Manager Finance

We are seeking a seasoned finance professional with extensive experience in manufacturing finance, cost accounting, and factory controlling, ideally within the FMCG or food manufacturing sectors. The successful candidate will play a critical role in partnering with factory management to optimize financial performance, control manufacturing costs, and support strategic decision-making through accurate budgeting, reporting, and process improvements. This role demands strong analytical skills, proficiency in SAP systems, and a deep understanding of manufacturing operations and cost drivers.

Key Responsibilities

Factory Business Partnering: Collaborate closely with the Factory Manager and functional heads to drive performance against budgets and operational KPIs. Analyze key manufacturing metrics such as cost per kilogram, material yield, wastage, labor productivity, energy consumption, and line efficiency to identify areas for improvement. Investigate significant cost variances, determine root causes, and work with relevant departments to implement corrective actions. Champion cost-saving initiatives across raw materials, packaging, labor, utilities, and factory overheads.

Manufacturing Costing & Controlling: Monitor actual manufacturing costs against standards, focusing on direct labor, utilities, and overhead expenses. Ensure the accuracy of recipes, Bills of Materials (BOMs), production routings, costing parameters, and manufacturing standards within SAP. Conduct detailed analysis of material consumption, production yield, process losses, scrap, and other variances. Oversee production cost absorption and ensure precise allocation of manufacturing costs across products and production lines.

Budgeting & Performance Reporting: Lead the coordination of the annual factory budgeting process and periodic forecasting in partnership with the Factory Manager and departmental heads. Prepare comprehensive monthly performance reports comparing actual results to budget, prior year, and forecasts, providing clear explanations for variances. Deliver financial insights related to production volumes, product mix, input price fluctuations, and operational performance to support informed decision-making.

Financial Controls & Inventory Governance: Ensure timely month-end closing activities, accurate cost accounting, and reliable financial reporting for the factory. Monitor inventory accuracy through stock reconciliations, manage slow-moving and obsolete inventory, and oversee production-related stock adjustments. Maintain compliance with financial policies, expenditure approvals, and internal control standards. Coordinate audit processes and ensure prompt resolution of audit queries and control deficiencies.

CAPEX & Process Improvement: Support the preparation of CAPEX business cases, monitor budgets, and conduct post-investment evaluations to validate expected financial benefits. Enhance the utilization of SAP and Business Intelligence (BI) tools for cost analysis, reporting, and financial control. Drive continuous improvements in factory finance processes, data accuracy, and cost visibility to strengthen financial governance.

Required Qualifications

- Chartered Accountant (CA), ACCA, CMA, MBA in Finance, or an equivalent professional qualification.
- 8 to 12 years of relevant experience in manufacturing finance, cost accounting, or factory controlling, preferably within FMCG or food manufacturing industries.
- Strong expertise in manufacturing costing, BOMs, recipes, inventory accounting, and production variance analysis.
- Proficient in SAP ECC/S/4HANA and advanced Excel skills, including BI reporting tools.

This role offers the opportunity to contribute significantly to the financial health and operational efficiency of a dynamic manufacturing environment. Candidates with a proactive approach to problem-solving and a passion for driving cost efficiencies will thrive in this position.