Head of Finance

Head of Finance - Hybrid - ££80-90,000 + Benefits

Leading Engineering/Manufacturing Business based in North Manchester

About Our Client

Sellick Partnership is working with a well-established UK Engineering/Manufacturing business, specialising in engineering solutions for both Private and not-for-profit sectors. They're experiencing a period of growth and are seeking a commercially-minded Head of Finance to join their Senior Leadership Team.

The Opportunity

This is a genuine step-up role for an ambitious finance professional looking to work towards a CFO position in the next 2-3 years. Reporting directly to the CEO, you'll be responsible for the finance function on a day-to-day basis and also support the business in using financial information to help drive commercial insight and business partnering across the organisation.

You'll lead critical initiatives including ERP system selection and implementation, building business cases for growth funding, and identifying cost-saving opportunities through analysis, efficiencies and commercial insight.

The business will be looking for external investment over the next 2-3 years, so previous experience of working through that process or experience in a VC/PE-backed business would be advantageous.

What makes this role special: The CEO is looking for someone curious and willing to get out into the business, build key internal relationships, and drive tangible value. You'll have genuine autonomy to shape the function and make your mark on the future success of the business.

Key Responsibilities

• Business Partnering & Commercial Insight - Drive financial accountability across leadership through proactive partnering; translate data into actionable insights that identify new opportunities, efficiencies and savings
• Strategic Analysis - Lead the analytical capability of the team; challenge assumptions and provide a commercial perspective on pricing, margins and investment decisions
• Financial Planning & Control - Oversee forecasting, budgeting, cash flow, working capital and treasury management
• Governance & Compliance - Ensure regulatory compliance, manage audits and maintain robust controls
• Team Development - Elevate the finance team's capabilities, building analytical and commercial skills alongside transactional excellence
• Stakeholder Management - Build strong relationships with the Executive Board, banks, auditors and potential investors

What We're Looking For

Essential

• ACA, ACCA, CIMA or equivalent qualification
• Proven experience in a senior finance role within a growing SME
• Strong commercial acumen and business partnering mindset - you're not just a number-cruncher
• Curious and analytical - you want to understand the business and identify where value can be created
• Experience building business cases, RoI analysis and financial modelling
• Excellent communication skills with ability to influence senior stakeholders both internally and externally
• Strong Excel/Systems experience

Highly Desirable

• Manufacturing, engineering or project-based sector exposure
• ERP selection and implementation experience
• Exposure to growth funding, MBO processes or private equity environments
• Track record of driving process improvement and commercial thinking in finance teams

Package

• £80,000 - £90,000
• 25 days holiday & Christmas shut down)
• Medicash healthcare
• Critical illness & death in service cover
• Pension
• Employee assistance programme

Culture

An organisation that values integrity, collaboration and excellence, committed to diversity and inclusion. Their purpose is to make a meaningful difference in people's lives through work that has a genuine impact in critical manufacturing.

Sellick Partnership is proud to be an inclusive and accessible recruitment business and we support applications from candidates of all backgrounds and circumstances. Please note, our advertisements use years' experience, hourly rates, and salary levels purely as a guide and we assess applications based on the experience and skills evidenced on the CV. For information on how your personal details may be used by Sellick Partnership, please review our data processing notice on our website.