JPL Flavours
Finance Director
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Company Description
JPL Flavours is founded and run by a flavourist, built on creativity, integrity, and real relationships. We keep things simple; just honest, straightforward communication from people who care about what they do. We’re here to challenge the traditional flavour industry, bringing energy, flexibility, and a better way of working.
Above all, we care about flavour, our customers, and doing business properly, efficiently, honestly, and with heart.
Role Description
As a key member of the Senior Leadership Team, the Finance Director will provide strategic financial leadership to support JPL Flavours' continued growth, profitability, and operational excellence. The postholder will be responsible for developing and executing the company's financial strategy, ensuring robust financial controls, providing commercial insight, and safeguarding the long-term financial sustainability of the business.
Working closely with the Managing Director and departmental leaders, the Finance Director will drive informed decision-making through high-quality financial analysis, support investment and growth initiatives, and ensure compliance with all statutory and regulatory obligations.
Strategic Leadership
- Develop and deliver JPL Flavours' financial strategy in line with business objectives.
- Act as a trusted advisor to the Managing Director and Senior Leadership Team.
- Support the delivery of growth plans through robust financial planning and commercial analysis.
- Identify opportunities to improve profitability, operational efficiency, and cash generation.
- Lead financial due diligence for acquisitions, investments, or strategic partnerships.
- Provide financial modelling and scenario planning to support key business decisions.
Financial Management & Reporting
- Oversee all aspects of financial management, including budgeting, forecasting, cash flow, and reporting.
- Produce timely and accurate monthly management accounts and board reports.
- Lead the annual budgeting and forecasting process.
- Monitor business performance against budget and strategic targets.
- Manage banking relationships and funding facilities.
- Ensure effective management of working capital and cash flow.
- Deliver meaningful financial and operational KPIs to support business performance.
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Manufacturing & Commercial Finance
- Drive margin improvement through detailed analysis of product profitability and manufacturing performance.
- Monitor stock valuation, inventory controls, and cost accounting processes.
- Partner with Operations and Purchasing teams to manage raw material and ingredient cost inflation.
- Analyse production efficiencies, labour costs, waste, and yield performance.
- Support pricing reviews and customer contract negotiations through robust commercial analysis.
- Evaluate capital expenditure projects and investment opportunities.
Governance, Risk & Compliance
- Ensure compliance with UK accounting standards, taxation requirements, and statutory obligations.
- Lead year-end audit activities and maintain relationships with external auditors, banks, insurers, and professional advisors.
- Maintain strong financial controls and governance processes across the business.
- Develop and manage risk management frameworks.
- Ensure compliance with all relevant legal, financial, and corporate governance requirements.
Leadership & People Management
- Lead, mentor, and develop a growing finance team.
- Foster a culture of accountability, continuous improvement, and collaboration.
- Support talent development and succession planning within the finance function.
- Work cross-functionally to improve financial awareness and accountability across all departments.
Systems & Continuous Improvement
- Drive improvements in finance systems, reporting capabilities, and business intelligence.
- Support ERP and technology development projects.
- Improve financial processes to increase efficiency, accuracy, and scalability.
- Champion data-driven decision making throughout the organisation.
Key Accountabilities
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The Finance Director will be accountable for:
- Delivering annual EBITDA and profitability targets.
- Maintaining healthy cash flow and working capital performance.
- Ensuring accurate and timely financial reporting.
- Managing financial risk and compliance obligations.
- Improving gross margins and manufacturing profitability.
- Supporting business growth and strategic investment decisions.
- Building and developing a capable finance function.
Person Specification
Essential Qualifications
- ACA, ACCA, or CIMA qualified.
- Degree-level qualification or equivalent experience.
Essential Experience
- Proven Finance experience, including senior leadership responsibility.
- Experience in a manufacturing, food production, ingredients, flavourings, or FMCG environment.
- Proven track record of leading financial strategy and business performance improvement.
- Strong experience of budgeting, forecasting, cash flow management, and financial controls.
- Experience presenting financial information at Board level.
- Experience leading and developing finance teams.
Essential Skills
- Strong commercial and strategic thinking.
- Excellent financial analysis and modelling skills.
- Strong business partnering and stakeholder management capability.
- Excellent communication and influencing skills.
- Strong leadership and people development skills.
- High levels of integrity, professionalism, and attention to detail.
Desirable
- Experience within flavourings, food ingredients, food manufacturing, or B2B manufacturing sectors.
- Experience supporting international growth.
- Knowledge of ERP systems and finance transformation projects.
- Experience of acquisitions and integration activity.
Personal Attributes
- Commercially focused and results-driven.
- Strategic thinker who can balance long-term planning with operational delivery.
- Confident and credible leader.
- Proactive problem solver.
- Strong decision-maker.
- Collaborative and approachable management style.
- Committed to continuous improvement and innovation.
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