Manufacturing Finance Analyst: Data-Driven Cost Insights

Broster Buchanan; Northampton; On-site; GBP 50,000 - 61,000; Full time

Job summary

Broster Buchanan is seeking a Finance Analyst for a fast-paced manufacturing business in Northampton. You will analyse performance against budgets and forecasts, produce financial reports and dashboards, and collaborate with operational teams to influence business decisions.

The role focuses on budgeting, forecasting, cost analysis, and inventory reporting, with opportunities to automate reporting, improve data accuracy, and strengthen financial controls.

Qualifications

• Experience in finance analysis, FP&A or management accounting.
• Strong Excel skills and confidence working with large, complex datasets.
• Experience using Power BI to develop dashboards and improve reporting.
• A good understanding of budgeting, forecasting and variance analysis.
• The ability to interpret financial and operational data and explain the story behind the numbers.
• A commercial mindset, with the confidence to challenge assumptions and identify improvements.
• Strong communication skills and the ability to build relationships with non-finance stakeholders.
• Experience within manufacturing or another operationally focused environment would be beneficial.

Responsibilities

• Analyse actual performance against budgets and forecasts, investigating variances and identifying the key drivers.
• Produce financial reports and dashboards to improve visibility of costs, performance and operational efficiency.
• Support budgeting, forecasting and financial planning across operational functions.
• Analyse operational activity and its financial impact, identifying opportunities for cost savings and improved efficiency.
• Support costing and inventory reporting, including stock valuation, ageing and potential obsolescence.
• Work closely with finance, engineering and manufacturing teams to improve data accuracy and reporting.
• Identify opportunities to automate reporting, streamline processes and strengthen financial controls.
• Present clear, data-led insights to stakeholders to support commercial decision-making.

Skills

Finance analysis

FP&A

Management accounting

Excel

Power BI

Budgeting

Forecasting

Variance analysis

Data interpretation

Stakeholder communication

Tools

Power BI

Excel

Job description

Broster Buchanan is seeking a Finance Analyst for a fast-paced manufacturing business in Northampton. You will analyse performance against budgets and forecasts, produce financial reports and dashboards, and collaborate with operational teams to influence business decisions.

The role focuses on budgeting, forecasting, cost analysis, and inventory reporting, with opportunities to automate reporting, improve data accuracy, and strengthen financial controls.