Senior Commercial Finance Business Partner
At a Glance
- Established, family-owned group, County Down
- Reporting to the Head of Strategy
- Senior commercial and strategic influence at group level
- Strong management accounting foundation with genuine strategic scope
- £55,000 to £65,000
About the CompanyA well-established, privately owned group with a strong presence across the manufacturing and timber sector in Northern Ireland. The business is in an exciting period of growth and is investing in its finance function to ensure commercial decision-making is properly supported at the highest level. This is a business that takes finance seriously and wants a finance professional who thinks beyond the numbers and plays a genuine role in shaping the direction of the group.
The RoleThis is a senior commercial finance role, not a traditional management accountant position. The day-to-day accounting foundation is there, but the real opportunity is the strategic influence that sits above it.
As Senior Commercial Finance Business Partner, you will report directly to the Head of Strategy and operate as a trusted commercial voice across the group. You will use financial insight to challenge assumptions, interrogate performance, support investment decisions, and drive growth. This is a role for someone who is equally comfortable in a board discussion as they are in the detail of a management accounts pack.
If you want to be the person in the room when decisions are made, rather than the person who reports on them afterwards, this role is worth a conversation.
Key Responsibilities
- Act as the senior commercial finance partner to the Head of Strategy and senior leadership team, providing financial insight that directly informs strategic and operational decision-making across the group
- Challenge business performance through rigorous analysis, identifying risks, opportunities and levers for growth, and translating financial data into clear, actionable insight for non-finance stakeholders
- Prepare monthly management accounts with full P&L, balance sheet and variance analysis, providing commercial commentary that goes beyond the numbers and drives action
- Lead the budgeting and forecasting cycle, challenging budget holders, stress-testing assumptions and building financial models that reflect operational and commercial reality
- Own standard costing and variance analysis across the manufacturing operation, with a sharp focus on margin improvement, cost efficiency and profitability
- Support growth initiatives, capital investment decisions and pricing strategy with robust financial modelling, scenario analysis and business case development
- Manage inventory and stock accounting, ensuring accurate valuation and timely reporting
- Continuously raise the quality, speed and commercial relevance of financial reporting to better support decision-making at every level of the business
What You Will Need
Essential
- Fully qualified accountant, ACA, ACCA or CIMA
- Proven experience in a senior commercial finance or finance business partnering role
- Strong management accounting background in a manufacturing or operational environment
- Demonstrable ability to influence senior stakeholders and contribute to strategic decision-making
- Highly commercial mindset, able to connect financial insight to business outcomes
- Advanced Excel and financial modelling skills
- Confident, proactive and credible at senior leadership level
Desirable
- Experience in a multi-site or group environment
- Standard costing and cost accounting background
- Experience supporting M&A, investment appraisal or business case development
- Track record of driving margin improvement or commercial growth initiatives
Why Apply
This is a senior role with real strategic influence in a growing, privately owned business. You will report to the Head of Strategy, operate at the centre of commercial decision-making, and have genuine scope to shape how finance drives growth across the group. For an ambitious finance professional who is ready to step beyond reporting and into real business partnership, this is a standout opportunity in the Northern Ireland market.
For more information on this role, or any other Accountancy and Finance position, please contact Gemma Murphy.
Skills:management accounts commercial finance
WHJS1_NI
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