Commercial Finance Lead
📍 Gosforth, United Kingdom | Hybrid
A growing organisation in the leisure and hospitality sector is seeking a Commercial Finance Lead to partner with operational and commercial teams to drive financial performance, maximise revenue opportunities, and support strategic business growth.
This is a highly visible role for a commercially minded finance professional who enjoys transforming financial data into meaningful insights that influence key business decisions.
Role Overview
As Commercial Finance Lead, you will act as a trusted financial partner to commercial and operational stakeholders. You will provide financial insight, lead performance analysis, and support strategic initiatives designed to improve profitability and operational efficiency.
The role also includes leadership responsibility for a Finance Business Partner and plays a key role in shaping financial planning and investment decisions across the organisation.
Key Responsibilities
Commercial Business Partnering
- Partner with commercial and operational teams to drive financial performance and identify revenue opportunities
- Provide financial insight to support strategic initiatives and commercial decision-making
- Influence stakeholders through data-driven analysis and recommendations
Financial Analysis & Performance Management
- Deliver commercial analysis on revenue performance, margin drivers, and operational initiatives
- Identify opportunities to improve profitability and cost efficiency
- Monitor and analyse key performance indicators and financial results
Financial Planning & Business Cases
- Build robust business cases for capital investments, new products, and commercial projects
- Challenge assumptions and validate financial models to ensure accurate projections
- Support budgeting, forecasting, and long-term business planning processes
Reporting & Performance Visibility
- Own weekly and monthly financial reporting
- Provide variance analysis and performance insights to leadership
- Ensure stakeholders have clear visibility of financial performance
Leadership & Team Development
- Line manage and develop a Finance Business Partner
- Foster a culture of analytical thinking, curiosity, and commercial awareness within the finance team
Required Qualifications
- Fully qualified accountant (ACA, ACCA, or CIMA)
- Significant post-qualification experience in commercial finance or FP&A
- Strong experience in budgeting, forecasting, and financial planning
- Proven ability to build financial models and deliver commercial insights
Preferred Experience
- Experience working in multi-site environments, ideally within:
- Hospitality
- Leisure
- Retail
- Travel sectors
- Familiarity with enterprise planning systems (e.g., IBM Planning Analytics) is advantageous
Key Skills
- Strong commercial acumen and analytical thinking
- Ability to translate complex financial data into clear business insights
- Excellent stakeholder management and influencing skills
- Strong communication and presentation abilities
- Ability to operate effectively in fast-paced environments
What’s Offered
- Opportunities for career development and professional growth
- Employee wellbeing support programmes
- Lifestyle and retail discount schemes
- Team-focused and collaborative work environment
Additional Information
Background checks may be conducted as part of the recruitment process. The organisation is committed to creating an inclusive recruitment environment and supporting candidates who require reasonable adjustments during the hiring process.