Finance Manager - Appreciating Talent

Appreciating Talent; Melbourne; On-site; AUD 180,000 - 220,000; Full time

Job summary

Appreciating Talent is assisting a Melbourne FMCG manufacturer with a Senior & Executive GM Commercial Finance role. The position partners with the senior leadership team to strengthen financial visibility, challenge the numbers and translate insights into better business decisions across manufacturing and logistics.

You will lead a small finance team, drive profit improvements, and contribute to ERP transformations and process enhancements for reporting efficiency.

Qualifications

• Proven experience in manufacturing finance, ideally FMCG/pharma or similar production.
• Strong costing, variances and manufacturing performance knowledge.
• Ability to influence operational decisions and drive improvements.
• Collaborative leadership with credibility across functions.
• Experience supporting ERP implementations or financial systems improvements.

Responsibilities

• Oversee budgets, forecasts, management reporting and financial analysis.
• Improve product costing, COGS, purchase price variances and recoveries.
• Partner with operations to drive performance drivers and profit initiatives.
• Enhance financial insight across manufacturing, procurement and inventory.
• Ensure strong financial controls, balance sheet and cash flow management.
• Support ERP transformation and improve reporting quality and efficiency.
• Lead and develop a finance team delivering clear insights and accountability.

Skills

Financial modelling

Strategic thinking

Leadership

Cost accounting

Stakeholder management

Education

Accounting qualification (CPA/CA)

Tools

ERP systems

Job description

GM Commercial Finance - Manufacturing and Logistics

Senior & Executive

• Melbourne
• Permanent / Full Time

Job Description

Are you a commercially focused finance professional who enjoys getting close to operations, challenging the numbers and turning financial insights into better business decisions?

Remuneration: Circa: $200,000 + Bonus

Our client is an established FMCG manufacturing business looking to strengthen its commercial finance capability. This is an exciting opportunity for a high-calibre manufacturing finance professional to partner with the senior leadership team, improve visibility of business performance and make a lasting impact on finance and operations.

You will bring a practical understanding of manufacturing and logistics economics, the confidence to challenge constructively and the ability to build strong relationships across the group. You will lead a small finance team and drive improvements in systems, processes and commercial decision-making.

Responsibilities will include:

• - Overseeing the accurate and timely production of budgets, forecasts, management reporting and financial analysis.
• - Driving greater understanding of product costing, cost of goods sold, purchase price variances and factory recoveries.
• - Working closely with operational leaders to identify performance drivers, challenge assumptions and implement profit improvement initiatives.
• - Improving financial insight across manufacturing, purchasing, supply chain, stock and inventory management.
• - Providing strong financial control across site results, balance sheet management and cash flow.
• - Supporting ERP transformation and implementing financial processes that improve reporting quality and efficiency.
• - Leading and developing a finance team that delivers clear insights, strong accountability and practical business support.

The successful candidate will demonstrate the following experience and qualities:

• - Proven experience in a manufacturing finance role, ideally within FMCG, Pharmaceuticals or a comparable production environment.
• - Strong technical understanding of standard costing, manufacturing variances and operational performance.
• - Demonstrated success in influencing operational decisions and delivering measurable business improvements.
• - A collaborative leadership style, with the confidence to challenge constructively and build credibility across functions.
• - Experience supporting ERP implementations or financial systems improvements would be highly regarded.
• - Strong financial modelling, analytical and business case preparation skills.
• - A relevant professional accounting qualification.
• - An operationally focused, hands-on approach and a willingness to take ownership.

You may already be an established finance leader or a strong manufacturing finance professional ready to take on broader responsibility. Leadership behaviours, commercial judgement and the ability to bring people with you will be central to your success.