Senior Finance Business Partner - Multi site (client visits) M4/M5 2 days per week - £50k-£60k + company car + bonus
Job Purpose
My client in the catering industry is looking for a senior Finance Business Partner with a solid accounting background to drive continuous improvement in processes, systems, and teams to deliver accurate and timely management accounts and Management Information (MI). This role also involves developing and mentoring the Finance Business Partner to support business needs and working closely with operational teams to maximize contract and business profitability.
Key Responsibilities & Accountabilities
- Report to the Head of Commercial Finance and collaborate within the commercial finance team to support operational managers, providing strategic financial insights.
- Maximise revenue, improve service efficiency, and optimise contract profitability by partnering with operational teams to enhance business performance.
- Ensure the accuracy and timeliness of monthly financial results, tracking performance and driving initiatives to address business needs.
- Contribute to budget and forecast preparation, while providing ad-hoc financial analysis to support business decisions, business cases, and bids.
- Conduct business case analysis to assess the impact of internal and external factors on business performance.
- Oversee monthly management accounts, ensuring accuracy and providing visibility into the company’s financial health.
- Manage income accounting, including accrued and deferred revenue, and ensure clear communication regarding non-current debt.
- Identify and minimise financial risks through balance sheet reviews, and ensure robust risk management.
- Challenge and improve business practices to drive efficiency and foster sustainable growth.
- Partner with operations teams to develop accurate annual budgets and periodic forecasts aligned with business objectives.
- Ensure timely and accurate billing, cost control, and optimised working capital management.
- Actively identify and implement value-added opportunities through financial analysis and process improvements.
- Provide detailed financial analysis and present clear, concise financial information to support senior management decision-making.
- Conduct ad-hoc financial analysis to support senior management with critical business decisions.
- Collaborate with senior management to enhance financial performance through high-quality reporting and actionable insights.
- Develop and track KPIs to monitor business performance and ensure alignment with financial goals.
- Support operations in cost control and manage client contract costs to optimise profitability.
- Drive financial efficiency by ensuring the effective allocation of resources across the business.
- Provide objective challenge to operational plans and financial performance, ensuring data-driven decision-making.
- Leverage past financial and business insights to provide forward-looking recommendations and strategies.
- Conduct contract profitability analysis and offer actionable insights on opportunities and risks to operational teams.
- Ensure compliance with financial governance processes and maintain robust balance sheet controls.
- Manage a finance business partner and support their development, especially if they are studying for an accounting qualification.
Person Specification
Skills & Knowledge
- Strong commercial mindset and stakeholder management skills.
- Ability to drive process and system improvements.
- Experience with forecasting, budgeting, and financial analysis.
- Skilled at presenting financial information to senior finance teams and operators.
- Advanced Excel skills.
- Experience supporting sales bids.
- Knowledge of the contract catering industry or another relevant industry is preferred.
- Understanding of different contract types.
Experience & Qualifications
- Business partnering experience is desirable.
- Management experience.
- Previous experience in forecasting and budgeting.
- 1+ years of relevant experience in contract catering or a similar industry.
- Experience in commercial finance (preferably within contract catering) is desirable.
Senior Finance Business Partner - Multi site (client visits) M4/M5 2 days per week - £50k-£60k + company car + bonus