Reed Finance are partnered with a friendly Reading-based SME of £10M to recruit a new Finance Manager on a full-time, permanent basis, reporting into the part-time Finance Director and MD with the support of a finance assistant.

This friendly SME is a £10M a privately owned, UK-based speciality chemicals manufacturer with a strong international customer base and a reputation for technical excellence. The business operates across global markets, supplying products to customers in sectors including energy, industrial manufacturing, advanced materials and research.

You will be managing the day-to-day Finance function, ensuring robust financial control, accurate reporting, and analysis within a compliance-focused manufacturing business therefore a manufacturing background is essential, as is a good understanding of cost accounting and inventory.

Please note this is a fully office-based role.

Key responsibilities include:

• Own the full finance function, delivering accurate monthly management accounts, statutory reporting support, and robust month-end and year-end close processes.

• Lead manufacturing and cost accounting, including standard costing, inventory and WIP valuation, production variance analysis, and margin and pricing support.

• Support budgeting, forecasting and cash flow management, providing insight on performance, liquidity, CapEx, R&D and operational improvement initiatives.

• Ensure strong financial control and compliance, covering HMRC obligations, regulatory and environmental cost tracking, and adherence to internal and ISO standards.

• Improve finance systems and processes, including Sage 200 integration with production and inventory, improving data integrity and reporting efficiency.

• Lead and develop the finance team while partnering closely with operations and commercial teams to support strategic and operational decision-making.

You will ideally be a fully qualified accountant (ACA/ACCA/CIMA) or qualified by experience with a strong manufacturing accounting background, ideally coming from a standalone Finance Manager role, with end-to-end responsibility for the finance function.

You will need 5+ years in a similar role, and experience in a supervisory or management role.

Strong experience in cost accounting, inventory management and production variance analysis is required, as is a commercially minded and highly analytical approach.

As a person you will be approachable and supportive, acting as a go-to contact for payroll and finance queries, plus a proactive and hands-on mindset, with the flexibility to support colleagues and take ownership in a collaborative, close-knit business.

Salary offered is £55-65k 

Apply today if this sounds like you!