Finance Director

Finance Director

Dorset Manufacturing SME £ + 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
• £ + car + benefits depending on experience

Application guidance: Please include your current location on your CV as part of your application.

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