Finance Director – UK Operations
International Automotive Manufacturing Group
East Midlands - Hybrid
Up to £120,000 + Bonus + Car Allowance + Excellent Benefits
The Opportunity
Eaton Syalon are delighted to be partnering with a leading international automotive manufacturing group to recruit a Finance Director to lead its UK finance operations.
This is a high-profile senior leadership appointment within a complex, fast-paced Tier 1 automotive environment, offering the opportunity to play a significant role in shaping financial strategy, improving operational performance and driving commercial success across the UK business.
Reporting into the international finance leadership structure and working closely with the UK Director, the successful candidate will become a key member of the UK management team, providing strategic direction, commercial insight and financial leadership across multiple manufacturing operations.
This is much more than a traditional Finance Director position. We are looking for a commercially astute, operationally focused finance leader who thrives on partnering with the business, challenging performance and influencing decisions that directly impact profitability, cash generation and long-term growth.
The Role
With responsibility for the UK finance and controlling functions, the Finance Director will provide leadership across financial strategy, manufacturing finance, commercial performance, governance and continuous improvement.
Key responsibilities will include:
Strategic & Commercial Leadership
- Act as a trusted partner to the UK leadership team, providing financial insight, commercial challenge and strategic recommendations.
- Lead the development of budgets, forecasts, financial scenarios and long-term business plans.
- Identify commercial risks and opportunities, driving initiatives to improve profitability and overall business performance.
- Represent the UK business within the wider international Group Finance structure.
Manufacturing & Operational Finance
- Work closely with Plant Directors and operational leadership teams to improve manufacturing profitability, productivity and operational efficiency.
- Lead plant controlling activities, including standard costing, material, labour, overhead and manufacturing variance analysis.
- Provide financial challenge and support around capacity planning, manufacturing footprint, sourcing decisions and operational improvement programmes.
- Drive improvements in inventory management, cost control and manufacturing performance.
Financial Reporting, Governance & Control
- Take ownership of UK financial reporting, month-end, budgeting, forecasting and management information.
- Ensure robust financial controls, balance sheet integrity and compliance with statutory reporting, tax and audit requirements.
- Maintain strong financial governance across the UK operations, ensuring alignment with international Group standards.
- Lead financial analysis and performance reporting, providing clear, actionable insight to senior stakeholders.
Commercial & Programme Finance
- Provide financial leadership across customer programmes, new business opportunities, quotations and commercial negotiations.
- Oversee programme profitability throughout the product lifecycle, from initial nomination and launch through to end of production.
- Challenge customer and product profitability, assessing the financial implications of pricing, volume changes, commodities, inflation and engineering changes.
- Support commercially focused decision-making across Sales, Purchasing, Engineering and Programme Management.
Cash, Investment & Business Improvement
- Drive cash generation and working-capital improvements across the business.
- Lead capital investment appraisal, expenditure governance and post-investment reviews.
- Champion improvements in financial systems, reporting processes and operational controls.
- Identify opportunities to improve financial efficiency, commercial visibility and business performance.
People Leadership
- Lead, coach and develop the UK finance and controlling teams across multiple locations.
- Build a high-performing finance function with a strong culture of accountability, collaboration and continuous improvement.
- Develop organisational capability, succession plans and future finance leadership talent.
About You
We are looking for an experienced and credible finance leader who can combine strong technical expertise with commercial judgement and a genuine understanding of manufacturing operations.
The successful candidate will ideally demonstrate:
- ACA, ACCA or CIMA qualification (or recognised equivalent).
- Significant senior finance leadership experience within a complex, fast-paced manufacturing environment.
- Experience within the automotive sector or a Tier 1 manufacturing environment would be particularly advantageous.
- Strong knowledge of plant finance, standard costing, manufacturing performance, programme controlling and commercial finance.
- A proven track record of improving profitability, cash generation, working capital and operational performance.
- Experience leading and developing multi-site finance teams.
- Strong financial reporting, governance, statutory accounting and internal controls knowledge.
- Considerable ERP experience, with SAP knowledge advantageous.
- Excellent stakeholder management skills, with the confidence to influence, challenge and collaborate at senior leadership level.
- Experience working within an international, matrix-managed organisation would be beneficial.
Above all, we are seeking an individual who is commercially minded, operationally engaged and comfortable operating as a genuine business partner rather than solely a financial controller.
You will be equally comfortable discussing financial strategy with international leadership as you are working alongside Plant Directors to understand manufacturing performance, challenge costs and identify opportunities to improve results.
Why Consider This Opportunity?
This is an excellent opportunity to join an established international manufacturing group in a strategically important UK leadership position.
The role offers genuine breadth, autonomy and influence, with exposure to international stakeholders, complex manufacturing operations and significant commercial decision-making.
For an ambitious and experienced finance leader who enjoys being close to operations and wants to make a measurable difference to business performance, this represents a compelling next career move.
Interested?
For further information or a confidential discussion, please contact Dom Syalon at Eaton Syalon.