Finance Business Partner in Kendal

Are you a commercially minded finance professional who enjoys working closely with operational teams to drive performance and improve profitability?

At James Cropper Group, we are looking for a proactive and analytical Finance business Partner to join our Paper and Packaging Finance team.

This is an excellent opportunity for a part-qualified accountant with manufacturing experience who wants to make a real impact by influencing cost management, improving financial controls, and helping deliver business efficiencies.

Working closely with budget holders and operational leaders across the business, you'll play a key role in providing accurate financial insight, challenging cost performance, and supporting strategic decision-making.

What You'll Be Doing

You'll take ownership of the reporting, forecasting, budgeting and control of manufacturing costs and overheads, ensuring the business has timely and accurate information to support performance improvement.

Key responsibilities include

• Providing clear, accurate and insightful reporting on Cost of Sales and Overhead expenditure, helping budget holders identify and deliver cost-saving opportunities.
• Managing the monthly accruals process, ensuring all direct and overhead costs are recognised accurately and in the correct accounting period.
• Working closely with budget holders to ensure complete and accurate cost capture, investigating anomalies and resolving variances.
• Reconciling supplier statements and supporting robust month-end processes.
• Producing detailed monthly cost reports by cost centre and budget holder.
• Leading monthly review meetings with budget holders to assess performance against budget, forecast and operational run rates.
• Preparing concise and meaningful commentary for the leadership team, highlighting key cost trends, risks, opportunities and efficiency initiatives.
• Investigating material cost and standard cost variances, identifying root causes and recommending corrective actions.
• Supporting the preparation of annual budgets, quarterly forecasts and long-range financial plans.
• Maintaining and developing financial controls, processes and reporting systems to support continuous improvement.
• Assisting with working capital reporting, balance sheet reconciliations, audits and ad‑hoc business projects.
• Collaborating across Finance, Operations, Procurement and Manufacturing teams to drive cost efficiency and performance improvement.

What We're Looking For

We're seeking an enthusiastic and detail-oriented finance professional who enjoys partnering with non-financial stakeholders and influencing positive change.

Commercially aware and naturally curious you will be comfortable challenging and influencing colleagues in a constructive manner.

• Part Qualified Accountant (CIMA, ACCA or equivalent).
• Previous finance experience within a manufacturing environment preferred.
• Strong understanding of accruals, prepayments, forecasting, budgeting and management reporting.
• Excellent analytical skills with the ability to investigate trends, identify anomalies and present clear recommendations.
• Strong attention to detail and commitment to data accuracy and financial integrity.
• Ability to build credibility and influence stakeholders at all levels.
• Experience working with budget holders and supporting operational decision‑making.
• Excellent organisational and planning skills, with the ability to manage multiple deadlines.
• Advanced Microsoft Excel and Microsoft Office skills.
• A proactive approach to continuous improvement and identifying efficiencies.

Why choose Us?

You'll join a business with a proud manufacturing heritage, strong values and an ambitious future.

You'll have the opportunity to work alongside experienced colleagues, influence business performance, and develop your career within a supportive and collaborative environment.

• We are offering a competitive salary and benefits including;
• The chance to pave your career with a global leader you’ll have support from your line manager and a range of learning & development programmes
• We will help you save for your retirement - join our pension scheme and we’ll match contributions up to 6%
• 25 days’ holiday per year (pro rata) plus bank holidays
• Free health cash plan so you can claim back cash for a range of medical expenses
• Wellbeing support - including a 24/7 employee assistance programme (EAP) for you and your nearest and dearest

If you're looking for a role where you can combine technical accounting expertise with commercial impact, we'd love to hear from you.

We reserve the right to close the vacancy earlier should we identify a suitable candidate or receive a sufficient volume of applications.

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