Senior Financial Accountant in Wolverhampton

As the number-one finance professional on site, the Senior Financial Accountant will oversee all financial accounting, reporting, and compliance under UK GAAP / FRS 102 for a manufacturing operation. The role provides critical financial support to the Site Managing Director and wider operational leadership, ensuring high-quality financial information and control across a fast-paced, production-driven environment.

A major part of the role will be building a robust monthly management reporting framework and supporting the seamless integration of the newly acquired manufacturing business into the Group's financial processes, systems, and reporting standards.

• Financial Accounting & Manufacturing Reporting

• Prepare timely and accurate monthly management accounts including P&L, balance sheet, cash flow, standard costing performance, and production variance analysis.
• Lead monthly close processes, ensuring accurate capture of production costs, overhead absorption, WIP, and stock valuations.
• Ensure all financial information is fully aligned with Group consolidation requirements.
• Oversee key manufacturing finance reconciliations, including inventory, cost of sales, and labour/overhead postings.

• Costing, Inventory & Operational Finance

• Maintain and update standard costs and overhead rates in line with operational changes.
• Analyse manufacturing variances including material usage, labour efficiency, scrap, yield, and machine utilisation.
• Oversee stock integrity including stock takes, cycle counting, and valuation under UK GAAP.
• Support operational teams with cost analysis, process efficiency reviews, and margin improvement initiatives.

• Financial Control & Compliance

• Ensure all accounting is compliant with UK GAAP / FRS 102 and internal Group policies.
• Maintain strong internal controls, particularly around stock, production processes, and fixed assets.
• Act as the lead contact for external auditors and ensure accurate statutory reporting.
• Prepare VAT returns, corporation tax information packs, and statutory filings.

• Business Partnering

• Work closely with the Site MD and Operations Manager along with Group Supply Chain, and Commercial teams to support decision‑making.
• Provide clear financial insight on operational performance, working capital, and cost drivers.
• Challenge and support operational leaders on cost control, investment cases, and efficiency improvements.

• Integration of Newly Acquired Business

• Lead finance integration activities, ensuring alignment of manufacturing data, inventory processes, costings, and financial controls with Group standards.
• Support system migration, chart of accounts alignment, and reporting structure implementation.
• Develop a consistent monthly management reporting pack for site and Group.

• Budgeting, Forecasting & Planning

• Lead annual budget cycles including production volumes, labour planning, overhead costs, and capital expenditure.
• Deliver rolling forecasts and scenario analysis based on operational drivers.
• Support capex business cases and ROI analysis for manufacturing investments.

• Cash & Working Capital

• Oversee cash flow forecasting with focus on stock levels, purchasing patterns, supplier terms, and production efficiency.
• Manage working capital facilities (invoice discounting).
• Identify opportunities to improve working capital performance.

• Team Leadership (where applicable)

• Oversee transactional finance support (AP/AR/Payroll).
• Foster a culture of accuracy, continuous improvement, and operational partnership.

A few things about you:

• Qualified accountant (ACA / ACCA / CIMA) with strong technical expertise in UK GAAP / FRS 102.
• Experience in a manufacturing or industrial environment, ideally with exposure to standard costing and production reporting.
• Proven record in a standalone or number‑one on‑site finance role.
• Strong understanding of stock accounting, cost of sales, and manufacturing cost flows.
• Confident in analysing production performance data and explaining operational variances.
• Strong Excel and ERP system experience (e.g., SAP, Oracle, Navision, Infor, Syteline).
• Experience in a Group structure with consolidated reporting.
• Involvement in post‑acquisition integration, system changes, or manufacturing process transformation.
• Experience with lean manufacturing, continuous improvement, or cost‑reduction projects.
• Hands‑on, commercially aware, and comfortable operating within a factory environment.
• Excellent communication skills with the ability to work effectively with operations teams.
• Strong analytical mindset and high attention to detail.
• Proactive, solution‑driven, and able to thrive in a period of change and integration.