Head of Finance & Operations | Organic Food & Beverage Scale-Up | London / Hybrid
The Client
A founder-led, organic food and beverage business with a rapidly growing UK & Ireland division that has doubled year-on-year and is on track to exceed £15m. Products are stocked in major UK supermarkets and online platforms, with significant new distribution deals in the pipeline across the UK and internationally. The business manufactures in the UK and is genuinely mission-driven, with sustainability and product quality underpinning every commercial decision.
The Role
Reporting to the Founders, the Head of Finance & Operations will lead the finance function and own the operational planning processes across the UK, Ireland and Middle East regions. With the support of a Finance Assistant and an experienced Supply Chain Manager, you will oversee day-to-day financial operations alongside the S&OP process that connects commercial forecasts, inventory planning, production and financial performance. This is a hands-on leadership role with genuine breadth – and as the business scales, there is a clear path to broader operational ownership.
Key Responsibilities
- Own the full month-end close process and delivery of management accounts
- Lead budgeting, forecasting and FP&A, including customer profitability and gross margin analysis
- Manage cash flow forecasting, working capital and balance sheet reconciliations
- Oversee statutory reporting: annual accounts, audit, tax, VAT and packaging tax compliance
- Mentor and develop a trainee accountant
- Lead the S&OP process, aligning sales forecasts, inventory requirements, production planning and financial objectives
- Oversee inventory reporting and stock management, balancing availability with working capital efficiency
- Manage relationships with third-party manufacturers, co-packers and 3PL providers
- Support senior leadership on retailer negotiations, commercial agreements and international expansion
Essential Experience
- Fully qualified accountant (ACA, ACCA, CIMA or equivalent)
- Hands-on experience in a high-growth SME, scale-up or entrepreneurial business
- Proven experience leading the month-end close and delivering management reporting
- Experience working closely with supply chain, operations or inventory teams
- Strong commercial acumen and stakeholder management skills
- Solid understanding of working capital management in an inventory-led business
- Strong Excel and financial modelling skills
Desirable Experience
- Background in Food & Beverage, Consumer Goods, FMCG or Manufacturing
- Exposure to S&OP processes
- Experience managing third-party manufacturers, co-packers or 3PL providers
- Exposure to international markets or multi-entity environments
- Experience with Oracle Cloud or a similar ERP system
Package
Salary: £90,000 – £100,000 + bonus
Location: Central London (hybrid, 2 days per week in office)
Start Date: ASAP; up to 3 months’ notice considered
At Harmonic, we are dedicated to fostering an inclusive and equitable workplace. We actively welcome applications from individuals of all backgrounds and assure you that every candidate will be thoughtfully considered for the roles we represent, without regard to race, religion, gender expression, disability, or sexual orientation.