Medlock Partners
Financial Director
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Role: Financial Director (SME)
Location: East Lancashire
Salary: From £90,000 - £110,000 + Company Car, bonus
Reports to: Chief Executive Officer (CEO)
Direct Reports: Finance Team (5)
Medlock Partners are delighted to be partnering a market leading SME manufacturing business based in the Lancashire area.
Forming part of a wider International Manufacturing group, this successful and niche Manufacturing business boasts a fantastic reputation in the industry and following a recent restructure, are now seeking an experienced and hands-on Finance Director with significant influence to navigate the business through this next phase of their journey.
The successful candidate will literally have "carte blanche" to come in and analyse, review, implement and improve processes from top to bottom, highlighting areas of risk, improvement and potentially seek a new finance system to improve financial reporting procedures and deadlines.
For the right individual, this role offers a genuine opportunity to develop into the future Managing Director of the business, making it an outstanding opportunity for an ambitious finance leader with strong commercial acumen and broader business leadership aspirations.
The Opportunity
The Financial Director will be a key member of the Executive Leadership Team, acting as the principal financial adviser to the Managing Director and Board. The successful candidate will lead all aspects of the finance function while helping shape commercial strategy, operational performance and long-term business growth.
This is a highly visible, hands-on leadership role requiring someone who is equally comfortable analysing financial performance, challenging operational decisions, supporting commercial negotiations and presenting strategic recommendations at Board level.
Beyond finance, the successful candidate will become deeply involved in all aspects of the business, helping drive operational excellence, profitability, continuous improvement and sustainable growth.
Key Responsibilities:
Strategic Leadership
- Partner closely with the Managing Director to develop and execute the company's strategic objectives.
- Act as a trusted adviser to the Board on all financial and commercial matters.
- Contribute to overall business strategy beyond the finance function.
- Support strategic investment decisions and business expansion initiatives.
- Develop long-term financial plans aligned with corporate objectives.
- Evaluate acquisitions, investments and major capital expenditure opportunities.
- Support the implementation of Group initiatives and best practices across the business.
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Financial Leadership
- Lead the finance function, ensuring robust financial governance and controls.
- Deliver accurate monthly, quarterly and annual financial reporting.
- Produce insightful management information to support decision making.
- Manage annual budgeting, forecasting and financial planning processes.
- Maintain strong cash flow management and working capital control.
- Oversee treasury management and banking relationships.
- Ensure compliance with all statutory, regulatory and Group reporting requirements.
- Lead year-end audit processes and relationships with external auditors.
Commercial Finance
- Drive profitability across all business activities.
- Analyse margins by product, customer and project.
- Challenge operational performance through meaningful financial analysis.
- Identify opportunities for cost reduction and process improvement.
- Evaluate pricing strategies and commercial contracts.
- Support sales teams with commercial analysis and profitability reviews.
- Ensure robust financial appraisal of significant customer and supplier agreements.
Operational Partnership
- Working alongside operational leadership, the Financial Director will:
- Bridge the gap between financial reporting and operational decision-making.
- Support manufacturing and operational efficiency initiatives.
- Develop meaningful KPIs across all business functions.
- Drive accountability for financial performance throughout the organisation.
- Work closely with department heads to improve business performance.
- Translate complex financial information into clear commercial insights for non-financial managers.
- Challenge existing processes and identify opportunities for continuous improvement.
Leadership & Team Development
- Lead, mentor and develop the finance team.
- Build a high-performance finance function focused on business partnership.
- Foster a culture of accountability, continuous improvement and collaboration.
- Develop succession plans within the finance function.
- Encourage professional development and continuous learning.
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Governance & Risk
- Maintain effective internal control systems.
- Identify and manage financial and commercial risks.
- Ensure compliance with Group policies and procedures.
- Monitor business performance against strategic objectives.
- Support the Board with risk management and governance activities.
Candidate Profile:
- Qualified Accountant (ACA, ACCA or CIMA).
- Minimum of 10 years' senior financial leadership experience within a Manufacturing environment.
- Previous experience as a Financial Director, Finance Director, Head of Finance or senior Financial Controller.
- Strong commercial finance experience within construction, manufacturing, building products, contracting or other project-based industries.
- Proven experience partnering with CEOs and Boards.
- Track record of driving profitability and business improvement.
- Experience managing change within a growing organisation.
Skills & Knowledge
- Outstanding commercial and financial acumen.
- Strong analytical and problem-solving capability.
- Ability to evaluate complex contracts and commercial arrangements.
- Excellent forecasting and financial planning skills.
- Strong understanding of operational finance.
- Experience presenting to Boards and senior stakeholders.
- Ability to influence at every level of the organisation.
- Excellent communication skills with both financial and non-financial audiences.
Career Progression
This appointment is viewed as a key succession role within the organisation.
The Board recognises that outstanding business leadership increasingly requires strong commercial and financial capability. Accordingly, the successful candidate will be given opportunities to broaden their responsibilities beyond finance, gaining exposure to operations, sales, manufacturing, strategic planning and overall business leadership.
Subject to performance and business needs, there is a clear opportunity for the successful individual to progress into the role of Managing Director in the future, providing strategic leadership for the entire business while continuing to work closely with the wider group.
This role represents an exceptional opportunity for an ambitious finance leader seeking to make a lasting impact on a successful manufacturing business while positioning themselves for future executive leadership.
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