Financial Controller

Milton Keynes Source: WhatJobs

£81,000–£99,000

Are you a commercially focused Financial Controller with a proven background in manufacturing or engineering?

A successful, privately owned mid-market SME in Milton Keynes is seeking an experienced Financial Controller to take ownership of a finance team of 4, partner closely with the SLT, and drive commercial and operational performance across the business.

This is a pivotal leadership role combining technical and commercial finance experience within a nationwide manufacturing organisation.

Key Responsibilities

Financial Control & Reporting: Lead the preparation of accurate monthly management accounts, variance analysis, board packs, statutory reporting, and year-end audit liaison.
Costing & Operational Accounting: Oversee standard costing, product profitability, gross margin analysis, COGS, BOM, inventory control, and work-in-progress (WIP) accounting.
Business Partnering: Collaborate directly with operations, Project Management, and Plant Managers to optimise efficiencies, monitor CapEx projects, and drive margin expansion.
Cash Flow & Treasury: Manage robust working capital strategies, rolling 13-week cash flow forecasts, and banking relationships.
Planning & Strategy: Drive the annual budgeting process, rolling re-forecasts, and financial modelling to support mid-to-long-term SME growth strategies.
Team Leadership: Manage, mentor, and develop a small finance team of 4, fostering a high-performance culture across transactional and reporting functions.
Systems & Internal Controls: Continuously evaluate internal controls, ERP capability, and automated reporting workflows to enhance decision-making.

Candidate Requirements

Qualifications: Fully qualified accountant (ACA, ACCA, or CIMA).
Industry Background: Experience working within a manufacturing, engineering, or heavy production environment is essential.
SME Agility: Proven track record inside a mid-market, privately owned business with proven experience of partnering SLT.
Technical Expertise: Deep knowledge of standard costing, bill of materials (BOM), stock valuation, and supply chain finance metrics. Exposure to FRS reporting standards is essential.
Communication & Influence: Excellent interpersonal skills with the confidence to challenge and influence non-finance operational leaders.