Your new company
Hays Senior Finance are partnering with an established manufacturing business with annual turnover of approximately £13m, who focus on efficient production and tight margin control, are looking for a commercially driven Financial Controller based in Thetford, Suffolk.
Your new role
You will lead the finance team that is central to operational decision-making and cash management; this role will strengthen the day-to-day financial control and improve reporting to support growth. As the Financial Controller, you will take ownership of the monthly management accounts and cash forecasting, which will require you to work closely with all aspects of the business in controlling operational costs. Your primary focus will be protecting and improving margins across production, sales pricing and cost of sales while ensuring robust working capital management (including invoice discounting arrangements).

Team leadership - manage, coach and develop the transactional finance team to deliver accurate, timely processing and month-end close.
Management accounts - prepare monthly management accounts, variance analysis and board packs for the Finance Director.
Cash management & forecasting - own daily cash position, short-term cash forecasting and weekly cash reporting; optimise working capital and manage invoice discounting processes.
AP & AR partnership - work with Accounts Payable and Receivable to enforce controls, reduce days outstanding, and control operational spend.
Stock & production control - manage stock movement accounting, reconcile inventory balances, and ensure production costs are captured accurately.
Pricing & cost of sales monitoring - monitor sales prices, margins and cost of sales; identify margin erosion and recommend corrective actions.
Budgeting & forecasting - lead budgeting cycles, rolling forecasts and scenario planning to support operational decisions.
Process improvement - design and implement improvements to reporting systems, month-end routines and financial controls (ERP, Excel models, automation).
Compliance & controls - maintain SOX-style controls where applicable, ensure statutory accounting deadlines are met and support external audit.
Stakeholder engagement - present financial insight to commercial, operations and senior leadership to influence pricing, production and cost decisions.
What you’ll need to succeed
The successful candidate will be a Part Qualified or Qualified Accountant (ACCA, CIMA, ACA or equivalent). You will have proven experience ideally in a manufacturing environment with responsibility for management accounts, inventory accounting and cost of production and able to demonstrate a strong track record of managing operational costs and protecting margins.
You will have a hands-on approach regarding cash forecasting and daily cash management along with experience, ideally of invoice discounting or similar working capital facilities. Strong systems experience with advanced Excel is essential. You will have strong leadership and communication skills and be able to translate financial information into clear operational actions. This is an ideal opportunity for a Financial Controller who is highly attentive to detail, process-oriented and comfortable driving change across finance and operational teams.

What you’ll get in return
This role will be office-based 5 days a week in Thetford, working from 8.30am to 5.00pm. 25 days holiday plus bank holidays, pension and a flexible salary package is being offered, dependent on experience and ability. Please contact Andy Jarman on for more details.
What you need to do now
If you’re interested in this role, click ’apply now’ to forward an up-to-date copy of your CV, or call us now.
If this job isn’t quite right for you, but you are looking for a new position, please contact us for a confidential discussion about your career.
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