Head of Finance / Finance Director Designate

North Yorkshire | Circa £70,000 | Permanent Looking for a role where you can influence strategy, shape growth and take the next step towards Finance Director level? This is a rare opportunity to join a well-established and successful manufacturing business in a pivotal leadership position. Reporting directly to the Managing Director and Board, you'll lead the finance function while playing a key role in the strategic direction of the business. Working closely with operational and commercial teams, you'll provide the financial insight, challenge and leadership needed to drive performance, support investment decisions and deliver sustainable growth. This role offers genuine succession planning towards Finance Director level, making it an excellent opportunity for an ambitious Head of Finance, Financial Controller or senior finance professional looking to broaden their influence and impact. Alongside a salary of circa £70,000, the business offers a comprehensive benefits package including healthcare, wellbeing support, pension provision and salary sacrifice schemes. The Role As Head of Finance / Finance Director Designate, you will provide strategic and operational financial leadership across the organisation, acting as a trusted adviser to the Managing Director and Board. Key Responsibilities Lead the finance function, providing strategic and operational financial leadership across the business. Partner with the Managing Director and Board to support business planning, growth initiatives and key investment decisions. Oversee budgeting, forecasting, cashflow management and financial performance reporting. Deliver commercial insight and analysis to improve profitability, efficiency and decision-making. Ensure robust financial controls, governance and compliance across the organisation. Develop and lead the finance team, driving continuous improvement and high performance.About You We're looking for a commercially focused finance leader who can combine strategic thinking with strong operational delivery. You will ideally have: ACA, ACCA or CIMA qualification Experience in a senior finance leadership role Strong financial reporting, management accounting and commercial finance expertise Proven experience partnering with senior stakeholders and influencing business decisions Strong budgeting, forecasting and cashflow management skills Experience leading and developing finance teams The ability to translate financial information into clear commercial recommendationsExperience within manufacturing, food production, FMCG, engineering, distribution or another operationally focused environment would be advantageous. Why Apply? This is more than a traditional Head of Finance position. It's an opportunity to become a key member of the leadership team, influence the future direction of a successful business and position yourself for progression towards Finance Director level. If you're looking for a role where your contribution will be visible, valued and genuinely impactful, we'd love to hear from you