Finance Business Partner - Manufacturing in Widnes

Croda is a FTSE100 organisation driven around our purpose of Smart Science to Improve Lives™. With over 6,000 employees across 39 countries, we are focused on the research and development of novel and highly sustainable raw materials for the Life Sciences and Consumer Care sectors. We are passionate and excited about how we can develop and utilise new technologies to shape and inspire changes within an ever-growing marketplace.

As our business looks to deliver its ambitious strategy of growth, we have an exciting opportunity for a Finance Business Partner – Manufacturing at our Ditton site. You will be a global subject matter expert, responsible for supporting end‑to‑end implementation, maintenance, and improvement of Croda's processes, reporting and analysis across manufacturing finance.

Who We're Looking For

• You will have excellent interpersonal and communication skills to build good working relationships.
• Ability to influence and effectively work and lead cross‑functional, international teams and manage multiple projects simultaneously.
• Have passion, enthusiasm, optimistic working attitude, good global team spirit, and be self‑motivated.
• Ability to be a teacher, leader and reactive in leading other accountants in their development.
• Keep up to date with external profession and evolving external requirements to bring innovation into Croda to support continuous improvement.
• Educated to degree level or qualified by experience, professional accountancy qualification required ACA, ACCA, CIMA or similar.
• Process excellence qualification or experience preferred.
• Experience in handling a degree of complexity to iterate and implement a standard set of principles and processes across disparate manufacturing sites and products whilst addressing competing stakeholder requirements.
• Possess expert knowledge of manufacturing cost accounting and related SAP processes.
• Willingness to travel as needed domestically and internationally and work out of normal business hours on occasion.

What You'll Be Doing

• Partner with site leadership to provide financial insights on production performance, cost drivers, and operational KPIs, supporting decision making to improve margins and efficiency.
• Lead monthly close and variance analysis in SAP, ensuring accurate costing, inventory valuation, and manufacturing cost reporting.
• Support budgeting, forecasting, and long‑range planning for the manufacturing site, translating operational plans into financial targets and monitoring performance against them.
• Drive continuous improvement initiatives by analysing SAP data to identify cost reduction opportunities, optimise working capital (inventory), and strengthen financial controls within the sites.

What We Offer

• Join a global organisation with countless opportunities for growth and leadership.
• Defined benefit pension scheme.
• 25 days paid holiday allowance (plus bank holidays).
• Private medical insurance.
• Access to share plans.
• Cycle to work scheme.
• Car leasing scheme.
• Generous parental leave.
• Retail platform benefits.
• Free car parking on Croda sites.
• Flexible working arrangements.

This is a hybrid position based at our Leek or Ditton site with the ability to regularly visit the other site, in addition to ad hoc visits to Head Office. If you require any reasonable adjustments during the hiring process or experience any issues with our online application process, please email candidate@croda.com.

Croda recognises employees as our strength and the diversity they bring to our workforce are directly linked to our ongoing success. We are an equal opportunity employer and place a high value on diversity and inclusion at our company. We do not discriminate on the basis of any protected attribute, including age, race, colour, religion, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, marital or veteran status, pregnancy or disability, or any other basis protected under applicable law. In accordance with applicable law, we make reasonable accommodations for applicants' and employees' religious practices and beliefs, as well as any mental health or physical disability needs.