The Finance Director will play a central role in shaping the financial structure, governance, and commercial clarity required to support growth.
The Business
We’re partnering with a privately owned food manufacturing group in Sydney’s inner west (circa $85M+ turnover) entering a significant growth phase. This is a dynamic, founder-led business where decisions are made quickly, relationships are central, and presence matters.
The culture is fast paced, pragmatic, and built on genuine connection from leadership through to the production floor. There’s no corporate bureaucracy here. What matters is commercial confidence, operational engagement, and the ability to get things done.
This is a pivotal hire. The business needs a Finance Director who brings presence: someone dynamic, engaging, and commercially confident, with the ability to interface effectively both in strategic discussions and in the trenches with operational teams.
If you’re energised by hands-on operational involvement and acting as a genuine commercial partner in a scaling manufacturing business, read on.
The Role
The Finance Director will oversee financial strategy, governance, and performance across multi site operations in the fresh and prepared foods sector. You’ll work closely with the CEO on capital decisions and commercial strategy whilst staying operationally connected to production, site management, and the reality behind the numbers.
What you’ll actually be doing:
Providing commercial insight on pricing, product performance, and investment opportunities. Working with production and operations teams on cost visibility, efficiency, and performance. Strengthening systems, controls, reporting, and manufacturing costing frameworks. Building and developing the finance team of 4.
What matters most:
The ability to move seamlessly between the boardroom and the factory floor with equal credibility is essential. You’ll be comfortable leading budget discussions, explaining variances to site managers, and making timely commercial decisions as opportunities arise.
The Person
Core requirements:
Senior finance leadership in food manufacturing, FMCG, or comparable operational sectors. Strong operational finance background in cost accounting, production finance, and multi site reporting. Experience in businesses $50M to $150M turnover, ideally multi site operations. Track record in privately owned environments. CA or CPA qualified.
What will make you succeed:
Presence and commercial confidence. You build credibility through engagement, not emails. Operationally engaged and comfortable on the production floor, not just behind a desk. Dynamic communicator who can explain financial realities across all levels. Comfortable with pace and able to make decisions with available information. Practical and decisive, bringing structure without bureaucracy.
This role requires hands on involvement, operational visibility, and the ability to operate effectively in a high energy, fast moving environment.
What’s on Offer
Remuneration of $220,000 to $250,000 plus superannuation. Opportunity to strengthen the finance function through a significant growth phase. Multi site manufacturing operation with expansion plans underway. Collaborative working relationship with experienced CEO.
Most importantly, the opportunity to be a genuine commercial partner in a founder led business that values presence, engagement, and practical commercial judgement.
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