Head Of Finance
18 days ago
Atherstone
Interim Head of Finance – Engineering & Manufacturing Location: On-site / Hybrid (UK-based manufacturing environment) Contract Type: Interim / Fixed-Term Contract (3–12 months) Day Rate / Salary: Competitive – dependent on experience and scope Overview We are seeking an experienced Interim Head of Finance to provide immediate leadership within an engineering/manufacturing business. The role will support the organisation through a period of operational focus, growth, system improvement, or change, ensuring strong financial control, accurate reporting, and commercially focused insight across production, supply chain, and operations. This role requires a hands-on finance leader with a deep understanding of manufacturing cost structures, margins, and operational drivers. Key Responsibilities Financial Leadership & Control • Lead the finance function, ensuring strong financial governance and control, • Oversee day-to-day finance operations including AP, AR, payroll, and cashflow, • Ensure timely production of accurate monthly management accounts, • Maintain robust balance sheet control, including stock, WIP, and accruals Manufacturing & Operational Finance • Full ownership of product costing, standard costing, and variance analysis, • Manage and report on WIP, stock valuation, and inventory controls, • Partner with operations and production teams to improve efficiency and margins, • Analyse labour, material, overhead absorption, and yield, • Support pricing, quoting, and margin analysis for engineered products Reporting, Compliance & Governance • Ensure statutory and regulatory compliance (VAT, PAYE, corporation tax), • Prepare information for year-end accounts and audits, • Liaise with auditors, banks, funders, and external advisors, • Improve reporting visibility across manufacturing KPIs Commercial & Strategic Support • Support budgeting, forecasting, and rolling forecasts, • Deliver cashflow forecasting and working capital optimisation, • Provide commercial insight to support capital investment decisions (CapEx), • Support funding, refinancing, or investor reporting where required Change & Transition • Stabilise the finance function during periods of change or growth, • Lead or support ERP / finance system improvements or implementations, • Strengthen finance processes and controls within a manufacturing setting, • Mentor and develop the existing finance team, • Ensure a smooth handover to a permanent Head of Finance or FD Key Requirements Essential • Proven experience as an Interim Head of Finance / Financial Controller / Finance Director within engineering or manufacturing, • Fully qualified accountant (ACA, ACCA, CIMA or equivalent), • Strong experience in manufacturing finance, including stock, WIP, and costing, • Advanced Excel skills and strong financial modelling capability, • Experience partnering closely with operations and production teams, • Hands-on, pragmatic approach with strong attention to detail Desirable • Previous interim or turnaround experience, • Experience in SME, PE-backed, or owner-managed manufacturing businesses, • Exposure to ERP systems (e.g. SAP, Oracle, Dynamics, Sage, NetSuite, EFACS, Epicor), • Experience supporting CapEx projects, automation, or process improvement, • Exposure to lean manufacturing or continuous improvement environments Personal Attributes • Commercially focused with an operational mindset, • Comfortable on the shop floor as well as in the boardroom, • Calm, credible, and decisive under pressure, • Able to deliver impact quickly in a fast-paced environment Start Date Immediate or short notice preferred