Sowena Group is delighted to be partnering with a high-growth, private equity-backed FMCG business to appoint a Head of Commercial Finance.
This is a pivotal leadership role at the heart of a dynamic, fast-paced, multi-site organisation. Reporting directly to the CFO, you will play a key role in shaping commercial strategy, driving financial performance, and embedding a commercially focused mindset across the business.
The successful candidate will provide financial insight, commercial analysis, pricing support, margin management, and financial governance, helping to drive profitable growth and informed decision-making.
Key Responsibilities
- Partner with commercial teams to evaluate customer profitability, pricing strategies, and margin performance.
- Support customer and supplier tenders, contract negotiations, and commercial decision-making through robust financial modelling and analysis.
- Monitor sales and commodity performance against budget, forecast, and prior-year performance.
- Build strong cross-functional relationships with commercial, procurement, operations, and finance teams.
- Provide data-driven insight to challenge assumptions and influence business decisions.
- Present financial analysis and recommendations to senior stakeholders in a clear, concise, and commercially focused manner.
- Support continuous improvement initiatives across the business.
- Lead and support annual budgeting and forecasting processes, ensuring alignment with strategic objectives.
- Develop financial models and scenario analyses to support cost inflation recovery and business planning.
- Deliver insightful variance analysis, identifying key risks, opportunities, and performance drivers.
- Monitor business performance through KPI reporting and analysis, identifying trends and areas for improvement.
- Support the development and enhancement of performance metrics across the organisation.
- Design and improve reporting and analytical tools to support decision-making.
- Evaluate and implement AI-driven analytics solutions to enhance business insight.
- Drive greater adoption of data analytics and technology across finance and commercial functions.
Skills, Experience & Qualifications
- ACA, ACCA, CIMA, or equivalent professional accounting qualification.
- Minimum of 5 years’ experience in a commercial finance role.
- Experience within FMCG, food manufacturing, or a related manufacturing environment is highly desirable.
- Strong financial modelling, budgeting, forecasting, and business planning capabilities.
- Advanced Excel skills, with experience using Power BI, Microsoft Business Intelligence, or similar reporting and analytics tools.
- Strong understanding of manufacturing cost structures, supply chain finance, standard costing, pricing, and margin management.
- Ability to interpret complex financial information and translate findings into practical, actionable business insights.
- Excellent communication and influencing skills, with the ability to engage effectively with senior leaders and non-finance stakeholders.
- Proactive, commercially minded, and able to identify opportunities, manage challenges, and drive positive business outcomes.
What’s on Offer
This is an excellent opportunity to join a successful and ambitious business at an exciting stage of its growth journey. The role offers significant exposure to senior leadership, the opportunity to influence strategic decision-making, and the chance to make a tangible impact on business performance.
For more information please apply or alternatively email alex@sowenagroup.co.uk.
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