Finance Director, Structural Components

Finance Director, Structural Components 

Location: United Kingdom

Coats is a world leader in thread manufacturing and structural components for apparel and footwear, as well as an innovative pioneer in performance materials. These critical solutions are used to create a wide range of products, including ones that provide safety and protection for people, data and the environment.

Trusted by the world's leading companies to deliver crucial, innovative, and sustainable solutions, we provide value-adding products including apparel, footwear and speciality threads. With a proud heritage dating back more than 250 years and a spirit of evolution to constantly stay ahead of changing market needs, we have operations across 50 countries with a workforce of over 17,000, serving our customers worldwide.

Role Purpose: 

As a key member of the Leadership Team, the Finance Director provides insight and challenge to support decision-making and maximise shareholder value whilst ensuring the financial stewardship of the product line at all times.

The Structural Components Finance Director will be the senior finance leader for a product line, within Footwear division, generating c.$300m in annual revenue that is also undergoing a transformation, closely linked to the Ortholite integration, to drive a significant step-up in operating efficiencies and EBIT margin generation. This product line has direct responsibility for 8 factories in Europe and Asia and also acts as the steward for financial and operational delivery of 2 other product lines in Indonesia. The role partners closely with the MD Structural Components and his leadership team to drive profitable growth, improve operational performance, and deliver financial commitments. This role is also a key part of the Footwear Division and Finance leadership teams with the incumbent effectively being the ‘number 2’ to the CFO Footwear Division.

The position is responsible for all aspects of financial performance management including strategic planning, forecasting, management reporting, business partnering, investment analysis, pricing, productivity initiatives, working capital management, and financial governance.

What you will do (Key Responsibilities):

Business Partnership & Strategic Leadership

• Serve as the principal finance partner to the Managing Director Structural Components
• Participate as a key member of the Structural Components Leadership Team, and Division Leadership team.
• Provide financial leadership in defining and executing product line strategy.
• Support long-term growth plans, market expansion initiatives and footprint portfolio optimisation.
• Challenge business assumptions and support data-driven decision making.
• Develop financial models to evaluate strategic opportunities and risks.

Financial Performance Management

• Own the monthly financial review process for the product line.
• Lead forecasting, budgeting and strategic planning activities.
• Deliver accurate financial reporting and performance analysis.
• Monitor revenue, gross margin, operating income and cash flow performance.
• Identify performance gaps and drive corrective actions.

Commercial Finance

• Support pricing strategy and profitability management.
• Evaluate commercial contracts and customer profitability.
• Partner with Sales and Commercial teams to improve margin performance.
• Assess product mix and market opportunities.
• Lead financial evaluation of key customer negotiations and business opportunities.

Operational Finance

• Partner with Operations and Supply Chain leaders to improve manufacturing performance.
• Drive productivity, cost reduction and continuous improvement initiatives.
• Support inventory optimisation and working capital improvements.
• Monitor manufacturing variances, productivity metrics and operational KPIs.
• Ensure robust understanding of plant performance across the global footprint.

Financial Planning & Analysis

• Lead annual budgeting and medium-term-planning as well as monthly forecast processes.
• Develop scenario planning and sensitivity analysis.
• Provide insight into business drivers and market trends.
• Deliver actionable reporting and performance dashboards.
• Establish robust KPI frameworks supporting operational and financial objectives. 

Capital Investment & Business Cases 

• Lead financial evaluation of capital expenditure projects.
• Review investment proposals and ensure alignment with strategic objectives.
• Support manufacturing footprint optimisation initiatives.
• Evaluate automation, productivity and growth investments.
• Monitor post-investment performance and return on investment. 

Governance & Controls 

• Ensure compliance with group policies and financial controls.
• Support internal and external audit activities.
• Maintain strong balance sheet governance.
• Ensure integrity of financial reporting and forecasting processes.
• Promote a culture of accountability and compliance.

Leadership & Talent Development 

• Lead and develop a high-performing finance team.
• Build finance business partnering capability across the organisation.
• Coach and mentor finance professionals.
• Drive succession planning and talent development.
• Foster a culture of continuous improvement and accountability, leveraging on best practices across the Group.

Who you are (Requirements):

• Qualified accountant (ACA, ACCA, CPA or equivalent).
• 10+ years of progressive finance leadership experience.
• Strong commercial and operational finance background.
• Executive presence and experience partnering senior operational leaders.
• Proven leadership of budgeting, forecasting and performance management processes.
• Experience managing global or multi-region business performance.
• Influencing and stakeholder management.
• Team development.
• Decision making.

What will set you apart (Nice to Have):

• Experience supporting a business unit, product line or division with P&L responsibility.
• Exposure to M&A, integration and restructuring activities.
• Knowledge of standard costing and manufacturing finance.
• Experience with ERP platforms such as SAP, Oracle or Microsoft Dynamics.
• International business experience.

At Coats Group, we are committed to innovation, excellence, and fostering a diverse and collaborative environment where every team member can thrive. If you are passionate about making an impact in the textile industry and eager to join a global leader with a rich heritage and a forward-thinking approach, we invite you to take the next step in your career with us. Apply now to be part of our dynamic team and help shape the future of textiles.