Operations Accountant

The Role

Our new Operations Accountant will act as a trusted finance partner to the Plant Leadership team, supporting strong financial control and driving operational performance across the Cookstown site. Reporting to the Plant Lead, Finance, this role sits at the heart of operations, translating yield, labour, cost and stock data into clear insight that supports better decision‑making. You'll work closely with both the Plant Operations Team and the Business Performance Team, helping the site deliver margin improvement, cost control and continuous improvement initiatives in a fast‑paced FMCG environment.

Please note this an on‑site role, based in Cookstown.

You will be a technically strong accountant who enjoys working close to operations and influencing performance through insight. You will bring:

• Full accountancy qualification (ACA, ACCA or CIMA) or Qualified by experience
• Experience with in an FMCG or manufacturing environment
• Strong analytical capability with advanced Excel skills
• Experience working with ERP and planning systems (SAP, Anaplan or similar advantageous)
• A track record of managing tasks or projects through to completion
• Confidence working with operational data and translating it into clear insight

At Sofina Foods, you'll be part of a growing European food business with a strong commitment to developing its people. This role offers genuine exposure to site leadership, opportunities to influence how the business operates, and a platform to build a long‑term finance career within a complex and evolving organisation.

Sofina Foods is proud to be an equal opportunities employer. We're committed to building a diverse and inclusive workplace where everyone feels valued and respected. We welcome applications from people of all backgrounds and experiences—regardless of age, disability, gender identity, marriage or civil partnership status, pregnancy or maternity, race, religion or belief, sex, or sexual orientation.

The Operations Accountant will be responsible for supporting strong financial governance while enabling operational decision‑making.

• Supporting weekly and monthly plant reporting, including preparation and analysis of Plant Continuous Improvement (CI) reports
• Acting as cover for the Plant Lead, Finance during periods of annual leave
• Reconciling gross margin in the P&L to the Commercial Reporting Suite, investigating and clearly explaining variances
• Partnering with operations to improve labour efficiency, yield performance and effective cost control
• Delivering detailed analysis on SKU mix impacts across yield, labour and operational costs
• Producing and maintaining reporting on labour costs, operational expenses and inventory balances, including DIO trends
• Supporting AFE reviews and tracking spend against approved project plans
• Preparing high‑quality, right‑first‑time CAPEX proposals for Board approval
• Leading analysis and reporting for plant Research & Development claims
• Identifying, developing and tracking cost‑saving initiatives, including performance against targets
• Attending operational meetings to challenge performance, generate improvement ideas and support delivery of agreed actions