Senior Operations Finance Manager | Global Manufacturing & Financial Strategy

Area: EMEA – Flexible Location

Industry: Industrial Manufacturing | Global Operations | Finance

The Opportunity

We are seeking an accomplished Senior Operations Finance Manager to drive financial performance, operational excellence and strategic decision-making across an international manufacturing network.

This is a high-impact leadership opportunity for a commercially driven finance professional with extensive experience in multi-site manufacturing operations, financial strategy and international team management.

Working closely with senior operational leadership, you will play a pivotal role in shaping business performance, optimising manufacturing costs and supporting strategic investments and operational transformation.

The position offers significant international exposure, executive-level interaction and the opportunity to influence financial and operational decisions across multiple manufacturing locations.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead Operations Finance activities across multiple manufacturing sites, ensuring financial discipline, performance visibility and alignment with business objectives.
• Act as a strategic Finance Business Partner to senior Operations Leadership, influencing business decisions and driving sustainable profitability.
• Lead, develop and mentor an international finance team, fostering accountability, collaboration and high performance.
• Oversee budgeting, forecasting, financial planning and operational performance reporting across the manufacturing network.
• Consolidate and analyse financial results, translating complex data into actionable recommendations for senior leadership.
• Drive manufacturing cost optimisation, productivity improvements, inventory performance and working capital efficiency.
• Provide financial leadership for strategic initiatives, including manufacturing footprint optimisation, production transfers, capacity expansion and operational transformation.
• Evaluate capital investments, automation projects and business cases, ensuring financial viability and alignment with strategic priorities.
• Establish and monitor operational and financial KPIs, identifying performance gaps, risks and improvement opportunities.
• Partner with Manufacturing, Supply Chain, Engineering and Corporate Finance to improve operational effectiveness and financial outcomes.
• Ensure robust financial controls, compliance with accounting standards and effective audit processes.
• Champion continuous improvement, reporting automation and data-driven decision-making across finance operations.
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Your Profile

• Degree in Finance, Accounting, Business Administration, Economics or a related discipline.
• At least 10 years of progressive experience in Finance, Controlling or Financial Management within industrial or manufacturing environments.
• Significant experience in Operations Finance, Manufacturing Finance, Plant Controlling or Regional Finance leadership.
• Proven track record supporting multiple manufacturing sites within an international or multinational organisation.
• Demonstrated experience leading, developing and managing geographically dispersed finance teams.
• Strong expertise in financial planning, budgeting, forecasting, standard costing and operational performance management.
• Solid understanding of manufacturing cost structures, inventory management, capital expenditure and operational financial processes.
• Proven ability to influence senior executives and build trusted partnerships with operational leadership.
• Experience supporting strategic investments, manufacturing transformation and cost optimisation programmes.
• Strong analytical capabilities, commercial judgement and strategic decision-making skills.
• Excellent communication, presentation and stakeholder management abilities.
• Knowledge of IFRS or US GAAP and strong financial governance principles.
• Advanced Excel and ERP experience, ideally SAP.
• Professional accounting qualifications such as ACCA, CIMA, ACA or CPA would be advantageous.
• Experience with business intelligence tools, financial analytics and continuous improvement methodologies is valued.
• Fluent English and willingness to travel internationally as required.