Finance Manager

We’re working with a successful and growing distribution business based in Wakefield, who are looking to appoint an experienced Finance Manager to take ownership of the day-to-day finance function and play a key role in supporting the continued growth and performance of the business.

This is a broad and commercially focused role, providing accurate financial reporting, analysis and insight to support senior management and operational decision-making. Working closely with the wider business, the successful candidate will have responsibility for the integrity of the finance function, while identifying opportunities to improve processes, financial controls and overall business performance.

Key Responsibilities

Take ownership of the day-to-day finance function, ensuring accurate and timely financial information is produced.
Prepare and deliver monthly management accounts, financial reports and balance sheet reconciliations.
Provide detailed analysis of sales, margins, distribution costs, overheads and overall business performance.
Lead the budgeting and forecasting process, including cash-flow forecasting and ongoing performance monitoring.
Monitor gross margins and profitability, identifying trends, variances and opportunities for improvement.
Work closely with senior management and operational teams to provide meaningful financial analysis and commercial insight.
Analyse distribution, logistics, freight, labour and overhead costs, identifying opportunities to improve efficiency and profitability.
Take ownership of month-end processes, including journals, accruals, prepayments, reconciliations and other financial adjustments.
Oversee stock and inventory accounting, ensuring accurate reporting and effective controls around stock movements and valuation.
Monitor working capital, cash flow, aged debtors and creditors, supporting effective cash management across the business.
Develop and improve financial controls, processes and reporting systems to support business growth.
Provide financial modelling, scenario analysis and commercial insight to support strategic and operational decision-making.
Support year-end processes and liaise with auditors and other external stakeholders as required.
Manage and develop the finance function, ensuring high standards of accuracy, control and financial governance.

The Ideal Candidate
The successful candidate will be an experienced finance professional with a strong management accounting background, ideally gained within a distribution, wholesale, logistics or fast-moving commercial environment.
You will ideally have:

ACA, ACCA or CIMA qualified
Previous experience as a Finance Manager, Senior Management Accountant, Financial Controller or similar.
Strong understanding of management accounts, budgeting, forecasting, cash flow and variance analysis.

Experience with in a distribution, wholesale, logistics or stock-based business would be highly advantageous.
Strong understanding of stock and inventory accounting, gross margins and working capital.
Excellent Excel skills and experience using finance/ERP systems.
Strong analytical and commercial skills, with the ability to translate financial information into clear and actionable business insight.
Excellent communication skills and the confidence to work closely with senior management and operational teams.
A hands-on approach, with the ability to take ownership of the finance function while also contributing strategically to the wider business.
This is an excellent opportunity for an experienced finance professional looking to take ownership of the finance function within a successful and growing distribution business in Wakefield.

The role offers genuine commercial exposure, responsibility across the wider finance function and the opportunity to work closely with senior management to improve financial performance, profitability, cash flow and operational efficiency.

For the right candidate, this is a role where you can make a genuine impact as the business continues to grow.

INDFIN