Reporting to the Head of Commercial Finance, and partnering with the Trading Director, this role will play a key role in providing commercial insight, challenge and support to drive business performance. This is a hands‑on, highly visible role that blends financial rigour with real‑world commercial understanding.
Key Responsibilities
Commercial Finance Business Partnering
* Partner the Trading Director and wider leadership team, providing commercial insight, challenge and support to drive business performance.
* Support the execution of the business plan across the estate, ensuring initiatives deliver sustainable growth and profitability.
* Influence decision-making through strong financial analysis, robust challenge and clear recommendations.
* Build trusted relationships with stakeholders
Performance Reporting & Insight
* Provide weekly insight and performance analysis across brands.
* Lead analysis of key performance drivers including sales, volume, mix, margin and promotional activity.
* Deliver timely and actionable recommendations following weekly and monthly performance reviews.
* Identify risks and opportunities, taking action to resolve issues or escalating where appropriate.
Financial Reporting & Control
* Own period-end accounting, reporting and analysis.
* Deliver robust gross margin accounting and detailed variance analysis to explain performance versus budget, forecast and prior year.
* Ensure key financial controls, governance processes and reporting standards are effectively managed and maintained.
* Support audits and ensure financial processes remain compliant and fit for purpose.
Financial Planning & Forecasting
* Own financial planning processes.
* Provide clear visibility of risks and opportunities, ensuring stakeholders understand performance outlook and required actions.
* Support investment decisions, commercial negotiations and strategic initiatives through financial modelling and analysis.
* Drive forecast accuracy and continuous improvement in planning processes.
* Ownership of capital appraisals that are robust, based on good commercial assumptions and measured/tracked consistently. Business partnering with the Snr Investment Manager to ensure reporting is transparent and commercially sound.
Commercial Performance Reviews
* Own performance reviews for Catering, ensuring stakeholders have clear insight into trading performance.
* Lead discussions around operational and commercial drivers of performance.
* Track delivery of performance improvement initiatives and financial commitments.
* Support post-implementation reviews to evaluate business initiatives and investment returns.
Process Improvement & Projects
* Drive continuous improvement in commercial finance processes, controls and reporting.
* Support the implementation of new initiatives, systems and business processes across Finance and the wider business.
* Champion data quality, automation and efficiency improvements.
* Undertake ad hoc reporting, analysis and project work to support business priorities.
Leadership
* Lead, coach and develop a high-performing Analyst.
* Support the broader leadership and development of the Commercial Finance team.
* Foster a collaborative, high-performance culture focused on continuous improvement and delivering business value.
This role will suit a Professionally Qualified individual who possesses strong commercial finance experience, and the ability to simplify complex analysis into clear messages that influence decisions. They will be a strong relationship‑builder who collaborates well across Finance, Commercial and operations.
Previous experience in a multi-site, retail environment would be advantageous, though not essential.
Our Client is offering a Salary of £65,000 - £70,000 + £5,800 Car Allowance + 20% Bonus + Benefits
Salary description
£65000.00 - £70000.00 per year