Finance Director

Sewell Wallis is exclusively partnering with a manufacturing business based in Alfreton with a long-standing heritage in quality, who are looking for a Finance Director. Operating as a vertically integrated, product-led organisation, the business is entering a critical phase of strengthening financial discipline, improving operational alignment, and enhancing cash performance.

The Finance Director will play a central role in shaping the financial and operational future of the business. This is a high-impact role for a commercially minded finance leader who thrives in hands-on environments and is motivated by driving tangible business performance.

This is not a traditional stewardship role. The Finance Director will operate at the heart of the business, ensuring that financial insight directly drives decision-making across sales, production, and inventory.

What will you be doing?

• Own and continuously enhance short-, medium-, and long-term cashflow forecasting
• Maintain tight control over payment cycles, capital expenditure, and discretionary spend
• Lead the annual budgeting process, defining a clear affordability envelope
• Implement robust and dynamic forecasting aligned to commercial and operational realities
• Track performance against budget, investment plans, and contingencies
• Establish clear cost centre accountability across the business
• Own the working capital strategy, with a strong focus on stock and debtor management
• Partner with Sales, Production, and Operations to optimise inventory levels
• Reduce obsolescence and improve stock turn and cash conversion
• Increase visibility and control over stock risks and provisions
• Align sales forecasts with production planning and capacity constraints
• Support integrated planning processes (e.g. S&OP) to improve decision-making
• Bring financial rigour to demand and supply planning
• Provide insight into product profitability, margin, and cost drivers
• Challenge pricing, discounting, and product mix where appropriate
• Strengthen financial controls and ensure compliance with statutory requirements
• Lead year-end processes, including key judgement areas such as stock provisions
• Build and lead a high-performing, commercially focused finance function
• Act as a trusted partner to the Managing Director and Board
• Manage relationships with auditors, lenders, and external advisors

What skills are we looking for?

You are a commercially astute Finance Director (or a high-calibre Head of Finance ready to step up) with a proven ability to operate at the intersection of finance and operations.

• Fully qualified accountant (ACA, ACCA, or CIMA)
• Strong experience within manufacturing or product-led environments
• Demonstrated success in improving financial performance and cash management
• Track record of working closely with operational teams (production, supply chain, sales)
• Experience in SME or owner-led businesses is highly advantageous
• Deep understanding of cashflow, working capital, and stock dynamics
• Strong planning, forecasting, and financial modelling skills

What's on offer?

• c. 90,000 + car or car allowance
• Pension salary sacrifice scheme
• Initially office-based (first 3-6 months) to embed into the business
• Hybrid working thereafter (minimum 2 days per week in the office)
• 36 days holiday (including public holidays)

If you're looking for a role where you can genuinely influence business performance, drive operational discipline, and make a measurable impact, we would welcome a confidential conversation.

Apply for this role below or contact Kayley for more information.

To apply please send your CV, quoting our reference and specifying which website you saw this position advertised on. Due to the high volume of applications please accept that if we have not responded to your application within seven days, your application has not been successful. Sewell Wallis is a specialist recruitment company with a vast amount of experience in our industry we offer permanent, temporary and interim recruitment support for accounting and finance, human resources and business support positions. We recruit at all levels within finance from Purchase Ledger Administrator and Credit Controller level through to Financial Controller and Director positions. With offices in Sheffield and Leeds, we are well situated to cover all of South Yorkshire, West Yorkshire and Manchester. Please visit our website for more information on accountancy and finance jobs and human resources or business support positions.