Finance Manager

Seymour John; Andover; On-site; GBP 65,000 - 75,000; Full time

Job summary

Seymour John is seeking a Finance Manager for a 9–12 month fixed term contract in Andover, Hampshire. The role leads the UK finance function and collaborates with operations to drive profitability and robust financial controls.

The successful candidate will have a professional accounting qualification (CIMA/ACCA/ACA), at least five years in manufacturing finance, and proven skills in cost control, forecasting and reporting. On-site work is required.

Qualifications

• Professional accounting qualification preferred, such as CIMA, ACCA or ACA.
• Minimum of five years’ finance experience, ideally including manufacturing, operations or engineering-led environments.
• Experience leading or managing a finance function.
• Strong knowledge of management reporting, forecasting, budgeting, standard costing and financial controls.
• Experience in a multinational or multi-site environment would be advantageous.
• Good understanding of lean manufacturing or continuous improvement methodologies would be beneficial.
• Strong analytical capability, clear communication skills and the ability to influence colleagues at all levels.
• A practical, hands-on approach with the confidence to challenge, support and improve operational performance.

Responsibilities

• Act as a key member of the Operations Management team, providing financial leadership, insight and challenge.
• Lead monthly financial reporting, including profit and loss, balance sheet performance and operational KPI reporting.
• Prepare monthly operational forecasts, identify variances and provide clear analysis of headwinds, tailwinds and improvement opportunities.
• Maintain and improve standard costing processes, supporting analysis of product, process and operational costs.
• Support baseline profit improvement activity by tracking initiatives, reporting progress and challenging performance.
• Provide financial analysis to support capital investment decisions and business planning.
• Oversee compliance, internal controls, statutory reporting, HMRC requirements, audit activity, cash management, payroll and expenses.
• Lead and develop finance support resources, including transactional processing and overseas finance support.
• Ensure financial processes are disciplined, compliant and aligned with organisational policy and statutory requirements.

Skills

Finance management

Financial reporting

Forecasting

Costing

Lean manufacturing

Analytical thinking

Leadership

Commercial mindset

Education

Professional accounting qualification (CIMA/ACCA/ACA)

Tools

ERP systems

Job description

Finance Manager

9–12-month fixed term contract

Location: Andover, Hampshire
Salary: £65,000–£75,000
Working pattern: 4 to 5 days per week on site
Start date: Candidates must be available to start no later than 1st October

We are working with a well-established international manufacturing business seeking to appoint an experienced Finance Manager to lead the finance function for a key UK manufacturing operation in Andover.

This is a hands‑on, commercially focused role sitting as part of the Operations Management team. The successful candidate will play a central role in financial planning, reporting, operational performance improvement, compliance, controls and transactional processing. The role would suit an experienced finance professional with manufacturing experience who enjoys being close to the operation and influencing performance across cost, margin, working capital and operational KPIs.

The Role

Reporting to senior finance and operational leadership, you will be responsible for the day‑to‑day leadership of the finance function (your team is actually based in Romania), ensuring accurate reporting, robust financial control and meaningful operational insight. You will work closely with manufacturing and operations colleagues to support business planning, forecasting, cost control, investment decisions and profit improvement initiatives.

Key Responsibilities

• Act as a key member of the Operations Management team, providing financial leadership, insight and challenge.
• Lead monthly financial reporting, including profit and loss, balance sheet performance and operational KPI reporting.
• Prepare monthly operational forecasts, identify variances and provide clear analysis of headwinds, tailwinds and improvement opportunities.
• Maintain and improve standard costing processes, supporting analysis of product, process and operational costs.
• Support baseline profit improvement activity by tracking initiatives, reporting progress and challenging performance.
• Provide financial analysis to support capital investment decisions and business planning.
• Oversee compliance, internal controls, statutory reporting, HMRC requirements, audit activity, cash management, payroll and expenses.
• Lead and develop finance support resources, including transactional processing and overseas finance support.
• Ensure financial processes are disciplined, compliant and aligned with organisational policy and statutory requirements.

About You

You will be a confident, self‑starting Finance Manager / Financial Controller with strong operational finance experience, ideally gained in a manufacturing environment. You will be comfortable working at pace, partnering with operational teams and providing robust financial insight that supports commercial decision‑making.

Skills and Experience

• Professional accounting qualification preferred, such as CIMA, ACCA or ACA.
• Minimum of five years’ finance experience, ideally including manufacturing, operations or engineering‑led environments.
• Experience leading or managing a finance function.
• Strong knowledge of management reporting, forecasting, budgeting, standard costing and financial controls.
• Experience in a multinational or multi‑site environment would be advantageous.
• Good understanding of lean manufacturing or continuous improvement methodologies would be beneficial.
• Strong analytical capability, clear communication skills and the ability to influence colleagues at all levels.
• A practical, hands‑on approach with the confidence to challenge, support and improve operational performance.

Why Apply?

This is an excellent opportunity to take ownership of a key finance leadership role within a complex and international manufacturing setting. The position offers genuine visibility across operations, finance and senior leadership, with the opportunity to make a difference.