Background

LaplandUK is a purpose-driven entertainment company that was conceived in 2007 by Mike & Alison Battle, a couple with a passion for reimagining the Father Christmas myth and creating the ultimate immersive Christmas experience where families could celebrate the wonder of childhood and specifically, their children’s precious fleeting years of belief.

Frustrated by multiple experiences of the poor treatment of their own sons’ ‘belief’, Mike and Alison embarked on a 17-year journey to elevate this special moment of childhood through their original storytelling world and bring it to life: Lapland. Their ground-breaking immersive show opened in Tunbridge Wells in 2007 and immediately captured the attention and hearts of parents nationwide. Powered by their purpose to ‘honour childhood together,’ the couple partnered with Hollywood set designers and West End performance professionals to produce an experience of unprecedented quality and detail. The show moved to Ascot in 2013 and has now welcomed over 1.5 million ‘believers,’ with tickets selling out on release for what the press now terms ‘the Glastonbury of Christmas’.

The Role – Fractional CFO

During 2023, the Battles strengthened their senior leadership team with the recruitment of a proven Live Show Director from IMG who is preparing the launch of a second live show in Cheshire, UK in 2025. The opportunity to continue show expansion is material, both domestically and internationally, through 1st party and 3rd party (franchise) operations, with plans to launch a first international show in 2026/27.

Alongside plans for the live expansion, Lapland has also turned its attention to two additional channels to reach parents and children outside of the live event itself. Firstly, the consumer product opportunity based on their story IP, and how they could bring the authentic magic of the LaplandUK live show into the home via eCommerce. In 2024 Lapland launched a number of initiatives (personalised Letters from Lapland, Christmas Eve Boxes and more), which drove their eCommerce revenues by x10 in 2023.

Secondly, more attention was spent on Lapland’s Story IP, with the launch of their Elfcast (podcast), which hit number 1 in the UK Family Charts (and top 10 podcasts worldwide) over Christmas. The content team are now exploring options to bring their characters and stories to life through more audio and video throughout the year, resulting in greater connection to both parents and children yearlong.

The combination of Live, commerce & content/IP verticals sets Lapland on the path to becoming the definitive, global Christmas brand for the 21st Century.

The growth plan sees the upgrade of LaplandUK’s system architecture with new ERP, Single Guest (Customer) View and material improvements in Lapland’s digital front end (website & app to allow Ticketing, eCom & Content to be accessed in one place) as well as investment in new strategic / leadership and tactical / execution roles across all business functions.

With such big aspirations, LaplandUK is seeking a true believer and mission-aligned Fractional Chief Financial Officer (CFO) to help transition the finance function, adding the ability to plan, finance and evaluate a complex global expansion. The new CFO will support strategy development, planning and budgeting, scenario planning, capital projects, complex partnerships and more. You will have deep experience working in a multinational business, with premium brands and multiple business units. You must be able to bring that knowledge and adapt it to LaplandUK, preparing the finance function for the next phase of their journey.

To support LaplandUK in this phase of their journey you will be able to blend creative ambition with financial management, mix commercial rigour with rapid analysis and modelling and appreciate long-term value over short-term returns. 

 Key Responsibilities

• Strategy Support. Support the development of the global strategy, evaluating options, creating scenarios and ensuring the right financing and legal structures are in place.
• Forecasting & Planning. Own reporting and forecasting of financial and other KPIs, continuously refining assumptions. Ensure rigorous cash flow and capital planning.

• Budgeting & Reporting. Supporting business units with developing and managing their budgets. Implementing a new reporting methodology that creates confidence in financial decision-making.  

• Leadership and Mentorship. Lead and develop a world-class finance team, supporting their individual learning as well as team processes and capabilities. 

• Financial Systems. Help define financial platforms and systems that will support and grow alongside the company’s fast-paced growth. 

• Special Projects. There are likely to be many inbound and internally driven ‘left of field’ ideas and opportunities along the journey. You will evaluate and challenge these ideas and plans, to ensure rigorous execution and balance the enthusiasm of the leadership team. 

Experience Requirements

Essential:

• Mission Driven. You understand the heart of LaplandUK and its mission as a business. You are a true believer.
• CFO Experience. 4+ years experience leading the Finance function in a fast growth company with > 100 employees.
• Building Finance Function. Have built from scratch or levelled up a Finance function within a high-growth organisation.
• Business Complexity. Have operated in a multinational organisation (including the US) with premium consumer brands and multiple diverse business units.

• High EQ & IQ

Desirable:

• Business Builder. Experience outside of the ‘core finance’ functions of a company, e.g. strategy, operations, or corporate development. 
• Strategic Mindset. Experience in Investment Banking, Strategy Consulting or and MBA,
• Fractional Experience. Successful track record as a fractional CFO
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Time Requirement

This is estimated to require two days per week to start. This may trend down as key pillars are implemented and the Finance team shapes up. 

Location

We would expect around half of your time working with Lapland to be at the London office with the wider team. 

Remuneration

Remuneration will depend on your experience but is likely to be £1,000-£1,400 per day.  

Next Steps

If interested and suitable, please apply below.