Finance Director

Cedar Recruitment; Greater London; On-site; GBP 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading recruitment firm is seeking a Finance Director for a mid-market manufacturing business in Kilmarnock. This pivotal role involves driving operational excellence, enhancing financial visibility, and leading a finance team. Candidates must possess qualifications such as ACA/ACCA/CIMA and have significant operational finance experience, ideally within Private Equity. The Director will manage financial reporting, compliance, and support strategic growth initiatives, ensuring robust financial controls in a multi-currency setting.

Qualifications

• Proven post-qualification experience in finance.
• Exposure to Private Equity or similar investment-backed environments is advantageous.
• Experience in a multi-currency, international business environment.

Responsibilities

• Lead improvements in reporting, analytics, and financial processes.
• Produce accurate financial information for decision-making.
• Oversee budgeting, forecasting, and planning processes.
• Manage working capital and banking relationships.
• Maintain financial controls and compliance.
• Partner with teams to identify efficiencies and support growth.
• Evaluate business lines and profitability.
• Support M&A activity including due diligence.
• Lead and develop a finance team.

Skills

Analytical skills

Operational finance

Management accounting

Communication

Leadership

Compliance focus

Education

Qualified accountant (ACA / ACCA / CIMA)

Job description

Overview

Finance Director, PE backed Manufacturing, Kilmarnock

Cedar has been exclusively engaged by a mid-market Private Equity firm in search of a Finance Director for a profitable c.£30m t / o Manufacturing business. This is a pivotal leadership role, partnering closely with a newly appointed, CEO to help shape the next phase of the company's journey.

The Finance Director will be instrumental in driving operational excellence, enhancing financial visibility, and improving reporting and analytical capabilities across the business. This is not a 'pure strategy' role, the right person will be someone who thrives on rolling up their sleeves, embedding rigour and best practice, and building a scalable finance function to support future growth.

The Role

• Assess team capabilities and implement improvements in reporting, analytics, and financial processes to strengthen business performance.
• Lead the production of timely and accurate financial information, including monthly P&L, balance sheet, cash flow and KPIs, to drive informed decision-making.
• Oversee budgeting, forecasting and planning processes aligned to the company's strategic goals.
• Manage working capital, treasury and banking relationships in a multi-currency environment.
• Maintain robust financial controls, ensuring full compliance with regulatory and statutory requirements.
• Partner with commercial and operational teams to identify efficiencies, support growth initiatives and drive margin improvement.
• Act as a key partner to the CEO and leadership team, evaluating business lines, products, and regional profitability to support investment and operational decisions.
• Support future M&A activity, including due diligence and integration planning.
• Lead and develop a small finance team, instilling a culture of accountability and continuous improvement.

Experience you will need to be successful in this role

• Qualified accountant (ACA / ACCA / CIMA) with proven post-qualification experience.
• Strong background in operational finance, management accounting, and performance reporting.
• Exposure to Private Equity or similar investment-backed environments is advantageous.
• Excellent analytical skills with the ability to evaluate products, regions and business lines to support investment decisions.
• Hands-on and detail-oriented, with a rigorous approach to compliance and governance.
• Proven experience managing in a multi-currency, international business environment.
• Strong communicator with the gravitas to influence senior stakeholders and drive change.