Chief Financial Officer

Chief Financial Officer - County Westmeath. Our client is a privately owned European-headquartered manufacturing multinational. With current operations in 2 countries, the company is known for engineering excellence, innovation, and operational reliability. The business is entering its next stage of strategic growth, with a focus on sustainable manufacturing, digital transformation and expansion into new markets. Role Overview: The CFO will be a key member of the executive leadership team, responsible for safeguarding the companys financial health, driving performance improvement, and ensuring the finance function is a strategic enabler of growth. This role combines operational finance leadership with a strong commercial and strategic perspective, working closely with the CEO, owners and senior management to deliver shareholder value in a competitive, fast-changing market. Key Responsibilities: Strategic Financial Leadership Lead financial strategy, planning and forecasting aligned with corporate objectives. Provide commercially astute advice to the CEO and owners on capital allocation, M&A, joint ventures, and international expansion opportunities. Support the development and execution of the companys long-term strategic plan. Financial Management & Reporting Oversee all financial reporting, ensuring compliance with relevant local GAAP and IFRS standards across jurisdictions. Ensure timely, accurate, and insightful management reporting for operational and strategic decision-making. Drive financial transparency across multi-site operations. Operational & Performance Management Lead budgeting, cost control, and margin improvement initiatives across multi-country manufacturing sites. Implement KPIs and performance dashboards to monitor operational efficiency. Partner with supply chain, production, and commercial teams to optimise working capital and asset utilisation. Risk, Compliance & Governance Manage relationships with banks, auditors, tax authorities, and regulatory bodies. Ensure compliance with local and international tax laws, customs requirements, and transfer pricing regulations. Strengthen financial controls, audit processes, and risk management frameworks. Leadership & Transformation Lead, mentor, and develop a multinational finance team, fostering a high-performance, collaborative culture. Drive finance digitalisation, automation and system integration initiatives including SAP. Champion ESG-related financial reporting and sustainability investment analysis. Qualifications & Experience requirements: Degree in Finance, Accounting, Economics, or related discipline; MBA desirable. Chartered Accountant or equivalent (e.g. ACA, ACCA, CIMA). At least 15 years progressive financial leadership experience, including as CFO or equivalent in a multinational manufacturing environment. Deep understanding of multi-country financial operations, tax regimes and currency risk management. Experience in both private and family-owned company governance preferred. Demonstrated success in M&A execution, integration and post-merger value creation. Skills & Attributes: Strategic thinker with a hands-on, operationally engaged mindset. Commercially savvy with strong business partnering skills. Exceptional leadership and communication abilities in multicultural environments. Resilient, adaptable and able to navigate complex environments. High integrity and commitment to ethical business conduct. The role will be headquartered in Ireland with regular travel to European operations.