Finance Director with experience in the Manufacturing field

Finance Director - Manufacturing

Location: Onsite - Liverpool, United Kingdom

Role Overview

The Manufacturing Finance Director will play a critical role in driving value creation within a private equity-backed manufacturing business. Acting as a trusted partner to the Managing Director and senior leadership team, the role is responsible for financial strategy, operational finance, and performance improvement, with a strong focus on EBITDA growth, cash generation, and scalable financial controls.

This is a hands on leadership role suited to a commercially minded finance leader who thrives in a fast paced, results driven environment.

Key Responsibilities Manufacturing Finance & Operational Performance

• Lead all aspects of manufacturing finance, including standard costing, product costing, variance analysis, and margin management.
• Partner closely with operations to improve OEE, labour efficiency, scrap, yield, and inventory turns.
• Drive cost transparency and accountability across plants and cost centres.

Planning, Budgeting & Investor Reporting

• Own the annual budget, rolling forecasts, and long range plan aligned to PE timelines.
• Deliver timely, accurate monthly management accounts and KPI packs for board and investor reporting.
• Provide clear commentary on performance versus budget, forecast, and investment case.

Cash, Working Capital & Capital Allocation

• Drive strong cash generation through active working capital management (inventory, payables, receivables).
• Evaluate and support capital investment cases, including ROI and post investment reviews.

Governance, Controls & Compliance

• Strengthen financial controls, governance, and reporting processes.
• Ensure compliance with UK GAAP / IFRS, tax, and statutory reporting requirements.
• Participate in external audit processes and manage local relationships with advisors and lenders.

Transformation, Systems & Scalability

• Lead finance transformation initiatives to improve data quality, reporting speed, and insight.
• Support ERP implementation or optimisation where required.
• Build scalable finance processes to support growth.

Leadership & Team Development

• Lead and develop a high performing finance team with a strong performance culture.
• Promote accountability, pace, and continuous improvement across the finance function.

Skills & Experience Essential

• Fully qualified accountant (ACA, ACCA, or CIMA).
• Senior finance leadership experience within a manufacturing or industrial environment.
• Strong operational finance, costing, and margin management expertise.
• Experience supporting integrations or carve outs.

Personal Attributes

• Commercial, analytical, and outcome focused.
• Comfortable challenging operational and leadership teams.
• Hands on, resilient, and able to operate at pace.
• Clear communicator with strong stakeholder management skills.