Financial Controller - Oamaru

The Opportunity
This is a senior, site-based finance leadership role within a large and complex New Zealand manufacturing business. Based in Oamaru, the Financial Controller will sit close to operations and provide the financial control, commercial insight and practical leadership needed to support performance in a fast-moving production environment.

The role requires someone who understands how manufacturing businesses work in practice. You will be comfortable with the interaction between production volumes, yields, labour, inventory, cost recovery, capital investment and site performance, and able to translate that detail into clear actions for operational leaders.

This is not a remote or predominantly office-based corporate role. A visible presence on site is central to building strong relationships, understanding operational drivers and adding value. Candidates will therefore need to live in, commute reliably to, or be committed to relocating to the local or commutable area.

The Company
Our client is a substantial New Zealand food manufacturing and primary industry organisation with processing operations across regional communities. The business operates in a highly regulated, operationally intensive environment where safety, quality, productivity and disciplined financial management are fundamental.

With a significant local workforce and a strong connection to the region it serves, the Oamaru site plays an important role within the wider group. The finance function is expected to be commercially engaged, operationally credible and focused on continuous improvement, while maintaining robust controls and accurate reporting.

The Role

• Lead the site finance function and provide clear, practical financial leadership to the site management team
• Own the integrity and timeliness of month-end, management reporting, forecasting, budgeting and year-end processes for the site
• Partner closely with operational leaders to understand production performance, labour utilisation, yields, inventory movements, cost drivers and margin outcomes
• Deliver meaningful analysis and commentary that converts detailed manufacturing information into actions and decisions
• Maintain a strong financial control environment across balance sheet, inventory, fixed assets, expenditure, payroll-related inputs and site processes
• Support annual planning and rolling forecasts, with close attention to seasonal volumes, operational capacity, labour requirements and changing cost assumptions
• Provide financial oversight and challenge for capital expenditure, maintenance programmes and improvement initiatives
• Work constructively with wider group finance, auditors and other stakeholders to meet reporting, compliance and governance requirements
• Improve systems, reporting tools and processes to strengthen visibility, efficiency and accountability across the operation
• Lead, coach and develop the site finance team while building strong working relationships across production and support functions

Your Profile

• A senior finance professional with substantial experience in a complex manufacturing environment. Food manufacturing, primary processing, FMCG or another high-volume production setting will be strongly preferred
• A sound understanding of manufacturing finance, including inventory, standard or operational costing, production variances, labour and overhead analysis, yields, waste, working capital and capital expenditure
• Broad financial control capability across management reporting, budgeting, forecasting, statutory requirements, audit and balance sheet integrity
• Strong commercial judgement and the confidence to challenge constructively, explain financial outcomes clearly and influence operational decision-making
• A practical, hands-on approach. You will be comfortable moving between detailed analysis, control requirements, team leadership and conversations on the factory floor
• Proven people leadership skills, with the ability to set expectations, develop capability and maintain delivery in a deadline-driven environment
• Strong ERP, reporting and Excel capability, with an interest in improving information quality and simplifying processes
• A relevant tertiary qualification. Chartered status or an equivalent professional accounting qualification is preferred
• Full, unrestricted New Zealand working rights and the ability to be based predominantly on site in Oamaru. Applicants outside the region must be genuinely committed to relocation

For more information about this role, please contact Simon Lawrence on [021 240 2620](tel:021 240 2620) or apply via the link below

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