Head of Finance and Commercial Strategy (East London)

ENVIRONMENT: A premier Distributor of Healthcare Products seeks a commercially minded Head of Finance & Commercial Strategy to lead the company’s financial function and support strategic growth within a fast-growing manufacturing environment. This role goes beyond traditional financial management and requires a leader who can partner with operations, sales, and executive management to drive profitability, optimise manufacturing efficiency, and support expansion initiatives. The successful candidate will play a critical role in strengthening financial controls, improving operational visibility, and guiding investment decisions. The successful incumbent will hold a Bachelor’s Degree in Accounting, Finance, or Economics (CA(SA), CIMA, or CFA advantageous) with 5 years’ experience in finance leadership roles & Advanced Excel and ERP/accounting system experience. DUTIES: Financial Leadership - Lead the company’s financial strategy, ensuring strong financial governance and sustainable business growth. Oversee budgeting, forecasting, and financial planning across the business. Provide clear financial insight to the executive team to support strategic decision making. Ensure accurate and timely financial reporting, including management accounts and performance analysis. Commercial & Strategic Finance - Partner with Sales and Marketing teams to evaluate commercial strategies, pricing models, and promotional investments. Provide financial modelling and scenario analysis for strategic initiatives and growth opportunities. Translate financial data into actionable insights that support business performance. Manufacturing & Operational Finance - Oversee manufacturing cost structures including COGS, production efficiency, labour, and overhead allocation. Identify opportunities to improve operational efficiency and reduce financial leakage across the production environment. Implement financial controls and reporting systems that improve visibility into production costs and margins. Work closely with operations to ensure optimal inventory management and working capital control. Capital Investment & Expansion - Evaluate and model ROI for capital expenditure including machinery, production capacity increases, and facility improvements. Support strategic decisions relating to manufacturing expansion, operational investments, and infrastructure development. Lead financial feasibility assessments for new projects and business initiatives. Cashflow & Funding Strategy - Manage cashflow planning and working capital requirements. Support funding discussions with banks, investors, and other financial stakeholders where required. Ensure financial resilience as the company scales its operations. REQUIREMENTS: Bachelor’s Degree in Accounting, Finance, or Economics (CA(SA), CIMA, or CFA advantageous). 5 Years experience in finance leadership roles, ideally within manufacturing, FMCG, or production environments. Strong experience in financial modelling, operational finance, and commercial analysis. Solid understanding of manufacturing costing, inventory management, and margin optimisation. Advanced Excel and ERP/accounting system experience. ATTRIBUTES: Strong leadership capability with the ability to work cross-functionally with operations, sales, and executive management. Highly analytical with strong commercial acumen and strategic thinking ability. Desired Skills: Head of Finance