Job Title: Finance Director
Reporting to: Managing Director
Responsible for: Finance (Management Accounts, Financial Accounting), Payroll, Procurement and IT
Role Overview
Krystal Technology UK is a specialist manufacturer of high-purity fused quartz and fused silica products, serving customers in demanding global markets including semiconductor, photonics, industrial and scientific applications. Operating from our manufacturing facility in Wallsend, the business combines a long heritage of technical expertise with a focus on innovation, quality and operational excellence.
As part of an international group, the UK business plays a key role in supporting both local and global growth objectives. The Finance Director is a critical member of the senior leadership team, providing strategic financial leadership while ensuring robust financial control, governance and commercial decision-making across the organisation.
This is a hands-on leadership role, requiring the successful candidate to operate effectively at both strategic and operational levels. Working closely with the Managing Director and wider leadership team, the Finance Director will support business performance, drive continuous improvement, strengthen financial processes and provide insight to support sustainable growth.
In addition to leading the Finance function, the role has site-level responsibility for Payroll and strategic oversight of IT and Procurement. The Finance Director also acts as Company Secretary, ensuring compliance with statutory, regulatory and corporate governance requirements.
Fluency in Chinese (spoken and written) is an essential requirement for this role, due to the regular communication and close working relationship with the Company's international parent organisation in China.
Key Responsibilities
- Lead the financial management and performance of the UK business, supporting the Managing Director and Senior Leadership Team in delivering strategic and operational objectives.
- Provide commercial insight, financial planning, forecasting and performance analysis to drive profitability, cash generation and sustainable growth. Rolling forecasts (12-month horizon).
- Ensure compliance with all statutory, regulatory and tax obligations, maintaining effective financial controls, governance and risk management frameworks.
- Oversee the preparation of statutory accounts, tax filings, audit activities and financial reporting requirements.
- Lead cashflow, treasury and working capital management, ensuring appropriate funding and financial resources to support business operations and growth.
- Evaluate and support capital investment decisions through robust financial analysis and governance.
- Ensure efficient, accurate and effective finance operations, reporting processes and business systems.
- Drive continuous improvement of financial systems, controls, reporting capabilities and data integrity.
- Lead and develop the finance function, fostering a culture of accountability, continuous improvement and high performance.
- Act as Company Secretary, ensuring compliance with statutory and corporate governance requirements.
- Provide strategic oversight of Payroll, IT and Procurement, ensuring effective support of business operations and alignment with organisational objectives.
Qualifications & Experience
- Fully qualified accountant (ACA, ACCA or CIMA), ideally educated to degree level.
- Significant senior finance leadership experience within a manufacturing, engineering or industrial environment.
- Proven track record of supporting business performance through strong commercial and financial leadership.
- Experience operating as part of a senior leadership team, influencing strategic and operational decision-making.
- Experience operating within a multinational business and working closely with an international parent company.
- Strong understanding of financial governance, statutory reporting, budgeting, forecasting and cashflow management.
- Excellent communication, stakeholder management and leadership skills, with the ability to build credibility across all levels of the organisation.
- Fluency in Mandarin (spoken and written) is an essential requirement for this role.
- Strong systems and analytical capability, including ERP systems (Sage X3 desirable), financial modelling and advanced Microsoft Excel skills.
- Demonstrates a high degree of accountability, sound judgement and the ability to balance strategic thinking with hands-on delivery.
Pay: £100,000.00-£110,000.00 per year
Language:
Work Location: In person
