Interim Finance Manager – Agricultural / Grower Sector – Kent (On-site)

FD Capital is working on behalf of a well-established grower business in Kent to find an experienced Interim Finance Manager for a hands-on, on-site role supporting the business through a period of significant change. This one is genuinely on-site, and market understanding matters more than usual. We need someone who has actually worked within growing, horticulture, fresh produce, or a related agricultural supply chain — and understands the seasonality, the grower/member relationships, and the operational realities of that world, not just general SME finance.

<strong>Location:</strong> Kent (on-site) <strong>Salary:</strong> Circa £75,000 FTE equivalent, pro rata <strong>Type:</strong> Interim, approx. 3 days per week, for up to 18 months <strong>Availability:</strong> Ideally from 1 October <strong>The Role</strong> You'll take ownership of the day-to-day finance, administration and HR function, working closely with the Managing Director, Board and Audit Committee, while providing hands-on leadership to a small finance and administration team.

A current, urgent priority is asset transfer administration ahead of a member/grower payment deadline early in the new year — genuine grower-payment and account-sales experience will be a real advantage here, not just a nice-to-have.<strong>Key Responsibilities</strong> <ul> <li>Lead and manage the day-to-day finance and administration function, including line management of finance and administration assistants</li> <li>Prepare and present monthly and quarterly management accounts, balance sheet reconciliations, and P&L and cashflow forecasts</li> <li>Lead the annual budgeting process and develop rolling forecasts</li> <li>Oversee statutory reporting and compliance, including annual accounts, audit liaison, VAT returns, and relevant regulatory reporting</li> <li>Manage treasury activity, including payment run approval, cash monitoring and banking relationships</li> <li>Oversee payroll, pensions and employee benefits administration</li> <li>Support asset transfer administration and grower/member payment and account sales processes</li> <li>Prepare finance papers and reports for the Board and Audit Committee</li> <li>Manage HR administration, including employee records, absence/leave, and the employee lifecycle (onboarding, contract changes, offboarding)</li> <li>Support recruitment, employee relations and HR policy administration, working with external HR and employment law advisers as needed</li> <li>Support the wider finance team through a period of organisational change</li> </ul><strong>What You'll Bring</strong> <strong>Essential:</strong> <ul> <li>Genuine grower / horticulture / fresh produce / agricultural sector experience — this is the single most important criterion for this search</li> <li>Proven interim or fractional finance experience — comfortable stepping into a business, understanding its rhythms quickly, and adding value fast without a long ramp-up period</li> <li>Fully qualified accountant (ACA, ACCA, CIMA or equivalent)</li> <li>Strong management accounting and statutory reporting experience</li> <li>Experience managing or leading a finance team</li> <li>Confident with budgeting, forecasting and cashflow management</li> <li>Audit and compliance experience</li> <li>Advanced Excel skills and experience with Sage or an equivalent accounting system</li> <li>Experience managing HR administration and employee records, with working knowledge of UK employment legislation</li> <li>Comfortable working independently, on-site, and managing competing seasonal priorities</li> </ul> <strong>Desirabl