Finance Director

Finance Director

Dorset | Manufacturing SME
£(phone number removed) + car + benefits

The Opportunity
A well-established, privately owned UK manufacturing business is seeking to appoint a Finance Director to join its senior leadership team.

Operating at c.£22m turnover, the business has a strong and stable trading profile, supported by a robust cash position and long-standing customer relationships across the healthcare sector and international markets.

With the planned retirement of the incumbent later this year, this represents a timely opportunity for a commercially focused Finance Director to step into a broad, high-impact role within a values-led organisation.

The Role

Reporting to the Managing Director, the Finance Director will take full responsibility for financial strategy and operations, alongside leadership oversight of HR and IT.

This is a key Board appointment, offering the opportunity to influence strategic direction while maintaining close involvement in day-to-day operational performance.

Key responsibilities will include:

Acting as a trusted adviser to the Managing Director and Board on performance, strategy, investment and risk
Leading budgeting, forecasting and long-term business planning
Providing clear commercial insight to support decision-making across the business
Ensuring robust financial control, statutory compliance and audit management
Driving cash management and working capital optimisation

Leading and developing Finance, HR and IT functions
Supporting continuous improvement initiatives, including systems and process enhancement
The role requires a hands-on approach, working closely with operational leaders to translate financial information into actionable insight.

The Context

Long-established UK manufacturing business with strong heritage
Core customer base across regulated and service-led sectors, alongside growing international exposure
Consistent financial performance with strong cash generation
Privately owned, family-influenced culture with a long-term outlook
Lean leadership team offering genuine scope to make an impact
The Candidate

We are seeking a Finance Director with strong manufacturing experience and the ability to operate effectively within a privately owned SME environment.

Experience and background:

Fully qualified accountant (ACA, ACCA or CIMA)
Proven track record within a manufacturing or production-led business

Experience leading a finance function within an SME or privately owned organisation
Strong understanding of operational finance, margins, inventory and supply chain
Experience operating at Board level
Leadership profile:

Credible, pragmatic and able to operate at both strategic and operational level
Strong people leader with experience overseeing multi-functional teams
Comfortable working within a family-owned or founder-led business
Personal attributes:

Commercially astute and outcome-focused
Collaborative and capable of influencing across the business
Hands-on, with a continuous improvement mindset
Why Join

This role offers a rare opportunity to join a stable, well-performing manufacturing business in a broad and influential leadership position, with:

A genuine seat at the Board table
Responsibility across Finance, HR and IT
Exposure to both UK and international markets
Opportunity to shape systems, processes and future direction
A values-driven, privately owned environment
£(phone number removed) + car + benefits depending on experience
Application guidance: Please include your current location on your CV as part of your application.

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