Finance Manager, Plant Controller

The ASR Group® family of companies make up the world’s largest refiner and marketer of cane sugar. The companies produce a full line of grocery, industrial, foodservice and specialty sweetener products. Across North America, ASR Group® companies operate five sugar refineries, located in California, Maryland, Louisiana, Canada and Mexico. In Europe, ASR Group® companies operate sugar refineries in the United Kingdom, Portugal, and, with a joint venture partner, Italy. The companies also farm sugarcane and own sugar mills in Mexico and Belize. The ASR Group® portfolio includes the leading brands Domino®, C&H®, Florida Crystals®, Redpath®, Tate & Lyle®, Lyle's®, Sidul® and Whitworths®.  ASR Group® companies also produce and market Tellus®, a single-use, compostable tableware and foodservice product made from plant fibers, including sugarcane. 

FINANCE MANAGER, PLANT CONTROLLER

LOCATION: Tate & Lyle Sugars, Factory Rd, London E16 2EW

COMPANY DESCRIPTION

The ASR Group® family of companies is the world’s largest refiner and marketer of cane sugar. The companies produce a full line of grocery, industrial, foodservice and specialty sweetener products. Across North America, ASR Group® companies operate five sugar refineries, located in California, Maryland, Louisiana, Canada and Mexico. In Europe, ASR Group® companies operate sugar refineries in the United Kingdom, Portugal, and, with a joint venture partner, Italy. The companies also farm sugarcane and own sugar mills in Mexico and Belize. The ASR Group® portfolio includes the leading brands Domino®, C&H®, Florida Crystals®, Redpath®, Tate & Lyle®, Lyle's®, Sidul® and Whitworths®. ASR Group® companies also produce and market Tellus®, a single-use, compostable tableware and foodservice product made from plant fibers, including sugarcane.

OVERVIEW

The Finance Manager, Plant Controller is the senior finance business partner for Thames Refinery and is accountable for the integrity of plant financial reporting, forecasting, budgeting, manufacturing cost control and decision support across a cost base of approximately €100 million. The role provides independent financial challenge to the Thames General Manager and operational leadership team, converts operational and financial data into clear actions, and strengthens financial controls and performance across the site. 

The role combines plant controllership, operational business partnering, capital investment governance, continuous improvement and formal people leadership. It requires regular engagement with senior stakeholders and clear presentation of plant performance, risks and opportunities. 

DETAILED ROLES & RESPONSIBILITIES

Act as finance business partner and financial “go-to” for the Thames General Manager and operational team, providing financial expertise, independent challenge and insight to improve operational efficiency, effectiveness and decision making in line with wider corporate strategy.

• Own key month-end, periodic close, commentary and analysis activities for Thames Refinery, including oversight and control of the multi-million-euro cost base, refinery yield statements and reconciliation of sucrose inputs to outputs.

• Lead monthly reforecasting, annual budgeting and maintenance/development of budget and forecast models within business planning platforms, including completing relevant model-building training and presenting forecasts with Thames leadership to senior executives as required.

• Identify drivers of over/underspend, propose mitigating actions, project manage CAPEX business cases through development and approval, and support performance improvement projects to reduce operational and finance-process inefficiencies.

• Maintain and strengthen controls, procedures and audit readiness, respond to external auditor queries, and use technical developments such as AI, Power BI, Power Automate and SAP/SAC to enhance reporting and decision-support tools.

• Influence stakeholders and present information clearly and concisely to C-suite executives, while building strong cross-functional relationships with Operations, Supply Chain, Sales/Marketing and other relevant teams.

• Manage one direct report, mentor and develop junior finance colleagues, and perform other ad-hoc tasks as required to support the strategic objectives of the European Finance Team.

WORK EXPERIENCES

• Demonstrable experience in manufacturing, food production, FMCG, commodities or another operationally complex environment. 

• Strong practical knowledge of plant or manufacturing finance, including standard costing, inventory, operational variances, budgeting, forecasting and financial controls. 

• Demonstrable experience of influencing operational leaders, challenging constructively and presenting complex financial information clearly to senior stakeholders. 

• Experience of SAP or an equivalent ERP system and advanced use of Excel; experience of Power BI or comparable visualisation tools. 
• People-management or substantive team-leadership experience is desirable. Candidates moving from practice will need to demonstrate directly relevant controls, operational-finance, leadership and business-partnering capability. 

EDUCATION REQUIREMENTS

• ACA, ACCA or CIMA qualified, or an equivalent recognised professional accounting qualification. 
• A relevant degree or equivalent demonstrable professional experience is desirable. The professional accounting qualification and role-relevant capability are the primary requirements. 

SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITY

• Directly manages one employee and may provide day-to-day coaching or technical guidance to other junior members of the finance team. 

At Tate & Lyle Sugars, our goal is to be the most admired sweetener Company.

Service Excellence - Be the industry's Gold Standard by a relentless focus on reliability, providing products with superior quality and excellent customer services. Efficiency and Sustainability - Eliminate inefficiency to be a sustainable, low cost producer and to generate fuel for reinvestment. Value-Add - create strategic advantage and enhanced profitability through value-added products and services. The foundation of our values is Talent and Culture as we aim to build, retain and motivate a winning team.