Finance Director – Tech, Portfolio & Marketing

John Crane

England

On-site

GBP 120,000 - 180,000

Full time

10 days ago

Application generator

An application made for this job — a tailored resume and cover letter that speak straight to the posting.

Get past ATS filters

Job summary

John Crane, a business of Smiths Group, is seeking a Finance Director - Technology, Portfolio & Marketing to provide strategic financial leadership across Technology, Portfolio and Marketing functions. You will partner with senior leaders to shape growth, investment governance and pricing strategies while leading a high-performing finance team in a global environment.

The role focuses on aligning financial strategy with business objectives, driving value creation, and ensuring rigorous

Qualifications

Educated to university degree standard and holds a recognized accounting qualification.
Extensive experience in senior finance leadership roles within global organisations.
Strong background in commercial finance, FP&A leadership, and strategic business partnering.
Deep expertise in marketing ROI, portfolio management, and investment appraisal.
Proven ability to influence executive stakeholders and shape strategic outcomes.

Responsibilities

Partner with senior leaders across Technology, Portfolio and Marketing to shape strategy, growth priorities, and innovation agenda.
Provide financial insight and challenge on key decisions, particularly around market investment, portfolio choices, strategic pricing and innovation strategy.
Ensure strong alignment between commercial strategy and financial outcomes.
Own the consolidated view of portfolio performance, including product profitability, vitality, and product lifecycle value.
Prepare financial analysis / business cases to support investment choices into new product developments.
Ensure clear linkage between vitality metrics and long-term growth, innovation effectiveness, and strategic objectives.
Provide financial leadership in shaping and supporting the divisional pricing strategy, partnering with regional commercial teams to drive price optimisation, margin expansion, and value realisation.
Oversee financial strategy and effectiveness of marketing investments, including ROI, channel effectiveness, and spend optimisation.
Guide how marketing spend translates into growth, pipeline, and customer impact (not execution tracking).
Establish frameworks for evaluating and approving capex, NPD, EPD and innovation investments.
Set financial criteria, return expectations, and governance standards.
Ensure consistency and rigour in business case development delivered.
Oversee financial governance of the stage-gate process for new product innovation, ensuring robust business case development, scenario modelling, and value tracking.
Lead and direct the Finance Business Partnering structure.
Ensure the team delivers strong forecasting, analysis, and insights, without owning detailed execution.
Build a high-performing finance capability focused on influence and decision impact.
Establish financial policies, performance metrics, and governance frameworks across Marketing, Portfolio and Technology.
Ensure alignment with enterprise-wide controls and delegation of authority.
Drive transparency, consistency, and accountability.
Set direction on cost discipline across marketing spend, portfolio investments, and technology costs.
Ensure clear linkage between spend and measurable outcomes (growth, profitability, innovation returns).
Lead through multiple levels, developing finance leaders and strengthening overall capability.
Contribute as a key member of the Finance Leadership Team.
Drive a culture of performance, accountability, and continuous improvement