Financial Controller - Leading Soap FMCG Manufactuer

The Bar is Back - and we need your financial leadership, commercial insight, and drive for operational excellence to help us scale from 20 million to 70 million bars a year. At Soapworks, we create high-quality, sustainable soap products for global brands - and as we enter an exciting phase of rapid growth, we’re looking for an experienced, hands-on Financial Controller to lead our finance function and support strategic decision-making.

From driving robust financial controls and delivering accurate, timely reporting to supporting investment decisions and shaping long-term financial strategy, you’ll play a critical role in ensuring our commercial success as we scale - safeguarding profitability, managing risk, and enabling sustainable growth. At Soapworks, we do more than produce soap - we also manufacture a variety of personal care products, including hair and body cleansers and aromatic oils. As a key member of our leadership team, you’ll help shape the future of our business, working alongside a passionate and innovative workforce committed to quality, sustainability, and innovation.

The Role at a Glance:

• Location: Glasgow / Remote Working Fridays
• Salary: £65,000 - £75,000 per annum DOE + 33 days holiday, rising with service
• Full Time - Permanent
• Hours of Work (37.5hrs per week): 8am - 4.30pm (Mon-Thurs), 8am - 3pm (Fri - working from home)
• Reporting to: Managing Director
• Values: Ethical, Sustainable, Trusted
• Company: UK’s Largest Bar Soap Manufacturer with a global customer base

Your Background / Skills:

• Fully Qualified ACA/ACCA/CIMA plus solid practical experience in a fast-paced environment ideally within a manufacturing environment.
• Leading and developing a finance team.
• Experience working with BI tools.
• Food, Manufacturing, Personal care.
• Ideally exposure to contract manufacturing.

The Opportunity:

Soapworks is looking for a proactive and commercially minded Financial Controller to lead the optimisation and innovation of our finance operations as we scale up the business. In this key role, you’ll focus on enhancing financial processes, improving reporting accuracy, and strengthening overall financial performance - driving cost control, supporting strategic investments, and ensuring robust financial governance in a dynamic, fast-paced manufacturing environment.

Key Responsibilities:

• Advise on financial strategy to support company objectives.
• Lead, motivate, and develop the finance team to ensure high performance.
• Provide financial guidance to managers and staff to help achieve targets.
• Manage cash flow, working capital, and treasury functions.
• Prepare annual budgets, including P&L, balance sheet, and cash flow.
• Present financial reports to the Board and participate in monthly meetings.
• Oversee Group Reporting, including monthly sales and P&L reports.
• Deliver financial updates at fortnightly KPI meetings.
• Produce monthly management accounts and Finance Board reports.
• Coordinate year-end reporting and external audits.
• Manage operational performance reviews and P&L reforecasts.
• Prepare monthly 13-week cash flow forecasts.
• Authorise and ensure accuracy of supplier payments.
• Review product costings with BDM for new business opportunities.
• Analyse profitability by customer and product type.
• Develop Capex business cases and payback analysis with senior management.
• Liaise with auditors to ensure accurate statutory reporting.
• Maintain relationships with banking partners and supply management accounts.

Education/Qualifications:

• Fully ACA/ACCA/CIMA qualified along with practical experience in a fast-paced environment ideally within a manufacturing environment.
• Educated to degree level.

Experience/Skills/Knowledge:

• Demonstrable experience of leading and developing a finance team.
• Working in a multiple margin control and strict cash-flow management business.
• Excellent attention to detail to ensure accuracy in financial reports and compliance documentation.
• Excellent problem-solving skills with the ability to address financial discrepancies and operational inefficiencies.
• Knowledge of working with BI tools to drive financial improvements.
• Proficient in MS Office.
• Knowledge of integrating new ERP system such as MS Dynamics / Business Central or equivalent would be preferable.

Aptitudes/Attributes:

• Excellent organisational skills.
• Strong communication skills with the ability to provide financial information to non-financial stakeholders.
• Strong analytical skills and capable of breaking down complex financial issues and identifying patterns, risks and opportunities.
• Good time management skill with the ability to work under pressure.
• An excellent team player who can work alongside other members of the executive team to deliver the strategic plan of the business.

Other Job Requirements:

• May need to be able to travel.

What’s on Offer:

• Competitive Market Salary.
• 4-weekly pay cycle.
• 33 days holiday inclusive of bank holidays rising with service.
• Pension.
• Death in Service benefit of 3x basic salary.
• Income Protection Benefit after 1 year in role.
• Access to EAP, GP & Physio services.

Sounds like a good fit? Apply here for a fast-track path to our Leadership Team.