Financial Controller – Leading Soap FMCG Manufacturer

"The Bar is Back" – and we need your financial leadership, commercial insight, and drive for operational excellence to help us scale from 20 million to 70 million bars a year.

At Soapworks, we create high-quality, sustainable soap products for global brands – and as we enter an exciting phase of rapid growth, we’re looking for an experienced, hands-on Financial Controller to lead our finance function and support strategic decision-making.

From driving robust financial controls and delivering accurate, timely reporting to supporting investment decisions and shaping long-term financial strategy, you’ll play a critical role in ensuring our commercial success as we scale – safeguarding profitability, managing risk, and enabling sustainable growth.

At Soapworks, we do more than produce soap – we also manufacture a variety of personal care products, including hair and body cleansers and aromatic oils. As a key member of our leadership team, you’ll help shape the future of our business, working alongside a passionate and innovative workforce committed to quality, sustainability, and innovation.

The Role at a Glance:

Financial Controller
Glasgow / Remote Working Fridays
£65,000 – £75,000 per annum DOE + 33 days holiday, rising with service
Plus Excellent Benefits Package Including Pension, Income Protection Benefit, Access to Help@Hand (EAP, GP and Physio Services), Death in Service 3x Annual Salary and More…

Full Time – Permanent
Hours of Work (37.5hrs per week): 8am – 4.30pm (Mon-Thurs), 8am – 3pm (Fri – working from home)

Reporting to: Managing Director

Values: Ethical, Sustainable, Trusted
Company: UKs Largest Bar Soap Manufacturer with a global customer base
Who’s products Featured In: British Vogue, GLAMOUR, Elle, GQ, Beauty Bay, Stylist Magazine, HELLO! And More…

Your Background / Skills:

Fully Qualified ACA/ACCA/CIMA plus solid practical experience in a fast-paced environment ideally within a manufacturing environment. Leading and developing a finance team. Experience working with BI tools.
Food, Manufacturing, Personal care
Ideally exposure to contract manufacturing

Our Story:

Founded in 1988 by The Body Shop entrepreneur Dame Anita Roddick, Soapworks has always been driven by innovation, exceptional product quality, and a deep commitment to social and environmental responsibility. More than 35 years later, we continue to stand at the forefront of the industry, trusted by 50 of the world’s top brands as a leading supplier and partner.

In 2018, we joined the Daabon Group, a global leader in sustainable and organic ingredients, further strengthening our commitment to ethical and eco-friendly production.

As passionate advocates for sustainability, we are committed to promoting the environmental benefits of bar soaps. Our dedication has earned us numerous awards and certifications, including the prestigious EcoVadis Gold Award for Sustainability, placing us among the top 5% of companies in our sector. But we’re not stopping there – we are actively working towards net-zero carbon emissions by 2040, ensuring that our impact on the planet is as clean as the products we create.

Beyond business, we believe in making a difference and have a well developed SOAP AID programme where we collaborate with NGOs and Charities to donate life saving soap bars to areas of need or natural disaster across the world demonstrating our commitment to global well-being.

We don’t just make soap – we create products that align with a better, more sustainable future.

The Opportunity:

Soapworks is looking for a proactive and commercially minded Financial Controller to lead the optimisation and innovation of our finance operations as we scale up the business.

In this key role, you’ll focus on enhancing financial processes, improving reporting accuracy, and strengthening overall financial performance – driving cost control, supporting strategic investments, and ensuring robust financial governance in a dynamic, fast-paced manufacturing environment.

With ambitious growth plans ahead, we need someone who’s passionate about financial excellence, data-driven decision making, and helping to shape a sustainable, profitable future for Soapworks.

Key Responsibilities:

•    Advise on financial strategy to support company objectives.
•    Lead, motivate, and develop the finance team to ensure high performance.
•    Provide financial guidance to managers and staff to help achieve targets.
•    Manage cash flow, working capital, and treasury functions.
•    Prepare annual budgets, including P&L, balance sheet, and cash flow.
•    Present financial reports to the Board and participate in monthly meetings.
•    Oversee Group Reporting, including monthly sales and P&L reports.
•    Deliver financial updates at fortnightly KPI meetings.
•    Produce monthly management accounts and Finance Board reports.
•    Coordinate year-end reporting and external audits.
•    Manage operational performance reviews and P&L reforecasts.
•    Prepare monthly 13-week cash flow forecasts.
•    Authorise and ensure accuracy of supplier payments.
•    Review product costings with BDM for new business opportunities.
•    Analyse profitability by customer and product type.
•    Develop Capex business cases and payback analysis with senior management.
•    Liaise with auditors to ensure accurate statutory reporting.
•    Maintain relationships with banking partners and supply management accounts.

Education/Qualifications:

•    Fully ACA/ACCA/CIMA qualified along with practical experience in a fast-paced environment ideally within a manufacturing environment.
•    Educated to degree level.

Experience/Skills/Knowledge:

•    Demonstrable experience of leading and developing a finance team.
•    Working in a multiple margin control and strict cash-flow management business
•    Excellent attention to detail to ensure accuracy in financial reports and compliance documentation
•    Excellent problem-solving skills with the ability to address financial discrepancies and operational inefficiencies.
•    Knowledge of working with BI tools to drive financial improvements
•    Proficient in MS Office
•    Knowledge of integrating new ERP system such as MS Dynamics / Business Central or equivalent would be preferable.

Aptitudes/Attributes:

•    Excellent organisational skills
•    Strong communication skills with the ability to provide financial information to non-financial stakeholders
•    Strong analytical skills and capable of breaking down complex financial issues and identifying patterns, risks and opportunities
•    Good time management skill with the ability to work under pressure
•    An excellent team player who can work alongside other members of the executive team to deliver the strategic plan of the business

Other Job Requirements:

•    May need to be able to travel

What’s on Offer:

•    Competitive Market Salary
•    4-weekly pay cycle
•    33 days holiday inclusive of bank holidays rising with service
•    Pension
•    Death in Service benefit of 3x basic salary
•    Income Protection Benefit after 1 year in role
•    Access to Help@Hand who provide EAP, GP & Physio services. They also provide information on health, family, money & work, as well as discounts with various retailers.

Sounds like a good fit? Apply here for a fast-track path to our Leadership Team

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