Your Story Starts Here Picture this: You're the finance professional who thrives when others might feel overwhelmed. While some see complexity in daily operations, variance analysis, and cross-functional collaboration, you see opportunity. You're the person who walks into a business, quickly understands the rhythm of operations, and becomes the trusted voice that leadership turns to when they need clarity on performance, costs, and strategic direction.
We're recruiting for a client who needs exactly that person. The Challenge That Awaits Our client is at a pivotal moment. They've brought in senior interim leadership to drive transformation, and they need someone who can seamlessly integrate into daily operations while providing the analytical backbone that keeps everything moving forward.
This isn't about sitting in a back office crunching numbers. This is about being the finance partner who sits in daily operations meetings, who understands the pulse of the business, and who can translate operational performance into actionable insights that drive real business decisions.
Becomes the go-to expert for daily performance metrics and variance analysis
Sits alongside operations teams, speaking their language while bringing financial rigor
Provides the real-time insights that help leadership navigate complex operational challenges
Builds the reporting frameworks that become essential to daily decision-making
Why This Role Exists (And Why You're Perfect For It) The reality is, permanent hires often take months to truly understand operational nuances. Our client needs someone who can arrive on Day One and immediately add value. They need an interim professional who has walked into similar environments before and knows how to quickly become indispensable.
Week 1-2: While others would still be learning the basics, you're already identifying improvement opportunities and building relationships with key operational stakeholders.
Month 1: You're not just producing reports – you're providing insights that influence daily operational decisions and strategic planning.
Month 2-3: You've become the trusted advisor that operations managers seek out for cost analysis, performance insights, and strategic input on operational initiatives.
Months 3-6: You're leading process improvements, mentoring permanent staff, and leaving behind systems and insights that will benefit the organisation long after your assignment ends. What You'll Actually Be Doing Daily Operations Partnership:
Lead daily performance review meetings with operations teams - covering Material Price Variances, Stock movement
Provide real-time analysis on key operational metrics and cost drivers; Stock, Bill of Materials, New Recipes
Translate operational performance into financial insights for senior leadership
Become the bridge between operations and finance, speaking both languages fluently
Develop and maintain critical performance dashboards and variance analysis
Manage complex data relationships and cost structures
Provide scenario analysis and forecasting to support operational planning
Create reporting frameworks that drive better decision-making
Managing the Materials Master Data
Work directly with senior interim leadership on improvement initiatives
Identify and implement process enhancements that deliver immediate value
Support system optimisation and data integrity projects
The Person We're Looking For You're not just someone with finance experience – you're someone with operational finance expertise. You understand that the best finance professionals in operational environments are those who can work collaboratively with non-finance teams while maintaining analytical rigor.
Proven experience in manufacturing / operational finance roles where daily performance matters
Track record of working effectively with operations teams and senior leadership
Experience with variance analysis, cost management, and performance reporting
Strong systems experience with ability to quickly adapt to new environments
Previous interim or contract experience with demonstrated ability to integrate rapidly
You ask the right questions quickly and build credibility through competence
You can simplify complex financial concepts for operational audiences
You're comfortable being visible and influential in daily business operations
You deliver insights, not just reports – and you do it consistently
Why This Opportunity Matters Immediate Impact: From day one, your analysis and insights will directly influence operational decisions and strategic direction.
Senior Visibility: You'll work directly with interim leadership who understand and value the contribution of skilled interim professionals.
Professional Growth: Exposure to transformation initiatives and senior-level strategic thinking that enhances your expertise for future assignments.
Operational Excellence: The chance to work in an environment where finance and operations truly partner to drive performance. The Practical Details Duration: Initially 3-6 months with strong potential for extension based on business needs and transformation timeline
Location: South East London with hybrid working (2-3 days office-based, flexible arrangement)
Compensation: £50,000 - £60,000 FTC equivalent or £250 - £300 daily rate
Start: Immediate start available for the right candidate
Working Style: Collaborative environment with daily interaction across multiple business functions
Ready to make your mark? Let's talk.
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