Finance Manager

Private-Equity Backed SME | Hybrid (West Midlands)

£55,000 – £65,000 + Bonus & Benefits

Eaton Syalon is working exclusively with a private-equity backed SME as it strengthens its core finance capability.

This is a broad, hands-on Finance Manager role reporting to the Group CFO, with responsibility for building structure, improving commercial visibility and embedding robust financial processes within a growing, evolving business.

The role is well suited to someone from a smaller environment who understands that not everything is fully developed — and enjoys putting shape, discipline and clarity around a finance function.

The Opportunity

This role is about owning the numbers and the process behind them.

You’ll take responsibility for core financial reporting, controls and cash management, while working closely with operational leaders to introduce greater commercial rigour, insight and accountability across the business.

The finance function is established but still developing — reporting, processes and controls need strengthening and refining, rather than maintaining a “finished” environment. You’ll be trusted to assess what’s needed, prioritise improvements, and implement practical solutions that work for an SME.

You’ll also manage and develop a small transactional finance team, ensuring strong foundations as the business continues to scale.

Key Responsibilities

Financial Management & Reporting

• Full ownership of monthly management accounts (P&L, balance sheet and cash flow)
• Improve the quality, accuracy and timeliness of reporting
• Produce clear, meaningful monthly packs for senior leadership and investors
• Develop and embed consistent reporting disciplines across the business
• Maintain a rolling 13-week cashflow forecast with strong visibility of risks and opportunities

Commercial & Operational Finance

• Add commercial challenge around cost control, margins, pricing and performance
• Analyse customer, product and operational profitability
• Support decision-making through scenario analysis and financial modelling
• Work closely with operational leaders to link financial outcomes to operational drivers

Process, Controls & Governance

• Strengthen financial controls, processes and documentation
• Improve working capital management (WIP, debtors, creditors and cash conversion)
• Partner with procurement and operations to tighten cost and supplier controls
• Identify gaps in systems, reporting and processes — and pragmatically fix them

Budgeting & Forecasting

• Lead budgeting and reforecasting cycles
• Introduce more structured, driver-based forecasting where appropriate
• Track performance against KPIs and challenge variances

Team Leadership

• Manage and develop the transactional finance team
• Create clarity around roles, ownership and expectations
• Build capability and consistency within the finance function

About You

You’ll be a qualified accountant (CIMA / ACCA) with experience in a Finance Manager or broad commercial finance role within an SME environment.

You’re likely to have worked in a business where:

• systems and reporting weren’t perfect
• processes needed building or tightening
• finance needed to be both hands-on and commercially credible

You’ll bring:

• strong core finance skills and cashflow awareness
• confidence introducing structure and control without over-engineering
• a practical, sleeves-rolled-up mindset
• the ability to work comfortably with operational leaders and senior stakeholders

Experience in a PE-backed, high-growth or change environment is helpful — but an SME mindset is essential.