Finance Director

Head Hunted Recruitment Services Ltd are working exclusively with an award winning business who are one of the largest in their sector and boasting a strong market presence. The business is a Norfolk based importer, manufacturer and distributor of branded consumer goods supplying professional trade merchants, and retail partners across the UK.

We are seeking a commercially astute, hands‑on Finance Director to lead our financial operations and drive strategic sustainable growth. You will act as a close strategic partner to the Managing Director while maintaining complete operational accountability for the day-to-day finance function.

The business is a UK-based importer, manufacturer and distributor of branded products, supplying professional trade merchants, and retail partners across the UK, international and European markets. With annual turnover of approximately £20 million, the company sources product internationally, manufactures and holds inventory across one or more UK warehouse locations, and manages a supply chain exposed to foreign exchange, freight, duty, and regulatory risk.

The ideal candidate will have a proven background operating as a No. 1 or No. 2 finance professional within a UK SME and extensive experience in international trade, particularly managing the distinct cash flow metrics, foreign currency volatility, and supply chain logistics inherent to an import-driven SME.

Financial Control & Risk Management

• Maintain overall control over financial strategy, statutory accounts, payroll, and audit processes.
• Manage cash flow, liquidity, and credit control to ensure robust financial health.
• Identify and mitigate financial and operational risks via an active risk management framework.

Team Leadership & Communication

• Lead, mentor, and upskill the internal finance team through busy cycles like month-end, year-end, and annual budgeting.
• Bridge the gap between finance and non-finance departments, fostering commercial awareness across the wider business.
• Build strong external relationships with banks, investors, auditors, key commercial suppliers and key customers.

Supply Chain & Import Commerciality

• Foreign Exchange (FX) & Hedging Strategy:
  Manage multi-currency risks (e.g., USD/EUR exposure) and implement hedging strategies to defend gross margins against volatile shipping and import tariffs.
• Working Capital Optimization:
  Overhaul landing-cost calculations, manage cash conversion cycles tied to overseas lead times, and optimize substantial raw-material vs. finished-goods stock investments.
• Supplier & Logistics Negotiation:
  Partner with procurement to critically evaluate freight forwarders, international customs rules, and key material suppliers to unlock bottom-line savings.

Operations & Manufacturing Insight

• Cost Accounting & Margin Analysis:
  Take control of standard costing models, variance tracking, and bill of materials (BOM) to find and fix leakage on the factory floor.
• Production Planning Partnership:
  Attend production and capacity scheduling meetings, translating operational throughput targets into clear cash flow forecasts.
• ERP System Optimisation:
  Act as the finance champion to refine or exploit the company’s ERP system to ensure precise stock tracking, scrap tracking, and labor efficiency reporting.

Sales & Commercial Insight

• Lead the annual sales and gross margin budget process and rolling forecasts (monthly/quarterly re‑forecasts), coordinating input from Sales, Purchasing, Operations and Finance.
• Business partner with Sales and Commercial teams to model customer and product-line profitability, pricing decisions, rebate/discount structures, and promotional investment.

Core Financial Strategy & Control

• Rolling Forecasts:
  Oversee the maintenance of…