Stephen Peare
CFO · COO · Finance & Operations Leader
Twenty years running the finance and operations behind growing businesses across the US, Europe and Africa — from cost base and cash to banking, systems, people and the structures that let a company scale internationally.
About
I run the finance and operations side of growing businesses — from a five-site leisure operator to a €237M international engineering group — and I'm happiest where the numbers and the day-to-day operation meet.
I'm hands-on with the work that makes growth stick: cost and working capital, banking and funding, systems, people, compliance, and the entity structures behind international expansion. I've led due diligence on acquisitions, overseen disposals, and steered a business through restructuring as well as through 35% annual growth. I started out as an electrical engineer, trained in audit, and have run a business of my own along the way. Today I'm CFO of TFI Marine, with a particular interest in green, innovative businesses.
Track record
Scaling an engineering group
Designer Group
2017 – 2021
Turnkey engineering and sustainable energy across Ireland, the UK, Europe, Africa and the US.
- Part of the leadership team behind +35% YoY growth to €237M turnover
- Negotiated €46.5M of credit facilities and managed global banking relationships
- Led due diligence on two acquisitions and completed the sale of 50% of the Irish subsidiary
- Incorporated six entities and integrated US businesses into group reporting
Cost and restructuring
International Leisure Group
2008 – 2017
Crunch Fitness, Ireland's premier health and fitness clubs: five sites, 11,000+ members, €10M turnover.
- Cut costs €1.5M in year one and a further 7% in year two
- Closed two sites and reduced headcount by 30%
- Co-negotiated restructure of impaired loan facilities
- Oversaw finance, HR and IT, and rolled out a new CRM and website
Margin and working capital
Viking Marine
2001 – 2006
Marine leisure retail, e-commerce and boat sales on Ireland's east coast.
- Directed operations and finance, leading a team of 12
- Grew the business 5–10% a year
- Cut working capital by 33%
- Renegotiated supplier terms to lift gross margin from 38% to 44%
Experience
TFI Marine
Chief Financial Officer
2023 – Present
Offshore mooring technology for floating offshore wind and aquaculture, based in Dublin.
Vaia Talent
COO / CFO
2021 – 2023
Boutique talent firm serving high-growth start-ups and blue-chip clients on four continents.
Designer Group
Corporate Finance Director
2017 – 2021
International turnkey engineering and sustainable energy provider.
International Leisure Group
Financial Controller → CFO
2008 – 2017
Operator of Crunch Fitness health and fitness clubs.
Cooney Carey
Audit Senior
2006 – 2008
Dublin audit, tax and business advisory practice.
Viking Marine
General Manager / Accountant
2001 – 2006
Marine leisure retail and e-commerce on Ireland's east coast.
Credentials
Chartered Accountancy
FCA · CPA
Qualified in industry and practice, across multinationals and SMEs.
Trinity College Dublin
PG Cert, Climate Entrepreneurship
Postgraduate study in building and financing climate-focused businesses.
Engineering
Dublin Institute of Technology
Engineer's degree in Electrical Engineering Technologies, plus Microsoft Certified Systems Engineer.
Let's talk
Get in touch about finance and operations leadership, corporate finance and M&A, or scaling a business internationally.