Finance Director, Universal Containers

About Universal Containers

Universal Containers is a successful, family‑owned business supplying containers for sale, hire and conversion. With turnover approaching £20m, the business is profitable, well‑established and poised for its next stage of growth. This is a pivotal moment to join the company as its first Finance Director, playing a central role in shaping the future of the business while working closely with its owners.

This is a genuinely influential board‑level role for a hands‑on, commercially minded Finance Director who wants to make a real difference. Universal Containers is at the point where stronger data, sharper insight and more scalable systems will unlock better decision‑making and support sustainable growth. You will be a trusted adviser to the owner, bringing clarity, challenge and structure to a growing owner‑managed SME, while remaining close to the commercial and operational realities of a stock‑intensive business.

As Finance Director, you will lead the finance function and act as a confident, constructive voice at board level. Your focus will be on strengthening the financial backbone of the business and enabling smarter, faster decisions as the company grows.

Key responsibilities include:

• Acting as a core member of the Board, providing clear financial insight, robust analysis and constructive commercial challenge
• Reviewing, upgrading and implementing ERP and finance systems, alongside processes, controls and reporting
• Designing and delivering high‑quality management information that genuinely supports commercial and operational decision‑making
• Full ownership of budgeting, forecasting, cashflow and working capital, with particular emphasis on stock
• Developing and leading a capable, engaged finance team
• Supporting growth initiatives, operational improvements and longer‑term strategic planning

You will be a commercially astute, pragmatic finance leader who enjoys being involved, visible and influential. Comfortable operating in an owner‑managed environment, you will know how to challenge effectively while building trust and credibility.

You are likely to bring:

• Proven experience operating at Finance Director level in a £15‑30m turnover business
• Strong background in stock‑based operations and working capital management
• Clear, hands‑on experience of implementing and improving finance and ERP systems
• The confidence to influence owners and senior stakeholders using strong data and insight
• A practical mindset, balancing control, pace and commercial reality

Pratap Partnership are working exclusively with Universal Containers on this appointment, please contact Gillian McBride for further details.