Finance Manager/Partner

Finance Business Partner – Manufacturing

We are seeking a highly motivated and strategic Finance Business Partner to join our global consulting firm’s finance function, embedded directly within a high-output manufacturing environment. This pivotal role is responsible for driving financial discipline, strategic planning, and investment analysis across all manufacturing operations. As the primary liaison between finance and operational teams, you will play a critical role in ensuring cost efficiency, financial transparency, and data-driven decision-making to support the organisation’s growth and profitability objectives.

Key Responsibilities

The Finance Business Partner will oversee a comprehensive range of financial and operational responsibilities, including:

• Planning, Target Setting & Cost Modeling:
  • Define and monitor manufacturing cost targets, including Hourly Production Unit (HPU) and Cost Per Unit (CPU) metrics.
  • Establish and maintain detailed shop-level cost centers across critical manufacturing functions such as Stamping, Body, Paint, Assembly, Powertrain, Battery, Utilities, and Logistics.
  • Ensure robust governance over manufacturing cost structures and maintain the accuracy of costing processes.
  • Manage standard costing methodologies and conduct variance analysis at the shop level to identify discrepancies and opportunities for improvement.
  • Develop and refine vehicle and model-level cost targets based on production volumes and market dynamics.
  • Monitor key manufacturing Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) such as Overall Equipment Effectiveness (OEE), throughput, rework, downtime, and scrap, and quantify their financial impact on the business.
• Financial Reporting & Variance Analysis:
  • Prepare and present monthly financial reports that compare actual performance against budget and forecast, ensuring alignment with strategic objectives.
  • Perform in-depth variance analysis to uncover root causes of financial deviations and provide actionable insights to operational and senior management teams.
  • Consolidate and reconcile financial data across planning and reporting cycles to maintain consistency, accuracy, and compliance with internal and external standards.
• Investment Analysis & Business Case Development:
  • Develop rigorous Return on Investment (ROI) and Net Present Value (NPV) analyses to evaluate manufacturing investments, cost optimisation initiatives, and capital expenditure proposals.
  • Construct comprehensive profitability models, including payback periods, internal rate of return (IRR), and other key financial metrics to support senior management decision-making.
  • Provide structured, data-driven financial evaluations to guide strategic investments and operational improvements.
• Cost Optimisation & Benchmarking:
  • Conduct benchmarking analyses to assess cost competitiveness across manufacturing operations, identifying best practices and areas for enhancement.
  • Lead and support cost reduction initiatives, collaborating with cross-functional teams to implement efficiency improvements and sustainable savings strategies.
• Business Partnering & Decision Support:
  • Act as a trusted financial advisor to manufacturing operations teams, aligning financial and operational objectives to drive performance and profitability.
  • Support labour demand planning and overhead expense strategies to optimise workforce utilisation and cost efficiency.
  • Deliver clear, concise financial insights and recommendations to inform critical business decisions, ensuring alignment with corporate strategy.

Skills & Experience

To excel in this role, candidates must possess the following qualifications and competencies:

• A Bachelor’s degree in Finance, Accounting, or a related field; professional certifications such as CPA, CFA, or CIMA are highly desirable.
• 3–6 years of progressive finance experience, with direct exposure to manufacturing environments and operational finance functions.
• Proven expertise in Supply Chain Finance, Product Costing, Bill of Materials (BoM) structures, Financial Planning & Analysis (FP&A), or large-scale operations finance.
• Advanced financial modelling capabilities with exceptional proficiency in Microsoft Excel, including the ability to build dynamic, scenario-based models.
• Hands-on experience with Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) systems such as SAP or Oracle; familiarity with data visualisation tools like Power BI or Tableau is advantageous.
• Comprehensive understanding of budgeting, forecasting, and variance analysis methodologies, with a focus on accuracy and reliability.
• Working knowledge of headcount planning, workforce cost management, payroll accounting, accruals, and financial statement preparation.
• Analytical mindset with the ability to distil complex financial data into clear, actionable insights for stakeholders at all levels.
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills, with the ability to build and maintain effective relationships with cross-functional teams, including operations, procurement, and senior leadership.
• Exceptional attention to detail, a commitment to data integrity, and a thorough understanding of internal controls and compliance requirements.
• Ability to thrive in a fast-paced, dynamic manufacturing environment, with the resilience to manage multiple priorities and deliver results under pressure.