At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead FP&A activities, driving insights and analysis to support business decisions.
- Company: Join a growing manufacturing company undergoing exciting transformation and investment.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, hybrid working, and the chance to shape your role.
- Other info: Dynamic environment with opportunities for continuous improvement and career development.
- Why this job: Be influential in key business decisions during a period of growth and change.
- Qualifications: Professional accounting qualification and experience in manufacturing FP&A.
This is a hands-on FP&A role with no direct reports, offering full ownership and close business partnering. It is ideally suited to an FP&A professional who enjoys working closely with the detail and driving value through insight and analysis.
You will be joining a well-established and growing manufacturing business that is currently undergoing a significant phase of investment, transformation, and expansion. This growth has created a newly defined opportunity within the finance team for a high calibre FP&A professional to play a key role in shaping the function and supporting the wider business.
Reporting directly to the Finance Director, this position will sit at the heart of the finance function, providing high-quality insight and partnering closely with stakeholders across the business. You will take ownership of core FP&A activities, including budgeting, forecasting, and long-range planning, while delivering clear and actionable insights to support operational and strategic decision-making.
Key responsibilities include:
- Producing robust financial reporting, including variance analysis and performance tracking
- Supporting and enhancing the monthly reporting cycle and board-level outputs
- Delivering meaningful KPIs and commercial insights across key areas of the business
- Working closely with operational teams to provide effective business partnering
- Supporting pricing, margin and cost improvement initiatives, particularly across production
- Gaining a strong understanding of stock, WIP, and end-to-end production processes
- Driving improvements in ERP reporting, data quality, and automation
- Contributing to the development of best-in-class reporting and analytics capability
- Supporting ongoing systems development and continuous improvement initiatives
- Assisting with strategic activity, including integration projects and business growth initiatives
This is a highly visible role offering strong stakeholder interaction and the opportunity to influence key business decisions.
What you'll need to succeed:
- A professional accounting qualification (e.g. ACCA, CIMA) or equivalent experience
- Proven experience within a manufacturing environment, with a strong understanding of products, production processes, and operational cost drivers
- Experience analysing margins, costing, and manufacturing performance
- Strong FP&A capability across planning, forecasting, and financial modelling
- Confidence in stakeholder engagement and business partnering across the business
- Experience working with ERP systems and enhancing reporting capabilities
- A proactive, commercially focused mindset with the ability to drive value and continuous improvements
- Experience using Power BI (or similar tools) to develop dashboards and deliver clear, actionable business insights
What you'll get in return:
- Salary of £60,000 - £65,000
- Hybrid working (3 days in the office)
- A genuine opportunity to shape and make the role your own
- The chance to be highly influential in business decision-making
- Exposure to a growing organisation during a period of investment and change
- The opportunity to support the development of systems, reporting, and processes
If you're interested in this role, click 'apply now' to forward an up-to-date copy of your CV, or call us now. If this job isn't quite right for you, but you are looking for a new position, please contact us for a confidential discussion about your career.
FP&A Lead in Leeds employer: Hays
Join a dynamic and expanding manufacturing business in Leeds, where you will have the opportunity to take full ownership of FP&A activities and make a significant impact on strategic decision-making. With a strong focus on employee growth, hybrid working arrangements, and a culture that values insight and collaboration, this role offers a unique chance to shape the finance function during a transformative phase. Enjoy competitive salary packages and the support to develop your skills in a thriving environment.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land FP&A Lead in Leeds
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to your connections in the finance and manufacturing sectors. You never know who might have the inside scoop on job openings or can put in a good word for you.
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for those interviews by brushing up on your FP&A knowledge. Be ready to discuss your experience with budgeting, forecasting, and financial modelling. Show them you’re the go-to person for insights and analysis!
✨Tip Number 3
Don’t just apply anywhere; focus on companies that align with your values and career goals. Check out our website for tailored opportunities that fit your skills and aspirations in the FP&A space.
✨Tip Number 4
Follow up after interviews! A quick thank-you email can set you apart from other candidates. It shows your enthusiasm for the role and keeps you fresh in their minds.
We think you need these skills to ace FP&A Lead in Leeds
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your CV:Make sure your CV reflects the skills and experiences that match the FP&A Lead role. Highlight your experience in budgeting, forecasting, and financial modelling, as these are key aspects of the job.
Craft a Compelling Cover Letter:Use your cover letter to tell us why you're the perfect fit for this role. Share specific examples of how you've driven value through insight and analysis in previous positions, especially in a manufacturing environment.
Showcase Your Stakeholder Engagement Skills:Since this role involves a lot of business partnering, make sure to mention any relevant experiences where you've successfully engaged with stakeholders. We want to see how you can influence key business decisions!
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 don’t miss out on any important updates about the role.
How to prepare for a job interview at Hays
✨Know Your Numbers
As an FP&A Lead, you'll need to demonstrate your financial acumen. Brush up on key metrics related to budgeting, forecasting, and performance tracking. Be ready to discuss how you've used these insights to drive business decisions in the past.
✨Showcase Your Business Partnering Skills
This role involves a lot of stakeholder engagement, so prepare examples of how you've successfully partnered with operational teams. Highlight specific instances where your insights led to improved decision-making or cost-saving initiatives.
✨Familiarise Yourself with ERP Systems
Since the job mentions enhancing reporting capabilities through ERP systems, make sure you can talk about your experience with these tools. If you've worked with Power BI or similar software, be prepared to share how you've used it to create actionable dashboards.
✨Emphasise Continuous Improvement
The company is looking for someone who can drive value and improvements. Think of examples where you've contributed to process enhancements or system developments. Show them that you're proactive and always looking for ways to optimise financial reporting and analytics.
