Finance Director

Finance Director – Industrial Manufacturing
Reporting to: Managing Director and US Group VP Finance
Location: UK Manufacturing Site
Role Purpose: To lead the financial strategy, and support commercial, and strategic direction of the UK manufacturing business, ensuring robust governance, long‑term value creation, and alignment with the objectives of the US parent. The Finance Director is a key member of the senior leadership team, acting as a strategic partner to Managing Director and providing clear insight to support operational and commercial decision‑making.
Key Responsibilities
Strategic Leadership & Business Partnering:
Act as strategic adviser to the UK Managing Director, providing clear, data‑driven guidance on business performance, KPI’s, pricing, and structural decisions.
* Lead the development of the UK 3–5 year strategic plan from a financial view aspect, ensuring alignment with US group expectations.
* Lead and control the Budget planning and execution for the business and sign off with VP Finance of the US parent company
* Ensure accurate and timely forecast are presented to the business and US Group.
* Challenge and support operational leaders in manufacturing, supply chain, sales, and engineering to drive performance improvement.
* Identify opportunities for margin enhancement, cost optimisation, and capital efficiency.
* Represent the UK business in Group-level financial discussions, presenting forecasts, strategic plans, and key risks.
Financial Management & Controls:
Oversee all accounting, financial reporting, forecasting, and cash management activities.
* Ensure compliance with UK GAAP and Group reporting standards (e.g., US GAAP where required).
* Provide full financial reporting into business review cadence, ensuring timely, accurate, and insightful submissions to the US head office.
* Maintain strong internal controls, governance, and risk management frameworks.
* Oversee treasury,
* workingcapital, liquidity and FX hedging, ensuring optimal cash levels and efficient inventory management.
Tax, R&D, and Patent Box:
Lead business corporation tax planning and compliance in coordination with external advisors and US/ UK tax teams.
* Own the R&D tax credit process: documentation, eligibility assessment, data capture, audit readiness, and alignment with HMRC guidelines.
* Manage Patent Box claims, ensuring robust technical and financial evidence to maximise relief.
* Provide internal guidance on structuring projects to maximise R&D/Patent Box opportunities.
* Monitor changes in UK tax legislation and advise the leadership team on implications.
Commercial Finance & Operational Support:
Partner with the commercial and sales teams on pricing strategy, contract evaluation, margin analysis, and customer profitability.
* Support make/buy decisions, capital investment proposals, and ROI analysis.
* Provide financial insight into manufacturing performance, throughput, yields, scrap, labour utilisation, CAPEX, and cost‑to‑serve.
* Lead product costing, standard cost reviews, and annual cost roll processes.
* Evaluate new product introductions, engineering projects, and technology investments from a financial standpoint.
Reporting to the US Parent & Group Companies:
Ensure production of clear, concise management reporting that meets US parent requirements.
* Interpret and communicate Group policies to the UK business, ensuring compliance with global standards.
* Serve as UK liaison for Group Finance, FP&A, Tax, and Internal Audit.
Leadership & Team Development:
Lead and develop the UK finance team, building capability in financial analysis, reporting, and business partnering.
* Foster a culture of continuous improvement, accountability, and operational excellence.
* Support cross-functional teams with coaching on financial literacy and business understanding.
Systems, Controls & Process Improvement:
Lead ongoing improvement of ERP (e.g., SAP, Oracle, Microsoft Dynamics) utilisation and data accuracy.
* Drive automation and simplification of financial processes.
* Ensure cybersecurity and data governance practices are adhered to in finance systems.
* Support digital transformation initiatives aligned with Group strategy.
Key Skills & Experience
Qualified accountant (ACA/ACCA/CIMA) with significant experience as a Finance Director or Senior Finance Leader in a UK manufacturing environment with ideally 5-10 years exposure or similiar calibre.
Experience working within a US-owned or internationally owned business (preferred) with strong understanding of UK corporation tax, R&D tax credits, and Patent Box.
You'll demonstrable business partnering and leadership skills with non‑financial stakeholders with strong commercial acumen developing high performance finance functions and experience supporting manufacturing operations.
Personal Attributes include highly analytical, commercially minded, and proactive with the ability to challenge constructively while maintaining strong relationships.
You'll be hands-on and willing to dive into operational detail when required, a strategic thinker with the ability to influence across the organisation internally and externally