Job Description
"The Bar is Back" - and we need your financial leadership, commercial insight, and drive for operational excellence to help us scale from 20 million to 70 million bars a year.
At Soapworks, we create high-quality, sustainable soap products for global brands - and as we enter an exciting phase of rapid growth, we're looking for an experienced, hands-on Financial Controller to lead our finance function and support strategic decision-making.
From driving robust financial controls and delivering accurate, timely reporting to supporting investment decisions and shaping long-term financial strategy, you'll play a critical role in ensuring our commercial success as we scale - safeguarding profitability, managing risk, and enabling sustainable growth.
At Soapworks, we do more than produce soap - we also manufacture a variety of personal care products, including hair and body cleansers and aromatic oils. As a key member of our leadership team, you'll help shape the future of our business, working alongside a passionate and innovative workforce committed to quality, sustainability, and innovation.
The Role at a Glance:
Financial Controller
Glasgow / Remote Working Fridays
£55,000 - £65,000 per annum DOE 33 days holiday, rising with service
Plus Excellent Benefits Package Including Pension, Income Protection Benefit, Access to Help@Hand (EAP, GP and Physio Services), Death in Service 3x Annual Salary and More…
Full Time - Permanent
Hours of Work (37.5hrs per week): 8am - 4.30pm (Mon-Thurs), 8am - 3pm (Fri - working from home)
Reporting to: Managing Director
Your Background / Skills: Fully CA/ACCA/CIMA qualified plus practical experience in a fast-paced environment ideally within a manufacturing environment. Leading and developing a finance team. Experience working with BI tools.
The Opportunity:
Soapworks is looking for a proactive and commercially minded Financial Controller to lead the optimisation and innovation of our finance operations as we scale up the business.
In this key role, you'll focus on enhancing financial processes, improving reporting accuracy, and strengthening overall financial performance - driving cost control, supporting strategic investments, and ensuring robust financial governance in a dynamic, fast-paced manufacturing environment.
With ambitious growth plans ahead, we need someone who's passionate about financial excellence, data-driven decision making, and helping to shape a sustainable, profitable future for Soapworks.
Key Responsibilities:
• Advise on financial strategy to support company objectives.
• Lead, motivate, and develop the finance team to ensure high performance.
• Provide financial guidance to managers and staff to help achieve targets.
• Manage cash flow, working capital, and treasury functions.
• Prepare annual budgets, including P&L, balance sheet, and cash flow.
• Present financial reports to the Board and participate in monthly meetings.
• Oversee Group Reporting, including monthly sales and P&L reports.
• Deliver financial updates at fortnightly KPI meetings.
• Produce monthly management accounts and Finance Board reports.
• Coordinate year-end reporting and external audits.
• Manage operational performance reviews and P&L reforecasts.
• Prepare monthly 13-week cash flow forecasts.
• Authorise and ensure accuracy of supplier payments.
• Review product costings with BDM for new business opportunities.
• Analyse profitability by customer and product type.
• Develop Capex business cases and payback analysis with senior management.
• Liaise with auditors to ensure accurate statutory reporting.
• Maintain relationships with banking partners and supply management accounts.
Education/Qualifications:
• Fully CA/ACCA/CIMA qualified along with practical experience in a fast-paced environment ideally within a manufacturing environment.
• Educated to degree level.
Experience/Skills/Knowledge:
• Demonstrable experience of leading and developing a finance team.
• Excellent attention to detail to ensure accuracy in financial reports and compliance documentation
• Excellent problem-solving skills with the ability to address financial discrepancies and operational inefficiencies.
• Knowledge of working with BI tools to drive financial improvements
• Knowledge of a fully integrated ERP system such as Microsoft Navision or equivalent would be preferable.
Aptitudes/Attributes:
• Excellent organisational skills
• Strong communication skills with the ability to provide financial information to non-financial stakeholders
• Strong analytical skills and capable of breaking down complex financial issues and identifying patterns, risks and opportunities
• Good time management skill with the ability to work under pressure
• An excellent team player who can work alongside other members of the executive team to deliver the strategic plan of the business
Other Job Requirements:
• May need to be able to travel
What’s on Offer:
• 4-weekly pay cycle
• 33 days holiday inclusive of bank holidays rising with service
• Pension
• Death in Service benefit of 3x basic salary
• Income Protection Benefit after 1 year in role
• Access to Help@Hand who provide EAP, GP & Physio services. They also provide information on health, family, money & work, as well as discounts with various retailers.
Sounds like a good fit? Apply here for a fast-track path to our Leadership Team
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