Director of Finance

ABOUT SQUATWOLF SQUATWOLF is a performance-driven gymwear brand born in Dubai and built for athletes across the globe. With a cult following in the Middle East and growing global presence, we are on a mission to become the world’s most desirable gymwear brand. As we accelerate our expansion through omni-channel retail and international markets, we’re looking for a Director of Finance who can be both a strategic thought partner and a sharp execution leader. SQUATWOLF.COM ROLE OVERVIEW We're looking for a Director of Finance to act as the CFO of the business, owning financial strategy, fundraising readiness, financial control, and supplier negotiations. This is a high-impact leadership role, responsible for shaping the financial backbone of the company through its next growth phase. You'll lead FP&A, financial controlling, and planning, and you'll be the one who's built this before, scaling a finance function from the ground up inside a founder-led, PE-backed consumer brand, leading capital raises, and driving profitability across e-commerce, retail, and wholesale. You'll partner directly with the Co-Founder & CEO and build the team SQUATWOLF needs to scale internationally. KEY RESPONSIBILITIES Strategic Finance & Fundraising Leadership • Lead company-wide financial planning, budgeting, and forecasting processes • Build and manage short- and long-term financial models to support growth scenarios, valuation, and future fundraising or exit planning • Lead or support capital raises and investor relations, including due diligence, negotiation, and board/investor reporting • Partner with the Co-Founder & CEO on strategic decisions using data-driven financial insight • Build frameworks for profitability, pricing, and margin optimization across channels Financial Control & Operational Excellence • Own the monthly closing process, ensuring accuracy of the P&L, balance sheet, and cash flow • Own cash management, including runway, working capital, and treasury • Build and refine internal controls, financial processes, and reporting standards that scale with the business • Ensure full compliance with financial regulations, audit requirements, and tax policies Cash Conversion, Supplier & Commercial Negotiations • Lead end-to-end supplier and partner financial negotiations, with a laser focus on extending payment terms and improving cash cycles • Negotiate commercial terms across factories, vendors, landlords, and strategic or JV partners • Build dashboards and routines to monitor supplier exposure, liabilities, and capital efficiency Omni-Channel & Inventory Economics • Own financial performance and unit economics across e-commerce, retail, and wholesale, ensuring channel-level profitability • Work with planning, logistics, and merchandising to align inventory levels with sales forecasts and cash flow goals • Build frameworks for assessing new store rollouts, market entries, and investment opportunities: incorporating inventory, cash conversion, and payback analysis International Expansion & Team Building • Own regional finance, compliance, and operational build-out as SQUATWOLF enters new markets • Build and lead a high-performing finance team across FP&A, controlling, and planning • Work cross-functionally with operations, sourcing, marketing, and retail to embed financial discipline across the business • Present regular business performance reporting to the board and investors ABOUT YOU • 8+ years in finance, including experience as a Finance Director/CFO or senior FP&A leader inside a founder-led, high-growth consumer or retail brand • A track record leading or playing a key role in capital raises (equity or debt) and managing investor relationships • Deep experience across omni-channel retail economics, e-commerce, retail, wholesale, or B2B, with a clear grasp of channel-level profitability and unit economics • Experience negotiating JV, franchise, or strategic partnership terms in new or international markets • Comfortable owning cash management, treasury, and working capital in a fast-growth, inventory-led business • Qualified Accountant (CA, ACCA, CPA) or equivalent • Strong leadership, communication, and stakeholder management skills: has built and led finance teams of 5 or more • Thrives in a fast-paced, founder-led environment where speed, ownership, and judgment matter Show more Show less

ABOUT YOU: 8–12 years of experience in finance, with at least 3–5 years in a senior role leading FP&A, Controlling and Planning. Experience in a fashion, apparel, or inventory-led business is essential. Proven track record of managing cash conversion cycles, supplier payment negotiations, and complex vendor relationships. Highly analytical with a deep understanding of unit economics, profitability levers, and forecasting in a fast-growth business. Strong leadership, communication, and stakeholder management skills. Ability to thrive in a fast-paced, founder-led environment where speed, ownership, and judgment matter. Qualified Accountant (CA, ACCA, CPA) or equivalent preferred.

Strategic Finance Leadership: Lead company-wide financial planning, budgeting, and forecasting processes; Partner with founders and leadership on key strategic decisions using data-driven financial insights; Develop and manage short and long-term financial models to support growth scenarios and business cases; Build frameworks for profitability, pricing, and margin optimization across channels. Financial Control & Operational Excellence: Own the monthly closing process, ensure accuracy of P&L, balance sheet, and cash flow; Oversee cash management, working capital, and treasury functions; Build and refine internal controls, financial processes, and reporting standards that scale with the business; Ensure full compliance with financial regulations, audit requirements, and tax policies. Cash Conversion Optimization & Supplier Management: Lead end-to-end partner and supplier financial negotiations — with a laser focus on extending payment terms and improving cash cycles; Collaborate closely with sourcing and merchandising to ensure best-in-class commercial terms with factories and vendors; Build dashboards and routines to monitor supplier exposure, liabilities, and capital efficiency. Inventory & Fashion Business Expertise: Work hand-in-hand with planning, logistics, and merchandising to align inventory levels with sales forecasts and cash flow goals; Optimize OTB (Open-to-Buy), reduce overstock risk, and improve inventory turnover; Provide financial leadership in seasonal buy planning, product drops, and new collection launches. Team Building & Cross-Functional Collaboration: Build and lead a high-performance finance team across FP&A, controlling, and planning; Work cross-functionally with operations, sourcing, marketing, and retail to embed financial discipline across all departments; Present regular business performance reports to the board and investors.