OA are recruiting for a Finance Assistant to join our client’s growing team.
This role focuses on supporting financial forecasting, analysis, and reporting across a busy manufacturing environment. The successful candidate will work closely with multiple departments to maintain strong financial controls, improve operational efficiency, and provide clear insights to support business performance.
The position will involve working cross-functionally with Finance, Operations, Engineering, Quality, and Supply Chain teams, contributing to data-driven decision-making and continuous improvement initiatives.
Location: Stoke (office-based with travel to Telford required)
Hours: Monday to Thursday, 8:00am – 4:50pm, Friday 8:00am – 12:10pm
Salary: Up to £40,000 depending on experience
Benefits:
1. 23 days’ holiday plus bank holidays, rising to 28 days with service
2. Group life assurance
3. Employer pension contribution
4. On-site parking
5. Employee Assistance Programme (EAP)
Finance Assistant Key Responsibilities
6. Maintain and develop financial models to support forecasting, scenario planning, costing, and investment decisions
7. Support preparation and analysis of monthly management accounts, ensuring variances are investigated and understood
8. Analyse operational performance trends including scrap, BOM accuracy, labour utilisation, material usage, and works order performance
9. Translate financial and operational data into actionable insights for leadership teams
10. Work collaboratively across departments to improve data integrity and operational performance
11. Contribute to initiatives to reduce scrap, WIP, and excess inventory while strengthening cost control
12. Support continuous improvement activities aligned to financial objectives
13. Analyse production efficiency and manufacturing performance
14. Validate labour bookings, material usage, and system data accuracy
15. Support costing exercises and investment appraisals
16. Monitor inventory valuation, WIP accuracy, and stock movements
17. Provide cover for finance administration functions where required (including sales/purchase ledger and cashbook)
18. Ensure compliance with internal controls and financial governance procedures
Finance Assistant Skills and Experience
19. Part-qualified accountant (CIMA/ACCA/ACA) or equivalent relevant experience
20. Strong Excel capability
21. Proven analytical skills with the ability to interpret data and identify root causes
22. Experience in a manufacturing or engineering environment (preferred but not essential)
23. Ability to manage multiple priorities and meet deadlines
24. Strong attention to detail and organisational skills
25. Excellent communication skills across operational and financial teams
26. Ability to work both independently and collaboratively