Finance Director

Cedar; Kilmarnock; On-site; GBP 110,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading manufacturing firm in Kilmarnock is looking for a Finance Director to drive operational excellence and enhance financial visibility. This pivotal role involves overseeing budgeting, forecasting, and financial processes while partnering closely with the CEO. Successful candidates will be qualified accountants with experience in operational finance and management accounting, ideally with exposure to Private Equity. The role offers a competitive salary of around £110k plus a bonus and benefits.

Benefits

Bonus

Benefits

Qualifications

• Qualified accountant 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.

Responsibilities

• Assess team capabilities and implement improvements in financial processes.
• Lead the production of accurate financial information, including P&L and KPIs.
• Oversee budgeting, forecasting and planning processes aligned to strategic goals.
• Manage working capital, treasury and banking relationships.
• Maintain robust financial controls, ensuring compliance with regulations.
• Partner with commercial teams to identify efficiencies and support growth.
• Support future M&A activity, including due diligence.
• Lead and develop a finance team, promoting accountability.

Skills

Qualified accountant (ACA/ACCA/CIMA)

Operational finance experience

Management accounting

Performance reporting

Excellent analytical skills

Strong communicator

Education

Qualified accountant (ACA/ACCA/CIMA)

Job description

Finance Director, PE backed Manufacturing, Kilmarnock, c£110k + bonus + benefits

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.