Finance Manager

Finance Manager (Temporary - 3-6 Months)Stockton-on-Tees Immediate Start / Short Notice
The Opportunity
Hays are working with a manufacturing company who are seeking an experienced Finance Manager to join their team on a temporary basis for a minimum of 3-6 months. This is a hands-on role, ideal for a proactive finance professional with strong technical accounting expertise who can quickly add value and support business-critical reporting cycles.Based in Stockton-on-Tees, you will play a key role in delivering accurate financial reporting, robust financial control, and insightful analysis to support decision-making.

Key ResponsibilitiesFinancial Reporting & Month-End Close

• Lead the month-end close process, ensuring timely and accurate completion of financial accounts
• Assist in the preparation of monthly, quarterly, and annual financial statements in accordance with UK GAAP and/or IFRS.
• Ensure all statutory filings are accurate and submitted within deadlines
• Prepare and post journal entries, including depreciation, accruals, prepayments, and provisions

• Support preparation of management accounts, including KPIs and budget vs. actual analysis
• Deliver insightful commentary and variance analysis to inform business decisions
• Perform detailed gross margin analysis, identifying performance trends and key drivers
• Recommend actions to improve profitability and enhance reporting transparency

• Act as a key contact for external auditors, ensuring a smooth and efficient audit process
• Maintain compliance with internal controls, company policies, and regulatory requirements
• Support year-end processes and audit deliverables

• Manage the Fixed Asset Register, ensuring accurate recording, classification, and valuation
• Ensure compliant capitalisation and depreciation policies are applied
• Calculate and account for customer rebates, ensuring accurate accruals, reporting, and credit note processing

• Conduct regular stock reconciliations and investigate discrepancies
• Ensure compliance with accounting standards for inventory valuation, including provisions for obsolete or slow-moving stock
• Provide accurate stock data for month-end and year-end reporting
• Drive improvements in stock accuracy, minimising provisions and write-offs

• Assist with the preparation of annual budgets and rolling forecasts
• Develop financial projections across revenue, costs, and cash flow
• Identify key risks and opportunities to support strategic planning
• Maintain and enhance financial models and forecasting tools

• Identify and implement process improvements to enhance financial reporting, efficiency, and controls
• Support optimisation of finance processes and reporting accuracy

• Fully qualified accountant (ACA / ACCA / CIMA)
• Proven experience in a Finance Manager or Senior Finance role, ideally within a fast-paced environment
• Strong knowledge of UK GAAP and/or IFRS
• Experience of leading month-end and year-end processes
• Confident working with auditors and external stakeholders
• Strong analytical skills with the ability to interpret and communicate financial data clearly
• Experience with stock/inventory accounting and margin analysis is highly desirable.
• Advanced Excel skills and familiarity with ERP systems
• Proactive, detail-oriented, and able to hit the ground running

• Immediate opportunity to make a meaningful impact within a busy finance function
• Competitive daily or annualised rate
• Flexible, supportive working environment
• Potential for extension depending on business needs