Finance Director Manufacturing field

Position: Finance Director with experience in the Manufacturing field
Finance Director - Manufacturing
Location: Onsite - Liverpool, United Kingdom
Role Overview
The Manufacturing Finance Director will play a critical role in driving value creation within a private equity–backed manufacturing business. Acting as a trusted partner to the Managing Director and senior leadership team, the role is responsible for financial strategy, operational finance, and performance improvement, with a strong focus on EBITDA growth, cash generation, and scalable financial controls.
This is a hands-on leadership role suited to a commercially minded finance leader who thrives in a fast-paced, results-driven environment.
Key Responsibilities
Manufacturing Finance & Operational Performance

• Lead all aspects of manufacturing finance, including standard costing, product costing, variance analysis, and margin management.
• Partner closely with operations to improve OEE, labour efficiency, scrap, yield, and inventory turns.
• Drive cost transparency and accountability across plants and cost centres.

Planning, Budgeting & Investor Reporting

• Own the annual budget, rolling forecasts, and long-range plan aligned to PE timelines.
• Deliver timely, accurate monthly management accounts and KPI packs for board and investor reporting.
• Provide clear commentary on performance versus budget, forecast, and investment case.

Cash, Working Capital & Capital Allocation

• Drive strong cash generation through active working capital management (inventory, payables, receivables).
• Evaluate and support capital investment cases, including ROI and post-investment reviews.

Governance, Controls & Compliance

• Strengthen financial controls, governance, and reporting processes.
• Ensure compliance with UK GAAP / IFRS, tax, and statutory reporting requirements.
• Participate in external audit processes and manage local relationships with advisors and lenders.

Transformation, Systems & Scalability

• Lead finance transformation initiatives to improve data quality, reporting speed, and insight.
• Support ERP implementation or optimisation where required.
• Build scalable finance processes to support growth.

Leadership & Team Development

• Lead and develop a high-performing finance team with a strong performance culture.
• Promote accountability, pace, and continuous improvement across the finance function.

Skills & Experience
Essential

• Fully qualified accountant (ACA, ACCA, or CIMA).
• Senior finance leadership experience within a manufacturing or industrial environment.
• Strong operational finance, costing, and margin management expertise.
• Experience supporting integrations or carve-outs.

Personal Attributes

• Commercial, analytical, and outcome focused.
• Comfortable challenging operational and leadership teams.
• Hands-on, resilient, and able to operate at pace.
• Clear communicator with strong stakeholder management skills.

Vaco by Highspring values a diverse workplace and strongly encourages women, people of color, LGBTQ+ individuals, people with disabilities, members of ethnic minorities, foreign-born residents, and veterans to apply.

EEO Notice

Vaco by Highspring is an Equal Opportunity Employer and does not discriminate against any employee or applicant for employment because of race (including but not limited to traits historically associated with race such as hair texture and hair style), color, sex (includes pregnancy or related conditions), religion or creed, national origin, citizenship, age, disability, status as a veteran, union membership, ethnicity, gender, gender identity, gender expression, sexual orientation, marital status, political affiliation, or any other protected characteristics as required by federal, state or local law.

Vaco by Highspring and its parents, affiliates, and subsidiaries are committed to the full inclusion of all qualified individuals. As part of this commitment, Vaco by Highspring and its parents, affiliates, and subsidiaries will ensure that persons with disabilities are provided reasonable accommodations. If reasonable accommodation is needed to participate in the job application or interview process, to perform essential job functions, and/or to receive other benefits and privileges of employment, please contact  .

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