Finance Director | ONLY apply if you have manufacturing or distribution experience | Gloucester Office Based | Permanent | Salary: £70,000 - £90,000

The Company

My client is in the manufacturing and distribution sector

Job Summary

My client is seeking an experienced Finance Director to lead their finance function, safeguard financial integrity and support business performance within a PE-backed, family-owned environment.

As a key member of the management team, you will work closely with colleagues across the business, providing financial insight, constructive challenge and practical solutions to improve profitability and support growth.

This is a hands-on leadership role that goes beyond reporting. You will interrogate performance, challenge assumptions and ensure financial information is accurate, understood and used to drive better decisions.

You will join a supportive, collaborative and family-orientated business where people take ownership and work together to build long-term success

Key Responsibilities

Financial strategy and control:

• Lead the finance function, overseeing financial reporting, management accounts, balance sheets and cash flow.
• Maintain robust financial controls, governance and audit readiness.
• Ensure compliance with accounting standards, statutory requirements and private equity reporting expectations.
• Contribute to business planning, strategic decisions and board-level discussions.

Commercial performance:

• Translate financial and operational data into meaningful business insight.
• Challenge margins, pricing, costs and operational efficiency.
• Develop KPIs and reporting to support informed decision-making.
• Partner with Sales, Operations and Procurement to improve profitability.

Cash flow and working capital:

• Lead cash flow forecasting and working capital management.
• Improve debtor, creditor and inventory performance.
• Identify opportunities to release cash and support growth.

Costing and inventory:

• Improve costing methodologies and visibility of product and customer profitability.
• Strengthen stock reporting, valuation and provisioning.
• Work with Operations to improve inventory discipline and margin performance.

Leadership and improvement:

• Lead and develop the finance team, promoting accountability and high standards.
• Improve finance processes, reporting systems, automation and data quality.
• Manage external audits and oversee statutory reporting.
• Foster a culture of commercial awareness and continuous improvement.

Personal Skills

You will be a qualified accountant (ACCA, CIMA or equivalent), with experience in a senior finance leadership role, within manufacturing or distribution.

You will also bring:

• Strong financial control, reporting and analytical skills.
• Experience leading a finance function and contributing to business strategy.
• A thorough understanding of cash flow, working capital and inventory.
• Experience improving costing, margins and profitability.
• Commercial acumen and the confidence to challenge senior stakeholders constructively.
• Strong Excel and financial reporting system skills.
• A curious, practical approach to problem-solving and continuous improvement.
• The ability to balance financial discipline with commercial pragmatism.
• Experience in a private equity-backed business would be advantageous.

For further information, please contact Rhian Mountjoy

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