Financial Controller Kitt Green

Job description

This role leads a team covering the site's major cost and performance areas, including circa £50m of ZBB costs per annum and circa £50m of Variable Input Costs (including Direct Labour, Material Usage Variance, Utilities and Other VIC), alongside critical compliance deliverables, inventory and product costing governance, and support to capital investment justification and delivery. The Site Financial Controller translates complex data into clear recommendations, champions continuous improvement, and strengthens financial understanding across the site leadership team.

The Kraft Heinz Management System encourages us to make informed choices using facts and data. This role sits at the heart of the site leadership agenda and would suit someone who thrives in a fast-paced environment, can balance strategic priorities with operational rigour, and enjoys working with colleagues at all levels to deliver results that matter.

Direct Reports

Reports into: Manufacturing Finance Lead European Operation Finance Lead Finance Business Partner Finance Analyst - Business Partnering Finance Analyst - Manufacturing Ensure the site operates with strong financial stewardship and compliance with corporate financial policies, internal control requirements and regulatory expectations. Own audit readiness and lead responses to audit queries, ensuring documentation is accurate, timely and complete (including Annual Stock Take, fixed asset verification and other control activities).

Ensure site finance processes are documented, maintained and continuously improved (process maps, SOPs, ways of working). Set the direction for site finance, ensuring the right routines, insights and governance are in place to support the Site Leadership Team in delivering safety, quality, service and cost performance. Act as trusted advisor to the Site Director, Heads of Manufacturing and Functional Heads, challenging constructively using facts and data and ensuring decisions are supported by robust analysis.

Build financial understanding across the site by translating complex data into clear actions and trade-offs, supporting a culture of ownership and accountability. Champion continuous improvement by ensuring finance is an enabler of 90 Day Improvement Plans, Savings Initiatives and Capex projects (from justification through to benefits tracking). Operational Finance, Cost Control & Monthly Financial Reporting Own the site's end-to-end financial performance management, ensuring high-quality reporting and review routines across both ZBB and VIC, with clear actions to close gaps to AOP/Latest Estimate.

Ensure timely and accurate month end close, including review of provisions, corrections, allocations and key judgements, and strong balance sheet ownership across the site. Oversee cost center reporting and review meetings with operational and functional leads, ensuring the right level of insight, challenge and follow-through. Ensure robust commentary and story-telling for key site reporting packs (e.g., MBR / Forecast decks) and align the narrative across Finance and Operations.

Budgeting & Forecasting Lead the site planning calendar for Finance, coordinating the annual planning cycle and monthly forecasting routines across ZBB and VIC. Ensure strong scenario modelling and risk/opportunity management, proactively surfacing issues early and agreeing mitigation actions with the business. Oversee the site's input to AOP Standard Setting (fixed and variable elements), ensuring assumptions are robust, consistent and well-governed.

Product Costing, Inventory & Working Capital Stewardship Provide governance over product costing processes at site (raw, packaging, SFG/FG as applicable), including discipline around master data changes and master recipes. Oversee inventory controls and provisions (including Supply Chain Loss Provisions, blocked/obsolete stock and disposals/recharges), ensuring timely action and clear root-cause follow-up with Supply Chain and Operations.

Ensure working capital levers are visible, measured and actively managed through clear routines. Lead, coach and develop the Site Finance Team, setting clear priorities, role clarity and development expectations, and ensuring effective coverage and succession planning. Build a “Power of We” culture with Operations and Support Functions, breaking down silos and enabling fast, aligned execution. Create an environment where finance colleagues can grow their technical capability, business partnering skills, and confidence in challenging constructively Qualified accountant (CIMA / ACCA / ACA) with significant experience in manufacturing / FMCG or similarly complex operational environment, including leadership responsibility.

Strong working knowledge of cost accounting, forecasting, planning, and performance management in a site-based setting. Proven ability to translate complex analysis into clear decisions and actions with senior operational stakeholders; confident to challenge constructively using facts and data. Strong governance mindset with experience of internal controls, audit readiness and timely resolution of queries (inventory, fixed assets, balance sheet ownership).

Advanced use of Microsoft Office applications, including Excel, Word and PowerPoint; strong ERP capability (SAP or similar). Organized, structured, and able to manage competing priorities while maintaining a high bar for quality and timeliness. A people leader who coaches performance, builds capability, and creates clarity of ownership across the team. Curious, positive and proactive; applies continuous improvement mindset to simplify and standardise ways of working (KHMS mindset).