Finance & Operations Manager

We are partnering with a well-established UK manufacturing business within the engineering sector to appoint a Finance & Operations Manager into a key senior leadership position, this position is based in Great Barr.
  
This is a highly influential role, responsible for leading the finance function while also playing a wider operational and commercial role within the business. The successful candidate will act as a key member of the Senior Management Team, providing financial insight, driving performance, and supporting strategic decision-making across the organisation.
  
Salary is between £40,000 to £45,000 depending on experience and benefits include:

• 33 days holiday including Bank Holidays
• Free on-site car parking
• Location: Office-based, 5 days per week

  
As the Finance & Operations Manager, you will:

• Report directly to the Managing Director and take full ownership of the finance function and support wider operational activities across the business
• Lead and develop a small finance team (3 staff)
• Be responsible for month-end and year-end processes using Xero
• Prepare monthly management accounts and board reporting packs
• Lead budgeting and forecasting across the business
• Produce cash flow forecasts and managing cash position
• Oversee payroll, purchase ledger, sales ledger, credit control, and payment runs
• Be responsible for the management of banking relationships and facilities
• Provide financial insight into gross margin, cost drivers, and operational performance
• Analyse material, labour, and overhead variances
• Support product-level profitability analysis and commercial reporting
• Be involved in wider operational support including HR and IT where required
• Assist with specification and implementation of business software systems across the organisation
• Support the rollout of new systems and processes (including low/no-code tools such as Zoho)

  
As the Finance & Operations Manager, you will have:

• Hands-on, commercially focused finance experience who is comfortable operating in a broader business-facing role rather than purely finance-based reporting
• A background in a commercial or manufacturing environment (not solely practice-based)
• Strong management accounting and financial reporting experience
• Proven ability to lead finance processes and small teams
• Advanced Excel and strong MS Office skills
• Experience using Xero accounting software
• Experience involved in business system specification and implementation

  
We are seeking a candidate who demonstrates:

• Excellent communication skills, with the ability to engage confidently and effectively across all levels of the organisation
• Strong commercial awareness and a clear understanding of key business drivers
• A proactive, hands-on, and solutions-focused approach to work
• Flexibility and adaptability in response to evolving business needs
• A strong work ethic, with a reliable, diligent, and detail-oriented approach
• A positive, collaborative mindset with the ability to work effectively as part of a wider team

View Full Details