Blakeney Point Search & Selection
Head of Fixed Cost Management
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Head of Fixed Cost Management
West London with regular UK and European travel
Competitive salary and package
Blakeney Point Search & Selection is partnering with a major multi-site food manufacturing group to appoint a Head of Fixed Cost Management.
Reporting to the Director of FP&A, this is a newly defined and highly influential role with responsibility for the planning, control, benchmarking and reduction of a substantial fixed-cost base across an extensive network of UK and European manufacturing operations.
The successful candidate will establish a consistent, data-led approach to cost management across the organisation. They will own and develop the group’s Zero-Based Budgeting framework, identify opportunities through internal and external benchmarking, and work with operational and functional leaders to convert those opportunities into sustainable P&L savings.
This is not simply a reporting role. It requires a commercially minded finance leader who can challenge established cost structures, influence senior stakeholders and lead complex improvement programmes across multiple sites and business units.
Key responsibilities
- Own and develop the group-wide Zero-Based Budgeting methodology, governance and review cadence.
- Lead the annual budget, quarterly reforecast and monthly outlook for the fixed-cost base, including indirect labour, utilities, maintenance, leases, IT, professional services, insurance and depreciation.
- Build internal and external benchmarks to identify cost outliers and opportunities across the manufacturing network.
- Translate benchmarking and variance analysis into a prioritised cost-reduction pipeline, with clear targets, owners, milestones and payback measures.
- Partner with site leadership, Engineering, Supply Chain, Procurement, HR and Operational Excellence to deliver sustainable savings.
- Ensure identified benefits are captured accurately within budgets, forecasts and the P&L.
- Own senior-level fixed-cost reporting, providing clear analysis of performance, risks and opportunities.
- Strengthen governance around indirect headcount, central costs, recharges, leases and asset-related costs.
- Improve reporting quality and efficiency through automation, connected planning and business intelligence tools.
- Lead and develop a direct report while operating as a virtual leader across finance and operational teams.
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About you
You will be a qualified accountant—ACA, ACCA or CIMA—with significant post-qualification experience gained within a complex FMCG, food manufacturing or industrial environment.
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You should also be able to demonstrate:
- Experience of leading Zero-Based Budgeting, zero-overhead or similarly rigorous cost-transformation programmes at scale.
- A strong record of identifying, delivering and tracking material cost savings.
- Experience within a large, multi-site and preferably multi-entity organisation.
- Strong benchmarking, project delivery and financial planning capabilities.
- The credibility to challenge senior executives, site leaders and functional cost owners using robust commercial analysis.
- Advanced Excel skills and experience of enterprise planning, ERP and business intelligence platforms.
- An ability to move confidently between detailed cost analysis and executive-level communication.
- Willingness to travel regularly across UK and European manufacturing locations.
The opportunity
This is an opportunity to build and lead a strategically important capability within a large and complex manufacturing organisation. The role offers considerable exposure to the CFO, Executive Leadership Team and senior operational stakeholders, with a direct mandate to influence business performance and embed lasting cost discipline.
For a confidential discussion, please apply through Blakeney Point Search & Selection.
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