Head of Finance in Derby

Location: Nottingham

Salary: £75,000 – £80,000

Are you a commercially focused finance leader from an FMCG or food manufacturing background who wants to play a key role in the growth of an ambitious SME? This is an excellent opportunity to join a fast-growing, entrepreneurial FMCG manufacturing business at an important stage of its development. The business has built strong retail channels, continues to scale quickly, and is now looking for a senior finance professional who can help strengthen financial control, improve commercial insight and support the next phase of growth.

This is a broad, hands-on leadership role with real influence. You will work closely with the MD and senior leadership team, initially alongside an experienced interim FD, before taking on increasing ownership of the finance function.

The Opportunity

The business is moving from a successful, founder-led SME into a more structured, scalable organisation. Finance has a critical role to play in that journey. You will be responsible for improving visibility across cost, margin, stock, cashflow and operational performance, while helping the leadership team make better commercial decisions. This is not a narrow reporting role. It is a chance to be close to the business, influence operational performance and help shape how finance supports future growth.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead and develop the finance function, with a focus on financial control, operational finance and commercial insight.
• Leading the day-to-day finance function.
• Producing accurate management accounts, reporting and board-level commentary.
• Managing cashflow forecasting and working capital.
• Improving visibility around stock, COGS, margins and product profitability.
• Reviewing labour, material and production variances.
• Supporting pricing, promotions, customer profitability and commercial decisions.
• Strengthening financial controls, reporting processes and procedures.
• Supporting budgeting, forecasting and business planning.
• Working closely with operations, sales and senior leadership.
• Providing financial insight to support strategic decision-making.
• Improving systems, reporting and finance processes as the business scales.
• Helping develop a more data-driven and commercially focused finance function.

The Candidate

We are looking for a senior finance professional with strong experience in FMCG, food manufacturing, drink manufacturing or a closely related consumer goods environment. You may currently be operating as a Financial Controller, Head of Finance, Site Finance Lead, Commercial Finance Lead, Finance Director or senior Finance Manager within an FMCG or food manufacturing business.

You will need:

• Strong FMCG, food manufacturing or consumer goods manufacturing experience.
• Excellent understanding of stock, costings, margins and variance analysis.
• Experience managing cashflow and working capital.
• Strong management accounting and reporting capability.
• Ability to work closely with operations, sales and commercial teams.
• Confidence influencing senior stakeholders.
• Experience improving financial controls, systems and reporting.
• A hands-on approach suited to a growing SME.
• Commercial curiosity and the ability to challenge the business constructively.
• The capability to operate as part of a senior leadership team.
• Experience in food production, grocery, wholesale, retail supply, D2C, stock systems or ERP improvements would be highly advantageous.

Why This Role Stands Out

This is a senior finance opportunity in a growing FMCG manufacturing business where finance will be central to the next stage of growth. You will have:

• Direct exposure to the MD and senior leadership team.
• The opportunity to take real ownership of the finance function.
• Support and handover from an experienced interim FD.
• A broad role covering financial control, commercial finance and operational finance.
• The chance to improve cashflow, margins, reporting and decision-making.
• Real influence over how the business scales.
• The opportunity to become a key member of the senior leadership team.

This role would suit someone who enjoys being close to the operations of a business and wants to use finance to drive meaningful improvement.

Package

£75,000 – £80,000 salary, 25 days holiday, 5% matched pension, Bonus scheme, 4 days office-based, 1 day from home, Senior leadership exposure and long-term progression.

If you are an FMCG or food manufacturing finance leader who wants a broader, more influential role in a scaling business, this could be an excellent next step.