Head of Finance, Bury, Lancashire

posted: 2nd May 2026

FD Recruit is partnering exclusively with a growing service business in Bury to appoint a Head of Finance. The role will suit a Senior Financial Controller, Senior Finance Manager or Finance Director ready for a hands-on leadership position in a fast paced SME environment comfortable in the detail and in the boardroom.

Our client is the UK subsidiary of a European parent company, currently entering a significant growth phase. With increasing complexity and ambition, the business now requires a commercially-minded finance leader to sit alongside the leadership team and help drive performance. This is a newly created position, a direct response to the business reaching a scale that demands proper financial stewardship and strategic partnership at the top.

The Head of Finance will take ownership of the finance function and lead a small team covering purchase ledger, sales ledger, and credit control, supported by a part-time Finance Manager. The priority is making an immediate operational impact. The Head of Finance will bring rigour, discipline, and commercial clarity to the day-to-day, tightening processes, improving visibility, and ensuring the business has the financial foundations to scale. The Head of Finance will also provide strategic contribution.

Key Responsibilities
•    Lead on new IT system implementation
•    Ownership of stock and transaction validation, physical and value
•    Lead all financial operations, reporting, and controls across the business
•    Take ownership of stock management and stock control processes
•    Lead purchasing disciplines driving consistency and cost reduction
•    Drive pricing management and profitability analysis across service contracts and (in due course) machine sales
•    Produce accurate and timely management accounts and reporting for the parent company
•    Manage and develop the existing finance team (Finance Manager plus three staff)
•    Support the Managing Director and leadership team with financial insight and commercial decision-making
•    Oversee cash flow management, forecasting, and budgeting
•    Ensure robust financial processes and controls are in place to support the next phase of growth
•    Development of policies/Processes to drive cost control and compliance
•    Liaise with the Dutch parent company on financial matters as required

Skills/Experience:
•    Experience accountant (ACA, ACCA, CIMA or equivalent experience)
•    Proven experience in a leadership role as Finance Director, Head of Finance, Financial Controller, or Senior Finance Manager in an SME environment
•    Hands-on, operationally focused and comfortable working at both a strategic and transactional level
•    Strong track record in stock control, pricing management, and profitability improvement
•    Excellent leadership and people management skills
•    Commercially astute with the ability to translate financial data into business insight
•    IT system implementation and Power BI experience would be beneficial

The salary advertised is a guideline and the salary offered will be commensurate with experience.