Finance Director

Finance Director - manufacturing

Board Appointment - Confidential Executive Search

£150,000–£170,000 + Executive Bonus + Comprehensive Benefits + Relocation Support (where appropriate)

Location:  South England

HPR Executive has been exclusively retained to appoint an exceptional board level Finance Director on behalf of a highly successful, privately owned, multi-site manufacturing business with an outstanding reputation for quality, innovation and long-term sustainable growth.

This is a rare opportunity to join the Executive Board of an ambitious organisation operating within a complex manufacturing environment across multiple manufacturing sites and supplying many of the UK's leading retail businesses

Backed by a financially strong group, the business has built an enviable reputation through investment, operational excellence and customer partnership. With significant investment planned over the coming years, the organisation is entering an exciting new chapter of growth and is seeking a commercially astute Finance Director to help shape its future.

The Opportunity

This is far more than a traditional Finance Director appointment.

Reporting directly to the Managing Director and sitting on the Executive Board, you will become one of the organisation's most influential leaders, partnering across every area of the business to drive strategic decision-making, commercial performance and operational excellence.

Alongside leadership of the Finance function, you will provide executive oversight of helping shape commercial strategy, investment decisions and long-term business performance.

The breadth of the remit is unusual. This role combines strategic finance leadership with operational involvement, commercial partnering and organisational development, providing genuine influence across manufacturing, supply chain, commercial operations and business strategy.

The successful candidate will inherit a successful business with strong foundations, recognised brands and an ambitious leadership team, whilst also playing a central role in delivering the next phase of investment, capability development and sustainable growth.

For the right individual, this represents a genuine opportunity to shape the future of an outstanding manufacturing business whilst positioning themselves for broader executive leadership over time.

Key Responsibilities

The successful candidate will:

• Provide strategic financial leadership to the Executive Board.
• Partner closely with the Managing Director in shaping long-term business strategy.
• Lead all aspects of financial planning, reporting, governance and business performance.
• Drive commercial insight across retail, branded, foodservice and B2B channels.
• Evaluate significant capital investment and manufacturing development programmes.
• Develop a high-performing Finance function recognised for commercial partnership and strategic insight.
• Strengthen business partnering across Operations, Commercial, Technical, Engineering and Supply Chain.
• Influence organisational capability, leadership development and long-term succession planning.
• Help shape the next chapter of growth within a highly respected family-owned manufacturing business.

About You

We are seeking an exceptional executive leader rather than simply an outstanding finance professional.

You will combine strategic thinking with commercial judgement, operational credibility and the ability to influence at Board level.

You are likely to be an experienced Finance Director, CFO, Divisional Finance Director, Business Unit Finance Director ready to step into a challenging executive role.

You will bring significant experience gained within operationally complex manufacturing businesses, ideally within food manufacturing, FMCG, consumer products or closely related sectors where manufacturing excellence, commercial discipline and customer partnership are fundamental to success.

You will possess:

• ACA, ACCA or CIMA qualification.
• Significant Board or Executive Leadership Team experience.
• Strong manufacturing and operational finance expertise.
• Commercial finance and business partnering capability.
• Experience supporting significant capital investment and business growth.
• Exceptional leadership and people development skills.
• The confidence to influence strategy whilst remaining operationally engaged.
• A collaborative leadership style built upon credibility, humility and integrity.

Most importantly, you will be motivated by the opportunity to build capability, influence business direction and leave a lasting legacy rather than simply maintain the status quo.

Why Consider This Opportunity?

Few Finance Director appointments offer this breadth of executive responsibility.

This role combines:

• Executive Board influence.
• Strategic partnership with the Managing Director.
• Leadership across Finance and Procurement.
• Significant manufacturing investment.
• Exposure across Operations, Commercial and Supply Chain.
• Genuine autonomy and influence.
• A values-led, privately owned business with a long-term investment philosophy.
• A clear platform for broader executive leadership in the future.

This is an opportunity for an ambitious executive to join a business that values long-term thinking, operational excellence and collaborative leadership, whilst playing a pivotal role in shaping its continued success.

Confidential Search

HPR Executive has been exclusively retained to manage this appointment.

Due to the confidential nature of the search, further information will be shared with suitably qualified individuals following an initial confidential discussion.

To arrange a discreet conversation, please contact Nicola Eddy, HPR Executive, or apply in complete confidence.