Finance Manager - Farming

Florette UK & Ireland; Colchester; Hybrid; GBP 42,000 - 50,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading fresh produce company is seeking a Finance Manager - Farming in Colchester to manage the P&L and support farm operations. This role offers a salary up to £50,000 with an annual bonus and hybrid working options. Candidates should be part or fully qualified in ACCA/CIMA, with experience in WIP Accounting and FMCG environments preferred.

Benefits

Annual bonus

Life assurance

Generous holiday entitlement

Training and discounts

Qualifications

• Experience in an FMCG environment highly desirable.
• Self-motivated, capable of being the sole finance expert on site.
• Comfortable working in a highly variable farming environment.

Responsibilities

• Full P&L ownership for the farm with regular performance reports.
• Enhancing variance analysis with controls on yield, wastage, labor, and costs.
• Supporting internal controls such as database management and forecasting.

Skills

Proficiency in Microsoft Excel

Experience with WIP Accounting

Business partnering skills

Problem solving in farming

Education

Part or Fully Qualified ACCA/CIMA

Tools

PowerBI

Job description

We have an exciting opportunity for a Finance Manager - Farming at Agrial Fresh Produce, producer of the Florette salad brand, to join our farming team in Colchester, CO7 7HG. This unique role involves direct responsibility for the production of AFF’s P&L and business partnering across two growing sites, including outdoor and indoor fields harvested year-round. The position holds managerial duties for the farm but does not include direct or indirect reports.

The successful candidate will ideally be Part or Fully Qualified in ACCA/CIMA, but we are open to candidates qualified by experience. Reporting to the Head of Business Finance, the Finance Manager - Farming will support our farm's operations and the wider business finance function to maximize profitability. Experience with WIP Accounting or in an FMCG environment is highly preferred due to the farm's variable nature.

Working hours: Monday to Friday, 08:30 to 17:00. Hybrid working with 2 days remote per week.

Pay: Up to £50,000 depending on experience, with annual bonus eligibility.

Main Responsibilities:

• Full P&L ownership for the farm, including annual budget and 3-year business plan, with regular performance reports.
• Business partnering with senior leadership at the farm, procurement, and supply chain teams at our Head Office in Lichfield.
• Enhancing variance analysis with controls on yield, wastage, labor, and costs.
• Supporting internal controls such as database management, timesheets, and forecasting.
• Project support for process optimization, continuous improvement, and cost reviews.
• Capex management and ROI tracking.

Skills and Experience:

• Part or Fully Qualified ACCA/CIMA, or qualified by experience.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Excel; PowerBI is desirable.
• Experience with WIP Accounting or in an FMCG environment is highly desirable.
• Self-motivated, capable of being the sole finance expert on site.
• Proven problem solver and decision maker in a highly variable farming environment.
• Comfortable working in a small office amidst fields and industry unpredictability.

What You Will Get in Return:

• Salary up to £50,000, plus annual bonus and employee benefits including life assurance, employee assistance, generous holiday entitlement, training, discounts, and recognition programs.

About Us:

Florette, part of Agrial Fresh Produce, is a leading UK producer of pre-packed salads. Agrial, a large French co-operative group, operates across multiple divisions including beverage, dairy, meat, and agriculture, with a significant farming operation in the UK.

Next Steps:

We are seeking motivated individuals to join our team as we innovate and grow. If you meet the criteria and are looking for a new challenge, we encourage you to apply or contact Will Kaye, Recruitment Officer, for a confidential discussion.

Note: Agrial Fresh Produce reserves the right to close this vacancy early once sufficient applications are received. Please apply promptly.

VISA Sponsorship: We are not a licensed UK VISA sponsor and can only employ individuals with the legal right to work in the UK. Evidence of this right will be required during the recruitment process.