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- Tasks: Lead financial strategy and governance across multiple manufacturing sites in Europe.
- Company: Global engineering and manufacturing business focused on sustainability and innovation.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, leadership development, and the chance to influence strategic decisions.
- Other info: Opportunity to mentor teams and shape the future of finance in a global context.
- Why this job: Join a dynamic team and drive impactful financial initiatives in a growing company.
- Qualifications: Qualified accountant with senior finance leadership experience in manufacturing.
The predicted salary is between 100000 - 130000 £ per year.
Our client is a global engineering and manufacturing business supplying innovative solutions across a range of industrial markets. With an international footprint and strong focus on sustainability and next-generation technologies, the business is entering an exciting new phase of growth under private ownership.
We are seeking an accomplished European Finance Director to join the Divisional Leadership Team, accountable for financial strategy, governance, performance reporting, and decision support across multiple manufacturing sites. This role will be highly visible at Group level, presenting divisional performance and acting as a key strategic partner to divisional leadership.
Key Responsibilities- Lead, mentor, and develop the divisional finance team across all European manufacturing locations.
- Partner with divisional and site leadership to strengthen financial understanding, accountability, and performance culture.
- Present divisional results and insights to Group as part of the monthly Business Unit Review process.
- Identify opportunities to improve profitability, margin performance, and operational efficiency.
- Implement Group financial initiatives and ensure alignment with divisional objectives.
- Oversee monthly forecasting and budgeting cycles across all facilities, including P&L, Balance Sheet, and Cashflow.
- Challenge assumptions within site forecasts, ensuring accuracy and transparency of key drivers.
- Support leadership teams in using financial data to guide decision-making and resource allocation.
- Provide clear analysis of trends, variances, and performance improvement opportunities.
- Prepare and present robust business cases for new programmes, investments, and growth initiatives.
- Evaluate capital expenditure proposals, ensuring disciplined returns through NPV, IRR, and payback analysis.
- Review and approve site-level capex requests in line with delegated authority frameworks.
- Drive working capital optimisation across the division, including inventory reduction and improved stock management.
- Accounts receivable collection and bad debt oversight.
- Accounts payable management aligned with forecasts.
- Coordinate foreign exchange cash flow reporting to Treasury to ensure exposures are hedged appropriately.
- Ensure a robust financial control framework is implemented and consistently upheld across all sites.
- Partner with Internal Audit on control enhancements and continuous improvement initiatives.
- Maintain compliance with Group delegated authorities, risk management, and governance standards.
- Oversee statutory reporting, tax compliance, and site-level audits, ensuring timely and smooth delivery.
- Act as a trusted advisor to the divisional leadership team, influencing strategic and operational priorities.
- Foster a culture of continuous improvement across finance and the wider business.
- Support ad-hoc projects and initiatives critical to divisional success.
- Qualified accountant (ACA / ACCA / CIMA).
- Senior finance leadership experience within a manufacturing environment.
- Proven track record managing and developing multi-site finance teams.
- Strong commercial acumen and ability to influence senior stakeholders.
- International experience at site, regional, or divisional level.
- Analytical mindset with the ability to translate financial insights into business actions.
European Finance Director in Birmingham employer: greenwellgleeson Ltd
Contact Detail:
greenwellgleeson Ltd Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land European Finance Director in Birmingham
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to your connections in the finance and manufacturing sectors. Attend industry events or webinars where you can meet potential employers or colleagues who might know of openings. Remember, it’s all about who you know!
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for interviews by researching the company inside out. Understand their financial strategies, recent projects, and challenges they face. This will help you tailor your responses and show that you’re genuinely interested in being part of their team.
✨Tip Number 3
Practice your pitch! You need to be able to clearly articulate your experience and how it aligns with the role of European Finance Director. Focus on your leadership skills and how you've driven performance improvements in previous roles.
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to apply through our website! We’ve got loads of opportunities that might just be the perfect fit for you. Plus, applying directly shows your enthusiasm and commitment to joining our team.
We think you need these skills to ace European Finance Director in Birmingham
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your CV: Make sure your CV reflects the specific skills and experiences that align with the European Finance Director role. Highlight your leadership experience in finance, especially within a manufacturing context, to catch our eye!
Craft a Compelling Cover Letter: Your cover letter is your chance to shine! Use it to explain why you're the perfect fit for this role. Share your passion for financial strategy and how you can contribute to our exciting growth phase.
Showcase Your Achievements: Don’t just list your responsibilities; showcase your achievements! Use quantifiable results to demonstrate how you've improved profitability or operational efficiency in previous roles. We love numbers!
Apply Through Our Website: We encourage you to apply directly through our website. It’s the best way for us to receive your application and ensures you’re considered for this fantastic opportunity. Let’s make it happen!
How to prepare for a job interview at greenwellgleeson Ltd
✨Know Your Numbers
As a European Finance Director, you'll need to demonstrate your financial acumen. Brush up on key financial metrics relevant to the manufacturing sector, such as NPV, IRR, and cash flow management. Be prepared to discuss how you've used these metrics to drive performance in previous roles.
✨Showcase Leadership Skills
This role involves leading and mentoring finance teams across multiple sites. Think of examples where you've successfully developed talent or improved team performance. Highlight your leadership style and how it aligns with fostering a culture of accountability and continuous improvement.
✨Prepare for Strategic Discussions
You'll be presenting divisional results to the Group, so practice articulating complex financial insights clearly and concisely. Prepare to discuss how you've influenced strategic decisions in the past and be ready to present a business case for a hypothetical investment or growth initiative.
✨Understand the Company’s Vision
Research the company's focus on sustainability and next-generation technologies. Be ready to discuss how your financial strategies can support these goals. Showing that you understand their vision will demonstrate your commitment and alignment with their objectives.