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.

Finance Director Key Responsibilities:

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 12-month rolling P&L, balance sheet, and tight daily cash-flow models to back manufacturing cycles and major freight outlays.

Team Leadership: Manage and upskill a small, capable internal accounts team

Audit & Statutory Compliance: Oversee Year-End close, manage UK corporate tax adjustments (including R&D tax credits for manufacturing processes), and act as the principal contact for banks and external auditors.

Requirements & Qualifications

Professional Qualifications: ACA, ACCA, or CIMA qualification.

Sector Experience: A non-negotiable track record in an SME manufacturing or complex distribution/import background.

Technical Skills: Strong history with ERP rollouts/upgrades and advanced, dynamic financial modeling capabilities.

Mindset: Commercially aggressive, visible on the shop floor, and able to confidently influence operational managers who may not have a finance background.

PACKAGE & WORKING ARRANGEMENTS

Competitive base salary, circa £90,000.

Performance-related bonus.

Standard company benefits (pension, holiday, and other benefits per company policy).

Primarily office-based, with hybrid working arrangements to be agreed; occasional travel to warehouse/distribution sites as required.

We are looking for an experienced Corporate Finance professional, ideally operating at senior or director level with a strong track record of delivering successful transactions and the commercial drive to contribute to the continued growth of the business.

There is an extremely competitive salary on offer of circa £90,000. DOE plus a discretionary performance-related bonus.

Head Hunted Recruitment Services Ltd and associated clients are committed to encouraging equality, diversity and inclusion among our workforce, and eliminating unlawful discrimination. The aim is for our workforce to be truly representative of all sections of society and our customer