This Finance Manager Operations (Costing) opportunity targets professionals with a solid background in operational finance and advanced costing. The role is full-time and suited to individuals with at least five to eight years in comparable roles. A market-related package is usually offered for this high-responsibility position, especially given the expertise required in SAP and large-scale manufacturing environments.

Main Responsibilities and Daily Duties

If you step into this role, you’ll oversee end-to-end product costing across sizeable SKU portfolios and multiple sites. You’ll maintain and enhance standard costing structures, owning BOM setups and process routings while also evaluating and explaining variances.

Daily tasks revolve around analysing operational data, drilling into cost movements, and providing actionable insights to operational teams. The role also demands proactive responses to risks and active involvement in operational decision-making via forecasting and scenario modelling.

You will be expected to lead the maintenance and upliftment of SAP financial modules (FI/CO, S/4HANA) as well as advanced Excel-based models. Your focus will be on transparency, model accuracy, and ensuring the integrity of ERP data.

Behaviourally, you’ll work alongside diverse business partners—including manufacturing, engineering, and supply chain—to translate complex data into useful recommendations. Constructively challenging assumptions will be key.

Finally, you will build business cases for capital expenditure and play a hands-on role in working capital optimisation, ensuring the company’s financial strategies remain robust and forward-looking.

Advantages of the Role

This job offers an excellent opportunity to showcase and further develop your skills in operational finance leadership and strategic influencing. If analytical thinking and deep dives into cost data motivate you, this is a high-impact platform.

High exposure to advanced SAP environments and experience with large data sets mean you’ll be at the leading edge of finance technology in manufacturing. This can significantly boost your career potential for future advancement in finance and operations roles.

Potential Challenges

Because the role is responsible for multiple sites and very large product portfolios, there can be considerable pressure and the need for frequent, complex problem-solving. The fast pace might lead to long working hours during month-end or audits.

Additionally, the requirement to challenge stakeholders constructively while driving transparency could mean handling conflict and pushing for change in established processes. Adaptability and resilience are key here.

Final Verdict: Should You Apply?

If you have advanced costing skills, thrive in matrix environments, are naturally analytical, and want a finance manager position where your input directly influences results, this role is a prime fit. Opportunities like this do not come often for strong SAP specialists aiming for strategic leadership roles. If you meet the requirements, don’t hesitate to put yourself forward.