At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead financial performance and drive efficiency at a fast-paced food manufacturing site.
- Company: Join a dynamic food manufacturing company focused on growth and sustainability.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, professional development, and a collaborative work environment.
- Other info: Enjoy hands-on involvement and influence key financial decisions on the factory floor.
- Why this job: Make a real impact on site performance and profitability while working closely with operations.
- Qualifications: Degree in Finance or Accounting; experience in manufacturing finance roles preferred.
The predicted salary is between 55000 - 65000 ÂŁ per year.
Reporting Line: You will report to the Senior Finance Controller, who leads group finance strategy, governance, and external financial relationships. You will be the site-based financial leader responsible for execution, insight, and performance delivery.
Location: – on site, Leek, Staffordshire (On-site)
Position: permanent -Full-time | Permanent | Monday–Friday (37.5 hours)
About the Role
We’re looking for a commercially driven Finance Controller to take ownership of finance at a fast-paced blended powder food manufacturing site in Leek. This is a key site leadership role where you will act as the financial lead for the factory, responsible for driving performance, improving margin, and ensuring robust financial control across a complex manufacturing environment. You’ll partner closely with Operations, Supply Chain, and the Senior Leadership Team to turn financial data into action—helping the site operate more efficiently, profitably, and sustainably.
What You’ll Be Doing (including but not limited to)
- Driving Site Performance
- Own financial performance for the manufacturing site, including profitability, cost control, and working capital
- Deliver clear insight into production efficiency, yield, waste, labour usage, and margin drivers
- Act as a trusted business partner to Operations and Supply Chain teams
- Manufacturing Finance Leadership
- Lead standard costing, variance analysis, and inventory control across a blended powder production environment
- Improve visibility and control of material usage, batch performance, and production waste
- Drive margin improvement through better cost understanding and operational challenge
- Planning & Decision Support
- Lead budgeting, forecasting, and monthly performance reporting
- Build strong cashflow and operational forecasting models
- Support commercial and operational decision‑making with robust financial modelling
- Own and develop finance and reporting capability within the ERP system (Infor M3)
- Improve automation, data quality, and reporting efficiency across site finance processes
- Strengthen financial controls and support audit and compliance activity
- ESG & Sustainability (Site‑Level Contribution)
- Support site‑level ESG reporting including energy, waste, and emissions data
- Partner with operations to identify cost‑saving and sustainability improvements
- Ensure ESG data is accurate, consistent, and aligned to group requirements
- Support integration of sustainability into financial planning and investment decisions
- Capital & Investment Support
- Partner with the Enterprise CI to lead financial evaluation of site investment proposals (equipment, automation, process improvements)
- Build ROI and payback models and track post‑investment performance
- Present business cases for approval to senior finance leadership
What We’re Looking For
We’re looking for someone who thrives in a hands‑on manufacturing environment and enjoys being close to operations.
Qualifications & Skills
- Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Finance, or related field (professional qualification such as ACCA/CIMA preferred or equivalent experience).
- Proven experience in a Finance Controller / Finance Manager role within manufacturing (food, FMCG, or process industry preferred).
- Strong understanding of manufacturing costing, variance analysis, and inventory control.
- Experience working in ERP systems (Infor M3 advantageous).
- Advanced Microsoft Excel and Microsoft 365 skills.
- Strong commercial acumen with ability to link operational activity to financial outcomes.
- Experience in budgeting, forecasting, and financial modelling.
- Understanding of ESG or non‑financial reporting desirable.
- Strong problem‑solving and analytical capability
- Commercial awareness and cost focus
- Excellent verbal and written communication and stakeholder management skills
- Ability to influence cross‑functional teams
- Detail‑oriented with strong technical documentation skills
- IT literate across Microsoft 365 and TEAMS
- Friendly, collaborative, and Professional demeanour
- Solutions orientated
You’ll bring
- Experience in a Finance Controller / Finance Manager role within manufacturing, FMCG, food, or process industries
- Strong understanding of costing, variance analysis, and inventory control
- Confidence working with operational teams to influence performance
- Strong Excel and ERP systems experience (Infor M3 advantageous)
- Commercial mindset with the ability to turn data into action
- Experience in budgeting, forecasting, and financial modelling
What Makes This Role Different
This is not a back‑office reporting role. Embedded in the factory, working directly with operations. A key driver of profitability and efficiency at site level. Trusted to challenge decisions and influence outcomes. Central to how the site improves cost performance and operational excellence. You’ll have real visibility, real influence, and real ownership of results. If you thrive in a factory‑floor finance role where you genuinely influence performance, and want to make your mark in an established business in a growth phase, this is a standout opportunity.
Financial Controller in Leek employer: Allicio Nutrition
Contact Detail:
Allicio Nutrition Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Financial Controller in Leek
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Get out there and connect with people in the finance and manufacturing sectors. Attend industry events, join relevant online forums, and don’t be shy about reaching out on LinkedIn. You never know who might have the inside scoop on job openings!
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for interviews by researching the company and its financial performance. Understand their products, market position, and challenges they face. This will help you tailor your answers and show that you’re genuinely interested in being the financial lead at their site.
✨Tip Number 3
Practice your pitch! Be ready to explain how your experience in finance and manufacturing can drive performance and improve margins. Use specific examples from your past roles to demonstrate your impact and how you can bring value to their team.
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to apply through our website! We’ve got loads of opportunities waiting for you, and applying directly shows your enthusiasm. Plus, it’s a great way to get noticed by our hiring team!
We think you need these skills to ace Financial Controller in Leek
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your CV: Make sure your CV speaks directly to the role of Finance Controller. Highlight your experience in manufacturing finance, cost control, and any relevant ERP systems like Infor M3. We want to see how your skills align with what we're looking for!
Craft a Compelling Cover Letter: Your cover letter is your chance to shine! Use it to explain why you're passionate about this role and how your background makes you the perfect fit. Don’t forget to mention your hands-on experience in a manufacturing environment—this is key for us.
Showcase Your Achievements: When detailing your past roles, focus on specific achievements that demonstrate your impact on financial performance and operational efficiency. Numbers speak volumes, so if you improved margins or reduced costs, let us know how!
Apply Through Our Website: We encourage you to apply through our website for a smoother application process. It helps us keep track of your application and ensures you don’t miss out on any important updates from us!
How to prepare for a job interview at Allicio Nutrition
✨Know Your Numbers
As a Financial Controller, you'll need to demonstrate your understanding of financial metrics. Brush up on key performance indicators relevant to manufacturing, such as cost control, margin improvement, and production efficiency. Be ready to discuss how you've used these metrics in past roles to drive performance.
✨Showcase Your ERP Skills
Since experience with ERP systems like Infor M3 is advantageous, make sure you highlight any relevant experience you have. Prepare examples of how you've improved reporting efficiency or data quality using these systems. This will show that you're not just familiar with the software but can leverage it for better financial outcomes.
✨Be a Business Partner
The role requires close collaboration with Operations and Supply Chain teams. Think of examples where you've successfully partnered with cross-functional teams to influence financial decisions. Emphasise your ability to communicate complex financial data in a way that drives action and supports operational goals.
✨Prepare for Scenario Questions
Expect questions that assess your problem-solving skills and commercial acumen. Prepare for scenarios where you might need to analyse a financial issue or propose a solution to improve site performance. Practising these types of questions will help you articulate your thought process clearly during the interview.