Finance Manager

Carmichael Fisher Executive Search; Mansfield; On-site; GBP 60,000 - 80,000; Full time

Job summary

Carmichael Fisher Executive Search is looking for a Finance Manager in Mansfield, United Kingdom. This pivotal role requires leading financial performance and strategic decision-making within a fast-paced manufacturing environment.

The ideal candidate is a qualified accountant with significant finance experience, strong leadership skills, and the ability to partner with senior stakeholders effectively. You will drive improvements across finance processes and support business growth.

Qualifications

• Significant finance experience, ideally within manufacturing, FMCG or packaging.
• Proven ability to partner with senior stakeholders.
• Exposure to continuous improvement or lean manufacturing.

Responsibilities

• Lead budgeting, forecasting and financial planning processes.
• Support manufacturing operations through cost analysis and KPI reporting.
• Manage statutory accounts, audits, and compliance.

Skills

Leadership and team development

Financial reporting

Budgeting and forecasting

Stakeholder management

Analytical and problem-solving

Education

Qualified accountant (ACA, ACCA or CIMA)

Tools

ERP systems (SAP preferred)

Job description

Our client is a highly successful, privately owned manufacturing company, serving many of the world's leading consumer goods, healthcare and pharmaceutical brands. Operating from a modern UK manufacturing facility and forming part of a larger international organisation, the business combines long‑term financial stability with a strong culture of innovation, operational excellence and customer partnership.

With advanced manufacturing, tooling and product development capabilities, the company has established a reputation for delivering high‑quality, sustainable packaging solutions to a diverse blue‑chip customer base. Continued investment in people, technology and process improvement has positioned the business for ongoing growth, creating an exciting opportunity for an ambitious Finance Manager to make a significant impact.

As Finance Manager, you will play a pivotal role in supporting the financial performance and strategic direction of the business. Reporting to the senior leadership team, you will lead the day‑to‑day finance function, ensuring robust financial control, accurate reporting, effective budgeting and forecasting and strong business partnering across operations.

This is a highly visible role within a fast‑paced manufacturing environment, offering the opportunity to influence key commercial and operational decisions while driving continuous improvement across finance processes and systems. You will work closely with both local management and international stakeholders, providing financial insight that supports profitability, efficiency and sustainable growth.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead the budgeting, forecasting and financial planning processes, providing insight to support strategic decision‑making.
• Partner with the leadership team to drive profitability, cost control, operational performance and business growth.
• Deliver accurate monthly, quarterly and annual financial reporting, ensuring compliance with statutory, tax and group requirements.
• Manage audits, statutory accounts, financial controls and governance to maintain a robust compliance framework.
• Support manufacturing operations through cost analysis, inventory management, KPI reporting and performance monitoring.
• Drive continuous improvement across finance processes, systems, reporting and working capital management.
• Lead, develop and mentor a small finance team, fostering a culture of accountability, collaboration and high performance.
• Act as the key finance liaison with the wider Group, ensuring alignment of reporting, controls and strategic initiatives.
• Support business investment decisions, pricing strategies and major commercial projects through financial analysis and recommendations.
• Ensure compliance with company policies, ISO standards and all relevant financial regulations.

Your credentials

• Qualified accountant (ACA, ACCA or CIMA).
• Significant finance experience, including leadership responsibility within a manufacturing, FMCG or packaging environment.
• Strong knowledge of financial reporting, budgeting, forecasting and cost accounting.
• Experience leading and developing finance teams.
• Proven ability to partner with senior stakeholders and support business decision‑making.
• Experience working within a multinational organisation.
• Knowledge of ERP systems, ideally SAP.
• Exposure to continuous improvement or lean manufacturing environments.

Personal Attributes

• Strong leadership and team development skills.
• Commercially minded with a practical, hands‑on approach.
• Excellent communication and stakeholder management abilities.
• Strong analytical and problem‑solving skills.
• Able to influence and challenge constructively at all levels.
• Organised, detail‑focused and committed to high standards.
• Resilient and adaptable, with the ability to thrive in a fast‑paced environment.