Alexander Daniels are exclusively recruiting for a successful manufacturing business in Wolverhampton. We are looking for a ACCA qualified Senior Financial Accountant/Finance Manager to come in and over see all financial accounting and reporting. The position provides critical financial support to senior operational leadership, ensuring high-quality financial information, robust controls, and effective decision support in a fast-paced, production-led setting.
This role does offer some flexibility after probation.
Key Responsibilities
Financial Accounting
*Prepare timely and accurate monthly management accounts, including profit and loss, balance sheet, cash flow, standard costing performance, and production variance analysis.
*Lead month-end close processes, ensuring accurate accounting for production costs, overhead absorption, work-in-progress, and inventory valuations.
*Ensure financial reporting aligns with wider organisational consolidation and reporting requirements.
*Oversee core manufacturing finance reconciliations, including inventory, cost of sales, and labour/overhead postings.
Costing, Inventory & Operational Finance
*Maintain and update standard costs and overhead rates in line with operational changes.
*Analyse manufacturing variances such as material usage, labour efficiency, scrap, yield, and equipment utilisation.
*Oversee inventory integrity, including stock takes, cycle counts, and valuation in accordance with UK GAAP.
*Support operational teams with cost analysis, process efficiency reviews, and margin improvement initiatives.
Financial Control & Compliance
*Ensure all accounting complies with UK GAAP / FRS 102 and internal financial policies.
*Maintain strong internal controls, particularly around inventory, production processes, and fixed assets.
*Act as the primary contact for external auditors and support statutory reporting processes.
*Prepare indirect tax returns and information packs for statutory and tax reporting purposes.
Business Partnering
*Work closely with senior operational leaders and cross-functional teams to support effective decision-making.
*Provide clear financial insight into operational performance, working capital, and key cost drivers.
*Challenge and support stakeholders on cost control, investment appraisals, and efficiency initiatives.
Finance Integration & Change
*Lead finance integration and standardisation activities, ensuring alignment of manufacturing data, inventory processes, costings, and financial controls with organisational standards.
*Support system changes, chart of accounts alignment, and reporting framework implementation.
*Develop and maintain a consistent monthly management reporting pack for site-level and central stakeholders.
Budgeting, Forecasting & Planning
*Lead annual budgeting processes, including production volumes, labour planning, overheads, and capital expenditure.
*Deliver rolling forecasts and scenario analysis driven by operational assumptions.
*Support capital investment proposals and return-on-investment analysis.
Cash & Working Capital
*Oversee cash flow forecasting with a focus on inventory levels, purchasing patterns, supplier terms, and production efficiency.
*Support the management of working capital facilities where applicable.
*Identify and deliver opportunities to improve working capital performance.
Team Leadership (where applicable)
*Provide oversight to transactional finance activities (e.g. payables, receivables, payroll).
*Promote a culture of accuracy, continuous improvement, and strong partnership with operations.
Candidate Profile
*Qualified accountant (ACA / ACCA / CIMA)
*Experience within a manufacturing or industrial environment, ideally with exposure to standard costing and production reporting.
*Proven experience in a senior on-site or standalone finance role.
*Strong understanding of inventory accounting, cost of sales, and manufacturing cost flows.
*Confident in analysing production data and explaining operational variances to non-finance stakeholders.