Financial Controller

Financial Controller (Manufacturing)

Full-time | Permanent
Up to £75,000 + benefits
Monday–Thursday 8:30am–5:00pm | Friday 8:30am–4:30pm

About the role

We’re recruiting for a hands-on Financial Controller to lead the finance function within a fast-paced manufacturing and production environment. This is a key leadership role, ideal for someone who understands the commercial drivers behind manufacturing operations – from cost control and stock management to margin improvement and operational efficiency.

You’ll play a pivotal role in ensuring financial accuracy while supporting strategic decision-making across production, supply chain, and senior leadership teams.

Key responsibilities

This role blends financial control with operational insight, giving you real influence across the business:

• Taking ownership of the end-to-end finance function within a manufacturing setting

• Overseeing stock accounting, inventory valuation, and cost of goods sold

• Leading the production of monthly management accounts, statutory reporting, and compliance returns
• Driving budgeting and forecasting, with a focus on production costs, margins, and cashflow
• Strengthening financial controls, internal processes, and risk management frameworks
• Managing and developing a finance team across sales ledger, purchase ledger, payroll, and general ledger
• Delivering accurate balance sheet reconciliations, including stock, accruals, and prepayments
• Supporting cost analysis, variance reporting, and KPI tracking across manufacturing operations
• Handling taxation requirements (VAT, Corporation Tax, R&D, Customs & Excise, environmental taxes)
• Partnering with auditors and leading the year-end audit process
• Managing treasury activities, including cashflow forecasting and banking relationships
• Leading finance-related process improvements and system enhancements
• Ensuring statutory records and compliance obligations are maintained

About you

To succeed in this role, you’ll bring both technical expertise and a strong understanding of manufacturing finance:

• Fully qualified accountant (ACA / ACCA / CIMA or equivalent)
• 5–10 years’ experience in financial control within manufacturing, production, or FMCG
• Strong understanding of stock control, standard costing, and inventory management
• Experience with financial reporting, controls, and audit processes
• Advanced Excel skills and confidence working with finance systems/ERP platforms
• Strong analytical mindset with the ability to interpret operational and financial data
• Confident communicator, able to partner with non-finance stakeholders (operations, production, supply chain)
• Proven ability to manage workload, meet deadlines, and adapt in a dynamic environment
• Detail-focused, organised, and proactive in approach

Business performance & growth

You’ll be joining a business that continues to scale and invest in its operations, with strong recent performance:

• Turnover growth of 20.4% 

• Operating profit increase of 6.9% 

The leadership team is focused on improving efficiency, output, and profitability across manufacturing operations, making this an exciting time to join.

Why apply?

• Senior finance role with real operational impact
• Exposure to manufacturing strategy and performance improvement
• Opportunity to influence costing, processes, and systems
• Growing, stable business with clear direction
• Collaborative and supportive leadership team

If you’re an experienced Financial Controller with a manufacturing background looking for your next challenge, apply today to find out more.

Your CV will be forwarded to Jonathan Lee Recruitment, a leading engineering and manufacturing recruitment consultancy established in 1978. The services advertised by Jonathan Lee Recruitment are those of an Employment Agency.
In order for your CV to be processed effectively, please ensure your name, email address, phone number and location (post code OR town OR county, as a minimum) are included.