Financial Controller

The CFO HQ; Leicester Forest East; Remote; GBP 70,000 - 75,000; Full time

Job summary

Hays Senior Finance partnered opportunity in Leicester seeks an experienced Financial Controller to lead financial control for a growing manufacturing business. You will report to the CFO and own monthly reporting, budgeting and forecasting across multiple sites.

Key focus on inventory, standard costing and variance analysis, with strong commercial partnership to Operations, Commercial, Sales and Procurement. You will develop a lean finance team and influence EBITDA through cost improvements.

Qualifications

• Qualified ACA/ACCA/CIMA or very experienced QBE with manufacturing exposure.
• Experience in standard costing, inventory management and variance analysis.
• Ability to translate financial data into commercial insight and drive improvements.

Responsibilities

• Lead monthly reporting, budgeting and forecasting across multi-site operations.
• Maintain balance sheet integrity and statutory requirements.
• Oversee inventory, standard costing and variance analysis.
• Provide insights into sales, margins and operational performance to improve EBITDA.
• Lead CAPEX planning and investment cases; drive cost-saving opportunities.
• Develop and mentor a small finance team and partner with operations.

Skills

Excel

ERP systems

Variance analysis

Budgeting

Forecasting

Management reporting

Team leadership

Education

ACA/ACCA/CIMA

Job description

# Financial ControllerAccounting / Finance,Financial ControllerOctober 28, 2026Permanent### Job Description* Permanent* Leicester, Leicestershire* Posted 6 hours ago* £70,000 – £75,000 per annum + £75,000 + BenefitsWebsite**CV-Library**Your new companyHays Senior Finance are partnering with an established and growing manufacturing business to recruit an operationally and commercially focused Financial Controller. This is a high-impact multi-site role within the senior finance and site leadership team, offering the opportunity to influence business performance, drive improvements and work closely with senior operational stakeholders.Your new roleReporting to the CFO, you will take ownership of financial control and operational finance, while acting as a key business partner across Operations, Commercial, Sales and Procurement.You will lead monthly reporting, budgeting and forecasting, balance sheet control and statutory requirements, alongside taking responsibility for inventory, standard costing and variance analysis. You will provide meaningful insight into sales, margins and operational performance, identifying opportunities to improve profitability and drive year-on-year EBITDA improvement.You will also oversee CAPEX planning and investment business cases, support commercial and tender activity, identify cost-saving opportunities and drive improvements across financial processes, systems and reporting.Alongside this, you will lead and develop a small finance team and build strong relationships across the wider business.What you'll need to succeedYou will be a qualified ACA, ACCA or CIMA accountant, or a very experienced QBE, with a strong background gained within Manufacturing, FMCG or a similarly operational environment.You will have significant experience in standard costing, inventory, variance analysis, budgeting, forecasting and management reporting, together with the ability to translate financial information into meaningful commercial insight.You'll be a confident business partner who enjoys working closely with operational teams and challenging performance. Strong Excel and ERP systems experience will be important, alongside previous experience of managing and developing a finance team.This position will particularly suit someone who enjoys getting behind the numbers and into the operation, using financial insight to influence decision-making and improve business performance.What you'll get in returnThis is an excellent opportunity to join a successful and evolving manufacturing business at an exciting time in a genuinely influential Financial Controller position. You'll work closely with the CFO and senior leadership team and have the opportunity to make a visible impact on financial and operational performance, drive change and support the future growth of the business.A competitive salary and benefits package is available, together with excellent longer-term career development opportunities.What you need to do nowIf you're interested in this role, click 'apply now' to forward an up-to-date copy of your CV, or call us now.If this job isn't quite right for you, but you are looking for a new position, please contact us for a confidential discussion about your career.Hays Specialist Recruitment Limited acts as an employment agency for permanent recruitment and employment business for the supply of temporary workers. By applying for this job you accept the T&C's, Privacy Policy and Disclaimers which can be found at (url removed)