Head of Finance

Harper May is partnering with a well-established food manufacturer based in Park Royal, London, supplying both UK retail and foodservice channels. The business has built a strong operational base over many years and is now investing in its finance function to support the next stage of its development. With clear plans to strengthen reporting, controls, and commercial insight across the organisation, the leadership team is now appointing a fractional Head of Finance to provide senior finance leadership three days a week, working closely with the Board and the existing finance team.

The Role
Working three days a week from the Park Royal site, the Head of Finance will lead the in-house finance team, set the pace and standards of financial reporting, and drive the transformation of the finance function. The role combines hands-on operational delivery with strategic support to the Board, focusing on accurate management information, a robust month-end close, and reliable costing and margin reporting under UK GAAP. It is initially a fractional engagement with potential to move into ongoing interim leadership as the function matures.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead the finance team, setting structure, pace and standards across reporting and controls
• Establish a reliable, timely month-end close and produce clear, decision-useful management information
• Strengthen financial controls, governance, and reporting discipline across the business
• Review and improve costing models and product margin reporting, aligned with UK GAAP (FRS 102)
• Partner with operations and commercial teams to support budgeting, forecasting, and scenario analysis
• Provide clear, commercially focused insight to the Board and senior management
• Assess current finance systems and processes, recommending practical, value-adding improvements

What we are looking for

• Qualified accountant (ACA, ACCA, or CIMA) with significant post-qualification experience at Head of Finance or Finance Director level
• Strong UK GAAP grounding, including current familiarity with FRS 102 revisions and technical accounting areas
• Prior experience leading or transforming finance functions in a manufacturing, food, FMCG, or operationally complex environment
• Practical, collaborative leadership style, comfortable rolling up sleeves alongside a small in-house team
• Track record of delivering reliable management information, robust costing models, and improved month-end discipline
• Available three days per week, on-site at the Park Royal location