Finance Manager

Swadlincote - Hybrid (3 days per week at site)
Manufacturing
£55,000 - £65,000 + excellent benefits

Are you a qualified accountant who genuinely enjoys owning the month-end process, getting beneath the numbers and ensuring the balance sheet is accurate, controlled and fully understood?
We’re partnering with a successful and innovative manufacturing business to recruit a Finance Manager into a key role within its finance team.

Reporting to the Financial Controller, you’ll take full ownership of the month-end close, lead the general ledger team and ensure the accuracy and integrity of financial reporting. This role will particularly suit someone who enjoys investigating variances, understanding the story behind the numbers and maintaining strong control over the balance sheet.

Alongside the core reporting responsibilities, you’ll work closely with operations, procurement, transport and senior leadership, providing the insight and challenge needed to improve costs, controls and operational performance.

This is an excellent opportunity for a hands-on Finance Manager who enjoys combining technical accounting, detailed analysis, team leadership and commercial business partnering.

The Role

As Finance Manager, you will:

• Own and manage the complete month-end process, ensuring accounts are accurate, well controlled and delivered within agreed deadlines.
• Take ownership of the balance sheet, ensuring reconciliations are completed to a high standard and all balances are fully supported and understood.
• Investigate variances in detail, identifying the underlying operational and financial drivers behind performance.
• Manage and report on rebate liabilities.
• Act as a key finance partner to transport teams across two operational sites.
• Perform detailed variance analysis against budget and forecast, translating findings into clear and actionable insights.
• Analyse production costs and identify opportunities for cost reduction, efficiency improvements and stronger processes.
• Present the monthly management accounts pack, clearly explaining performance against budget, forecast and the prior year.
• Provide financial insight to support operational decisions, capital investment proposals and continuous improvement initiatives.
• Challenge assumptions and influence stakeholders to strengthen cost control and operational efficiency.
• Manage the preparation of annual budgets and rolling forecasts.
• Monitor profit and loss, balance sheet and cash-flow performance against budget and forecast, highlighting risks and opportunities.
• Partner with manufacturing and commercial teams to track and understand key cost drivers.
• Produce regular cost-performance reporting for senior management.
• Ensure the integrity and accuracy of financial data held within the ERP system.
• Maintain robust financial controls over inventory valuation and cost allocation.
• Oversee the annual external audit process.
• Use Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central to enhance cost tracking, reporting and financial analysis.
• Ensure all monthly, quarterly and annual reporting requirements are completed accurately and on time.
• Deliver ad hoc reporting, project work and financial analysis as required.
• Manage and support the general ledger team, helping to maintain high standards of accuracy, accountability and delivery.