Finance Director

Finance Director – Permanent – based in Northampton, NN3

Job Purpose:

An exciting opportunity has arisen for an accomplished Finance Director to join a successful, multi-entity business, providing strategic and operational financial leadership across its UK operations. Reporting directly to the UK Managing Director and Group Chief Financial Officer, you will play a pivotal role in shaping business strategy, driving financial performance, ensuring regulatory compliance and supporting long-term growth.

Beyond leading the finance function, this role also has executive responsibility for the UK IT function and the management of the UK property estate, making it a broad and influential leadership position with significant exposure across the organisation. This is an outstanding opportunity for a commercially focused Finance Director who thrives in a fast-paced, multi-site environment and enjoys partnering with senior stakeholders to drive business success.

Main Duties and Responsibilities:

Strategic Financial Leadership

• Provide strategic financial leadership to the UK business, partnering with the UK Managing Director and Group CFO.
• Lead the financial management of multiple UK entities, ensuring strong governance and alignment with Group standards.
• Develop and deliver financial strategies that support sustainable growth, profitability and operational excellence.
• Deliver insightful financial analysis, scenario modelling, investment appraisals and long-term business planning.
• Act as a key member of the senior leadership team, influencing commercial decision-making and business strategy.

Financial Reporting & Compliance

• Oversee the preparation of accurate monthly, quarterly and annual financial reporting in accordance with Group requirements and UK accounting standards.
• Ensure full compliance with statutory, tax, regulatory and audit obligations.
• Lead the annual external audit process and maintain strong relationships with auditors and professional advisers.
• Maintain robust internal controls, financial governance, insurance programmes and risk management frameworks.
• Ensure company secretarial responsibilities and corporate governance obligations are effectively managed.

Budgeting, Forecasting & Business Performance

• Lead the annual budgeting and forecasting process across all UK entities.
• Monitor financial performance, identify trends and provide commercial insight to support operational decision-making.
• Drive continuous improvement across financial reporting, systems and business processes.
• Partner with operational leaders to improve profitability, cash flow and overall business performance.

IT Leadership

• Provide executive oversight of the UK IT function, ensuring technology supports current and future business requirements.
• Work closely with Group IT to ensure alignment with global technology standards, cybersecurity initiatives and digital transformation projects.
• Manage IT budgets, supplier relationships and technology investment planning.
• Support ERP development and continuous improvement initiatives.

Property & Estate Management

• Oversee the management of the UK property portfolio, including offices, warehouses and operational sites.
• Lead lease negotiations, renewals, rent reviews and property-related legal matters alongside external property consultants.
• Ensure the property estate is managed efficiently, cost-effective and supports operational requirements.
• Support strategic property decisions including acquisitions, relocations and site consolidation projects.

Leadership & Team Development

• Lead, mentor and develop the UK Finance and IT teams, creating a culture of accountability, collaboration and continuous improvement.
• Drive process improvement initiatives across finance operations and reporting.
• Build strong relationships across Operations, Sales, HR and Group functions.
• Develop talent within the finance function through coaching and succession planning.

Person Specification:

• A commercially minded finance leader with strong strategic vision.
• An influential communicator capable of building credibility at Board and Group level.
• A confident decision-maker with excellent commercial judgement.
• Hands-on, pragmatic and solutions focused.
• Highly organised with exceptional analytical skills and attention to detail.
• A collaborative leader who inspires and develops high-performing teams.
• Comfortable balancing strategic leadership with operational involvement.
• Resilient, adaptable and capable of operating in a dynamic, fast-paced environment.

Experience:

Essential

• Fully qualified accountant (ACA, ACCA, CIMA or equivalent).
• Significant experience in a senior finance leadership role, ideally within a multi-entity or international group structure.
• Strong technical expertise in financial reporting, statutory compliance and corporate governance.
• Company secretarial and business law experience.
• Proven experience leading budgeting, forecasting and commercial business partnering activities.
• Demonstrable experience developing financial strategy and driving business performance.
• Experience overseeing IT functions or leading technology-related projects.
• Knowledge of property and estate management, including lease negotiations and property governance.
• Exceptional leadership, stakeholder management and communication skills.

Desirable

• Experience within manufacturing, engineering, construction products or distribution sectors.
• Exposure to European or Nordic group structures.
• Experience implementing or developing ERP systems.
• Microsoft Dynamics 365 (D365) experience.
• Digital transformation and business systems improvement experience.

Hours of Work:

• Full-time, permanent position.
• Monday to Friday.
• Flexibility required to meet the needs of a senior leadership role, including travel to UK sites.

Work Location:

• Northampton, with regular travel to UK sites as required.

Benefits:

• Competitive executive salary with comprehensive benefits package.
• Opportunity to join an established and growing multi-entity organisation.
• Key strategic leadership role with direct Board and Group CFO exposure.
• Significant influence across Finance, IT and Property functions.
• Opportunity to shape business strategy and drive long-term growth.
• Collaborative senior leadership environment.
• Professional development and career progression within an international group.
• Company pension and additional executive benefits package.

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