Commercial Finance Manager
9 hours ago
London
Department: Senior Management Team Location: West Malling Description We are seeking a highly skilled and commercially focused Commercial Finance Manager to lead, optimise, and elevate our financial operations. In this pivotal role, you will be a strategic partner to the leadership team driving decision-making through incisive analysis, accurate and timely reporting, and the implementation of robust financial controls. You will play a central part in shaping financial strategy, maximising profitability, and embedding efficiencies that underpin sustainable business growth. This is a high-profile role with significant impact, offering clear scope for progression within a fast-paced, growth-oriented, and collaborative environment. Key Responsibilities Alongside leading the Finance team and working closely with departments and leadership, this role will take full ownership of the financial processes, outlined as follows: • Lead preparation of statutory and management reporting, ensuring accuracy and timeliness, • Act as primary contact for external auditors and regulatory bodies, • Oversee VAT returns, CIS, R&D claims, P11D submissions, and other compliance obligations, • Maintain and reconcile the fixed asset register, including depreciation schedules, • Manage insurance and premises-related financial submissions, • Support preparation of monthly management accounts, board packs, and cash flow reporting, • Own short- and long-term forecasting, providing scenario planning and risk analysis, • Deliver meaningful insights on financial performance, KPIs, EBITDA, and variance analysis, • Lead annual budgeting processes across departments, ensuring alignment with business objectives, • Build strong relationships with senior leaders and operational teams, acting as a trusted advisor., • Provide actionable commercial insights to drive decision-making and departmental growth., • Review and manage client contracts and payment terms to ensure profitability and commercial alignment., • Drive continuous improvement of finance processes, controls, and systems., • Identify and implement best practices to improve accuracy, efficiency, and scalability., • Enhance data integrity and reporting capabilities to support strategic decision-making., • Oversee payroll, expense management, and credit control functions., • Manage reconciliations, audit preparation, and working capital processes., • Optimise invoicing procedures and ensure robust credit management., • Lead cross-functional finance projects aligned to business strategy., • Monitor and track project performance against budgets and forecasts., • Fully qualified accountant (ACA, ACCA, CIMA or equivalent)., • Minimum 5 years post-qualification experience in progressively senior finance roles, • Degree in Finance, Accounting, Economics or Business (desirable)., • Strong technical knowledge of UK GAAP/IFRS, taxation, and compliance requirements.Experience, • Proven track record in a Commercial/Senior Finance Manager or Finance Business Partner role, ideally in a corporate or large-scale enterprise/LSE, would consider SME environment experience, • Demonstrable experience in forecasting, budgeting, variance analysis, and KPI reporting, • Manage statutory accounts, VAT returns, CIS, R&D claims, and other compliance reporting, • Strong background in management accounting and financial modelling, with ability to provide actionable insights that support growth and cost optimisation, • Experience in building and managing relationships with stakeholders and external partners, • Exposure to utilities, construction, or infrastructure industries (advantageous but not essential)Skills & Competencies, • Advanced Excel and financial modelling capability; strong proficiency with accounting software (Xero preferred), • Excellent communication skills and able to translate financial data into clear, commercial insights, • Strong business partnering skills. Confidence to challenge, influence, and support decision-making, • Ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced environment while maintaining accuracy and attention to detail, • Commercially astute with a strategic mindset and strong analytical ability, • Proactive, adaptable, and solutions-oriented, • Collaborator with the ability to engage effectively across all levels of the organisation, • High levels of integrity, accountability, and professional judgement, • Enhanced annual leave provisions and Company sick pay, • Health & Lifestyle Rewards Scheme with Benenden Health (including discounts at 3500+ retailers including supermarkets, 24/7 GP service for you and your family, access to private healthcare and more), • An additional day per year earnt after 3 consecutive years of employment, capped at 30 days excluding bank holidays., • 2% above national minimum for employers contribution to your auto-enrolment pension fund, • Flexible hybrid working currently set at 3:2 (office/site to home working), • Funding of relevant professional qualifications and memberships in line with our company Training and Professional Memberships Policy should this be desired or required for your role., • Companywide team events including a Summer team building day and Christmas party., • Companywide salary review each year, • Favorable refer a friend reward scheme