Finance Target Operating Model

Target Operating Model (TOM) Consultant Finance — Manufacturing Group (Outside IR35) My client, a multi-site manufacturing group, is looking to hire a highly experienced interim consultant who can assist the CFO in designing and implementing a future-state Target Operating Model for the finance function. The consultant will bring expertise in manufacturing finance, cost accounting, operational controls, and plant-level processes. Operating outside IR35, the consultant will work independently to assess current capabilities, define end-to-end process improvements, and deliver a scalable, efficient and digitally enabled finance operating model aligned to the needs of a complex manufacturing environment. My client has corporate headquarters near West London, with production sites across the UK. Expectation will be to be in the London office several days a week, with occasional visits to other key locations. Key Responsibilities: Current-State Assessment (Manufacturing Focus): • Review finance processes across corporate, divisional and plant levels • Evaluate cost accounting practices, inventory valuation, BOM accuracy, standard costing, variance analysis and production reporting • Analyse month-end close timelines, controls, FP&A processes, and management reporting quality • Assess integration between finance and operations (production, supply chain, procurement, sales) Future-State TOM Design: • Develop an operating model that supports scalable growth, multi-site consistency, real-time production visibility and improved financial control • Define roles/responsibilities across plants, Shared Services, Centres of Excellence and Group Finance • Introduce process standardisation and harmonisation across factories and business units Process Optimisation for Manufacturing: • Redesign P2P, O2C, R2R and inventory processes to improve accuracy, throughput and cost visibility • Strengthen product costing, margin reporting, and production variance analysis • Enhance S&OP integration with finance (forecasting, working capital, capacity planning) • Identify automation opportunities (e.g., RPA for reconciliations, invoice matching, production data ingestion) Technology and Data Enablement: • Align TOM with ERP/Manufacturing systems (SAP, Oracle, Infor, JD Edwards, Dynamics, Epicor, etc.) • Improve data flows from the shop floor (MES, SCADA, WMS) into finance and reporting systems • Define digital solutions for standard costing, scenario modelling and performance dashboards Governance, Controls & Reporting: • Design governance frameworks, KPI hierarchies and reporting standards across plants • Strengthen internal controls, inventory accuracy processes and compliance at all sites • Define SLAs, RACI, decision rights, and escalation pathways Change & Stakeholder Engagement: • Work with CFO, Group FC, Operations Directors and Plant Controllers to embed the TOM • Facilitate workshops with finance, supply chain and production teams to drive adoption and ownership Implementation Roadmap: • Produce a phased deployment strategy across plants and group functions • Identify risks, dependencies, resource requirements, and expected benefits such as cost transparency, shortened close cycles, and improved operational decision-making Required Skills & Experience • Proven experience designing and implementing finance TOM in manufacturing or industrial organisations • Deep understanding of manufacturing finance, including inventory, costing methodologies, production variances, and operational KPIs • Strong knowledge of end-to-end supply chain and production processes. • ERP/Manufacturing Systems experience (e.g., SAP PP/MM/FICO, Oracle, Dynamics, Infor, Epicor) • Experienced in multi-site standardisation and shared service design • Ability to engage credibly with plant controllers, production managers and senior finance leaders • Track record of autonomous, outside IR35 delivery For further details, please apply using the link and one of the team here will be in touch to share further details.