_{02nd August, 2025}

Job Title: Finance & Business Operations Manager
Location: Basildon
Hours: Full-time – Mon-Thurs 08:30am – 5.00pm, Friday 08:30am-4.30pm
Contract: Permanent
Reports to: Directors
 
About Us
We are a market leader in LED lighting solutions supplier across various markets in the UK employing 45 people. As an ambitious team, we value collaboration, flexibility, and people who roll up their sleeves and get involved across the business
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The Opportunity
We are looking for a hands-on Finance & Business Operations Manager oversees financial and operational aspects, ensuring efficient and effective processes. This role requires strong leadership, financial acumen, and the ability to translate strategic goals into actionable plans. 
Key responsibilities include financial management, process optimization, risk management, and strategic planning. To oversee aspects of the day-to-day operations and business support functions, financial management, including budgeting, reporting, forecasting, and compliance and acting as the go-to person when directors are away from the business.
This is a great opportunity for an ambitious person to work with the Directors at Senior Management level with a longer-term goal for the right candidate to become a future Director.
 
Key Responsibilities
 
Operations & Business Support

• Overseeing day-to-day operations, optimizing processes, and ensuring efficient resource allocation
• Oversee the sales desk teams to monitor and optimise service to our customers across all channels
• Work closely with operational teams to monitor inventory, procurement, and cost control
• Support payroll and HR-related finance processes as required
• Support supply chain and production planning with financial analysis
• Contribute to continuous improvement in internal systems and processes

Strategic Planning:

• Collaborating with Director and other Managers to develop and implement strategic initiatives.

Risk Management:

• Identifying and mitigating potential risks related to finance and operations. 

Leadership & Oversight

• Lead and manage teams, fostering a collaborative and performance culture. 
• Be a key figure in the business, confidently managing day-to-day issues and ensuring continuity, especially in Director’s absence.
• Support directors with ad hoc analysis, board reporting, and strategic input
• Act as a point of contact for internal queries and issue resolution

Finance & Reporting

• Monthly management accounts, P&L, balance sheet, and cash flow reporting
• Manage budgeting and forecasting processes across department
• Monitor company financial performance and provide insights to directors
• Liaise with external accountants and auditors to ensure compliance and efficiency
• Maintain up-to-date financial records and ensure statutory filings are completed
• Bank reconciliation
• Sales and purchase ledger reconciliations
• Other key control account reconciliation (including intercompany)
• Oversee sales and purchase ledger transactions
• VAT reporting
• Identifying and managing KPI’s
• Oversee, review and manage stock controls

 
What We’re Looking For
 

• A qualified person (e.g. ACA, ACCA, CIMA, AAT)
• Experience managing at variety of levels including managing other managers
• Proven ability to lead and motivate teams, manage change, and drive performance. 
• Experience with foreign currency preferred
• Experience working in an SME environment, ideally in manufacturing, retail, or lighting
• Strong working knowledge of accounting systems and Microsoft Excel
• Excellent organisational skills, with the ability to juggle priorities
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills to effectively interact with stakeholders
• A confident communicator with a calm, solutions-focused mindset
• Comfortable stepping into a leadership role when needed
• A collaborative, can-do attitude, happy to pitch in wherever needed

What We Offer

• Competitive salary £60-70k depending on experience
• Work based pension
• 25 Days Holiday + Bank Holidays
• Supportive, friendly team environment
• Opportunities to grow with the business to Director level
• Direct involvement in shaping company performance and culture

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