Senior Finance Manager - Manufacturing
Ashford, Kent
£Competitive + Car Allowance + Bonus + Healthcare + Generous Pension + Life Assurance + Share save Scheme + Holiday Purchase

Vitae Financial Recruitment have been mandated to support this leading FTSE listed business in the search for a Senior Finance Manager (Site Finance Manager) to join their flagship, highly automated ’Smart’ manufacturing facility in Ashford. This is a high-profile, site-facing role within a business undergoing significant capital investment, offering the opportunity to play a pivotal role in shaping operational and financial performance at a site employing over 400 staff.

Working in close partnership with the Senior Leadership Team, you will act as a true business partner to the site, providing clear financial insight to support operational and strategic decision making. This role requires a proactive, driven and autonomous individual who can seamlessly integrate into the leadership team, influence non-finance stakeholders and drive performance improvements across the facility.

The role forms part of the Supply Chain Finance structure and will oversee day-to-day financial control, reporting and forecasting cycles, while providing in-depth analysis to improve site performance. You will play a key role in ensuring robust financial governance, supporting operational initiatives and delivering meaningful insight to drive cost control, productivity and margin improvement.

This varied position spans Financial Control, Performance Reporting, Financial Planning, Costing, Investment Appraisals and Decision Support.

Key Responsibilities:

- Business partner the Site Leadership Team, including the Factory General Manager and senior operational stakeholders
- Oversee site financial control including overheads, labour, volumes, stock and standard cost variances
- Deliver weekly and monthly performance reporting, forecasts and KPIs to site and divisional leadership
- Lead month-end close activities and provide clear variance analysis vs. budget and forecast
- Prepare and present site budgets and forecasts, ensuring robustness and operational ownership
- Review volume, labour and stock forecasting, highlighting risks and opportunities
Manage product costing activities, including COGS analysis and margin impact assessments
- Provide detailed product costing analysis and support evaluation of operational initiatives
- Support capital investment decisions through cost-benefit analysis and financial modelling
- Drive cost reduction initiatives through proactive challenge and collaboration with operations
- Provide ad-hoc analysis, modelling and project support to support strategic decision making
- Ensure compliance with internal controls, policies and audit requirements
- Lead and develop on-site finance support (Management Accountant)
- Act as an integral member of the Site Leadership Team contributing to overall site performance

We are looking for the following:

- Fully qualified accountant - CIMA, ACCA or ACA
- Likely background within Manufacturing / Engineering / Supply Chain or similar environment
- Strong understanding of standard costing, site finance and operational performance drivers
- Proven experience across Financial Control, Reporting, Planning and Analysis
- Demonstrable business partnering experience with senior financial and non-financial stakeholders
- Strong analytical capability with the ability to translate data into actionable insight
- Experience supporting investment appraisals and operational decision making
- Advanced Excel skills are essential and previous SAP (or similar ERP) would be highly desirable
- Self-motivated, proactive and comfortable operating in a fast-paced manufacturing environment

Please apply using the link or email you CV to

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