Finance Controller FP&A

Lotus Cars; Hethel; Hybrid; GBP 70,000 - 95,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Company Car scheme (ECOS)

25 Vacation Days + Bank Holidays

Performance Bonus (non-contractual)

Future-Proof Pension

Private Healthcare

Hybrid work with 3 days on-site

Job summary

Lotus Cars is seeking a Finance Controller FP&A to lead planning, forecasting and performance management at our Hethel manufacturing facility. You will own budgeting, build integrated models for volumes, revenue and costs, and provide insights to executives to drive profitability.

The role requires FP&A expertise within a manufacturing/automotive environment, strong Excel and stakeholder management, and a proactive, collaborative approach.

Qualifications

• Five+ years of FP&A, budgeting, forecasting and reporting experience.
• Strong cost accounting, controls, risk analysis and performance management.
• Advanced Excel and MS Office skills.
• Ability to interpret complex financial information and communicate to senior stakeholders.
• Leadership skills to manage competing priorities and meet deadlines.
• Experience improving financial processes and reporting.
• Commercial mindset focused on profitability.
• Stakeholder management and influence skills.

Responsibilities

• Lead annual budgeting and periodic financial forecasting processes across Lotus.
• Develop and maintain integrated financial planning models covering vehicle production volumes, revenue, pricing, product profitability, manufacturing costs, operating expenditure, capital investment and headcount.
• Ensure forecasts reflect latest business assumptions and strategic priorities.
• Coordinate financial inputs from Finance Business Partners and functional teams for accurate forecasts.
• Provide scenario modelling and sensitivity analysis for volumes, pricing, costs and investment.
• Produce monthly management accounts with detailed P&L analysis and balance sheet reconciliations.
• Build relationships with cost centre owners to monitor and report KPIs.
• Identify and implement improvements to financial processes and reporting practices.
• Provide clear financial insight to senior stakeholders, highlighting risks, opportunities and recommendations.
• Support and develop colleagues across the Finance function.

Skills

Financial planning

Forecasting

Budgeting

Management reporting

Cost accounting

Financial controls

Risk analysis

Excel/Office skills

Stakeholder management

Leadership

Education

ACA/ACCA/CIMA qualification or equivalent by experience

Tools

SAP

Job description

Lotus Cars is renowned for crafting world-class, high-performance, and lightweight sports cars that are celebrated across the globe.

Lotus Cars Limited serves as the company’s manufacturing HQ in the UK, where we proudly produce iconic models such as the Emira and the all-electric Evija. As we continue to elevate our capabilities and global presence, we are seeking a Finance Controller FP&A to join our dynamic finance team at our state-of-the-art manufacturing facility in Hethel.

The Role

As Financial Controller – FP&A, you will lead financial planning, forecasting and performance management activities across Lotus, providing valuable financial insight to support executive decision-making and the delivery of our strategic and operational objectives.

Working closely with our Executive and Senior Leadership teams, you'll play a key role in translating business performance into financial outcomes, identifying risks and opportunities, and supporting informed commercial decisions.

You'll take ownership of the overall planning and forecasting framework, bringing together vehicle volumes, revenue, product profitability, manufacturing performance, operating expenditure, investment and cash flow to provide a clear and integrated view of business performance.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead the annual budgeting and periodic financial forecasting processes across Lotus.

• Develop and maintain integrated financial planning models covering vehicle production volumes, revenue, pricing, product profitability, manufacturing costs, operating expenditure, capital investment and headcount.

• Ensure financial forecasts reflect the latest business assumptions and strategic priorities.

• Coordinate financial inputs from Finance Business Partners and functional teams to deliver accurate, consistent company-wide forecasts.

• Provide scenario modelling and sensitivity analysis to assess the financial impact of changes in volumes, pricing, costs and investment.

• Produce monthly management accounts, including detailed profit and loss analysis and full balance sheet reconciliations.

• Build strong working relationships with cost centre owners, supporting the development, monitoring and reporting of key performance indicators.

• Identify and implement improvements to financial processes, reporting and forecasting practices.

• Provide clear financial insight to senior stakeholders, highlighting risks, opportunities and recommendations to improve business performance.

• Support and develop colleagues, encouraging collaboration, accountability and continuous improvement across the Finance function.

About You

We're looking for a commercially minded finance professional with strong analytical capabilities, excellent stakeholder management skills and the confidence to challenge and influence business decisions.

Essential Skills & Experience

• Strong experience in financial planning, analysis, budgeting, forecasting and management reporting.

• Excellent understanding of cost accounting, financial controls, risk analysis and financial performance management.

• Advanced Microsoft Office skills, particularly Excel.

• Proven ability to interpret complex financial information and communicate key findings to senior stakeholders.

• Strong organisational and leadership skills, with the ability to manage competing priorities and deliver to demanding deadlines.

• Experience identifying and implementing improvements to financial processes and reporting.

• A proactive, commercially focused approach with the ability to understand the bigger picture and identify opportunities to improve profitability.

• Strong relationship-building skills, with the confidence to influence, challenge and resolve issues effectively.

Desirable Skills & Experience

• A recognised professional accountancy qualification (ACA, ACCA or CIMA), although candidates qualified by experience will also be considered.

• Experience using SAP.

• Experience within manufacturing, engineering or automotive environments.

What We're Looking For

You’ll be a self-starter who takes ownership of your work, thrives in a fast-paced environment and enjoys working collaboratively across different business functions.

You’ll combine strong financial expertise with a commercial mindset, helping stakeholders understand not just the numbers, but what they mean for the business.

You’ll also be comfortable challenging existing processes, identifying opportunities for improvement and supporting others to deliver their best.

What we offer:

• We provideaccess to a Company Carscheme (ECOS)to make your commutes smoother!
• 25 Vacation Days + Bank Holidays: Recharge, explore, or binge-watch your favorite series with plenty of time to relax and enjoy life outside of work.
• Performance Bonus: Get rewarded for your hard work with an exciting, non-contractual bonus scheme - because great effort deserves great perks.
• Future-Proof Pension: Plan for your tomorrow while thriving today with a solid pension scheme to keep your future bright.
• Private Healthcare: Stay healthy and stress-free with premium healthcare coverage tailored to keep you at your best.
• We work hybrid, meaning you will be in the office when necessary and you can work from home when you're needed there, we require someone on site 3 days per week.

Additional Information:

• This role will be working from our Hethel plantwithin our flexible working policy
• Candidates must be eligible to work in UK without VISA sponsorship.

Our Company:

Group Lotus is a leading sports car manufacturer with over 75-year long history of iconic designs, groundbreaking engineering and legendary victories on the F1 track. Today we are transforming into a truly global performance car brand focused on the electrical future. In 2022 welaunched the Eletre, the world’s first all-electric Hyper-SUV, and in 2023 our fully‑electric Hyper-GT, Emeya.

As part of the Lotus team, you push boundaries. Those of the car industry and of your own. Every member of the Lotus family has some of the pioneering mindset of founder Colin Chapman in them.

Hethel, Norfolk, England has been the home of Lotus for over 60 years, ever since Colin Chapman, our founder, started making championship‑winning racing cars.In conjunction with production facilities in Norwich, and research facilities near Warwick, our UK sites offer a wide breadth of roles for all disciplines.

We’re not just a car company; we’re a diverse mix of talent from all walks of life.At Group Lotus, we firmly believe that diversity and inclusion are not just buzzwords but essential pillars of a thriving and successful organisation.Read more here: Equity, Diversity & Inclusion in Lotus Cars.