Are you a commercially sharp finance professional who enjoys getting close to the factory floor and turning operational data into decisions that improve performance?

We are seeking an experienced Finance Manager to join the leadership team at a high-volume manufacturing site in Peterborough.

This is a high-impact role at the intersection of finance and operations.

You will act as the trusted finance business partner to the Site leadership team, providing the insight, challenge and commercial rigour needed to drive profitability, cost control and continuous improvement across the plant. The role offers genuine visibility, a broad manufacturing finance remit and the opportunity to influence decisions from the shop floor to strategic investment.

The opportunity

As Finance Manager, you will own the financial and industrial controlling agenda for the site. You will provide clear, timely insight into manufacturing costs, operational performance, inventory and plant profitability, helping operational leaders understand not only what is happening but why and what to do next.

You will work closely with Production, Supply Chain, Procurement, Engineering, Quality and Group Finance, translating KPIs such as yield, productivity, OEE, scrap, labour efficiency and conversion costs into meaningful financial outcomes.

What you’ll do

• Act as the lead finance business partner to the Plant Manager and site leadership team, providing independent insight, constructive challenge and actionable recommendations.

• Own weekly and monthly plant performance reporting, analysing manufacturing costs across materials, labour, energy, maintenance, logistics and overheads.

• Deliver robust variance analysis against budget, forecast, prior year and standard cost, identifying risks, opportunities and corrective actions.

• Lead plant month-end close activities, including accruals, provisions, journals, cost allocations and reconciliation of operational and financial data.

• Own and maintain standard costing for finished and semi-finished goods, supporting new product costing, reformulations, process changes and annual cost rolls.

• Provide financial oversight of inventory, stock movements, cycle counts, obsolescence, write-offs and working-capital drivers.

• Identify, validate and track cost-saving, productivity and efficiency initiatives, distinguishing sustainable savings from timing effects or cost avoidance.

• Coordinate plant budgeting and forecasting, including scenario and sensitivity analysis across volumes, mix, material prices, yield and productivity.

• Build business cases for capital expenditure, capacity changes, process improvements and manufacturing investments, tracking delivery against the original case.

• Strengthen ERP-based controlling processes, data integrity, reporting automation and internal controls, supporting internal and external audits.

What we’re looking for

We are looking for a confident, hands-on controller who combines technical finance expertise with a strong operational mindset and the credibility to influence senior stakeholders.

• Significant experience in plant controlling, industrial controlling or operations finance, ideally within food manufacturing, ingredients or another complex process-manufacturing environment.

• A strong grasp of standard costing, manufacturing variance analysis, inventory accounting, budgeting and forecasting.

• Experience partnering with plant management and operational teams to improve performance and deliver corrective actions.

• Advanced Excel skills and experience with ERP systems such as Infor M3, SAP, Oracle or JD Edwards; Infor M3 knowledge is a distinct advantage.

• Familiarity with Power BI, Power Query or similar analytics tools is highly desirable.

• Excellent analytical, communication and stakeholder-management skills, with the ability to simplify complex information and drive action.

• A proactive, accountable and continuous-improvement mindset, comfortable operating in a fast-paced manufacturing environment.

What success looks like

You will be measured on the quality and timeliness of plant reporting, the reliability of costing and inventory data, the strength of your business partnering, and your contribution to improved plant profitability, cost transparency and operational decision-making.

Location and benefits

This role is based at the Peterborough manufacturing site, with regular on-site presence required to build strong relationships with operational teams. Limited travel to other UK locations may occasionally be required.

Candidates must have the right to work in the United Kingdom.

If you are ready to take ownership of a critical plant finance agenda and make a measurable difference in a dynamic food and drink manufacturing environment, we would welcome your application.

Please get in touch for more information on this exciting opportunity or apply with your CV today.