Operations Finance Manager required for manufacturing company in Co Galway.
Previous experience in a manufacturing environment, ideally medical device or pharmaceutical or other regulated industry, with deep knowledge of standard costing, inventory accounting and variance analysis
Role Purpose
This is a newly created senior role within the Finance function. The Operations Finance Manager will establish and lead a new Operations Finance sub-function, providing dedicated financial leadership, reporting and decision support to the operations side of the business.
Key Responsibilities
Build the Operations Finance Function:
- Design, establish and lead a new Operations Finance sub-function within the wider Finance department, defining its remit, structure, processes and ways of working.
- Lead, manage and develop two Cost Accountants, setting objectives, reviewing performance and building team capability.
Operations Reporting:
- Create a new suite of operational finance reporting covering manufacturing performance, cost of goods, yields, scrap and waste, labour and overhead absorption, variances and inventory.
- Deliver weekly and monthly reporting packs with clear, actionable insight for operations management and the wider finance leadership.
- Develop and track site KPIs, dashboards and cost-per-unit metrics, driving standardisation and automation of reporting over time.
Business Partnering:
- Act as dedicated finance business partner to the Site General Manager, providing financial insight and challenge to support operational decision-making.
- Support the operations leadership team on budgeting, forecasting, headcount planning and cost management for the site.
- Evaluate capital expenditure proposals, cost-reduction initiatives and make-vs-buy decisions, including post-investment reviews.
Financial Control and Planning:
- Own the annual standard cost-setting process and periodic cost roll-ups.
- Lead the operations elements of the annual budget and rolling forecasts, including production volumes, conversion costs and inventory.
- Strengthen controls over inventory, cycle counts, BOMs and routings in conjunction with operations and supply chain.
Qualifications and Experience
- Qualified accountant (ACA, ACCA, CIMA or equivalent) with strong post-qualification experience.
- Experience working as an Operations Accountant in a regulated manufacturing organization is essential.
- Significant experience in a manufacturing environment, ideally medical device or pharmaceutical or other regulated industry, with deep knowledge of standard costing, inventory accounting and variance analysis.
- Proven track record of business partnering with senior operational leaders, ideally at site GM / operations director level.
- Experience building or significantly developing a finance team, function or reporting suite is highly desirable.
- Strong people-management experience with the ability to coach and develop qualified and part-qualified staff.
- Advanced Excel and strong ERP experience (e.g. SAP, Oracle, Microsoft Dynamics); experience with BI/reporting tools (e.g. Power BI) an advantage.
