Finance Analyst

Harper May is working with a London-based consumer durables manufacturer that designs and distributes home and lifestyle products across the UK and Europe. The business is privately owned, profitable, and has expanded its market share steadily over the past three years through a combination of organic growth and selective acquisition. The finance function is being strengthened to support increased commercial complexity and stricter cost management across the supply chain. They are now seeking a Finance Analyst to join the team.

The Role
Reporting to the Finance Manager, you will support financial analysis across procurement, manufacturing, and distribution. This role sits at the intersection of finance and operations, giving you direct visibility into how the business makes and moves its products. You will own parts of the monthly close, lead cost investigations, and work closely with supply chain and operations teams to improve financial control.

• Prepare monthly management accounts and deliver variance analysis against budget and prior year
• Analyse procurement spend, supplier performance, and contract compliance
• Review product margin contribution and identify pricing and cost drivers
• Support forecasting and cash flow planning for inventory and capital expenditure
• Investigate cost anomalies and co-ordinate cost-reduction initiatives
• Build and maintain financial models for operational decision-making
• Perform balance sheet reconciliations and support the external audit process

What we are looking for

• ACA, ACCA, or CIMA part-qualified or finalist
• Background in manufacturing, supply chain, or procurement finance
• Solid grounding in cost accounting and margin analysis
• Comfortable with Excel modelling and able to self-serve in business intelligence tools
• Natural communicator who can simplify complex financial ideas for operational managers
• Methodical and proactive; you notice when things do not add up