – Senior Finance Leader

About the role

The organisation is a large, safety‑critical transport company based in Dublin and is currently in an active mobilisation phase. The Chief Financial Officer will own the finance function of a newly established entity, setting strategic financial direction while also getting involved in day‑to‑day operational details.

Key responsibilities

• Develop and deliver financial strategy aligned with contractual, operational and commercial objectives.
• Establish and embed robust financial controls, governance frameworks and reporting structures.
• Manage all financial reporting obligations to senior leadership, group boards, headquarters and external regulators.
• Oversee treasury, cash‑flow management and procurement functions.
• Lead budget planning, forecasting and financial modelling across a complex, multi‑stakeholder operation.
• Partner with senior operational leaders to provide commercially focused financial insight and decision support.
• Oversee IT and cybersecurity functions in collaboration with technical leads.
• Ensure compliance with Irish financial reporting obligations, corporate governance requirements and contractual covenants.
• Drive development of finance systems, processes and reporting infrastructure, embedding best practice from the outset.
• Oversee capital expenditure planning, asset investment decisions and funding requirements.
• Support international group‑level financial initiatives and contribute to shared reporting frameworks.

Required profile

• Qualified accountant (ACA, ACCA, CIMA or equivalent).
• Significant senior financial leadership experience within a large, complex organisation.
• Direct experience in transport operations (bus, ferry or rail) is essential.
• Proven track record at CFO, Finance Director or equivalent level in a complex operational environment.
• Experience managing financial reporting across group structures or matrix organisations.

Required skills

• Financial strategy development and execution.
• Design and implementation of financial controls and governance frameworks.
• Comprehensive financial reporting to multiple stakeholder groups.
• Treasury, cash‑flow and procurement management.
• Budgeting, forecasting and financial modelling.
• Commercial insight and decision‑support for senior operational leaders.
• Oversight of IT systems and cybersecurity from a finance perspective.
• Compliance with Irish reporting standards and contractual covenants.
• Finance systems design, process optimisation and reporting infrastructure.
• Capital expenditure planning and funding strategy.