Head of Commercial Finance
13 hours ago
Peterborough
Head of Commercial Finance Peterborough – Hybrid (3 days at site) High Growth Business £80-£100k + car + bonus + benefits Eaton Syalon is partnering with a high growth AIM-listed organisation that operates within the FMCG sector to recruit a hands-on Head of Commercial Finance as they embark on the next phase of their growth journey. Our client is seeking a qualified commercial accountant to take full ownership of internal reporting, FP&A, and operational finance. This role sits at the centre of the business, spanning management reporting, commercial business partnering, and operational finance, supporting strategic decision-making and driving financial performance. You will combine strong technical expertise — owning the month-end close and balance sheet — with the commercial insight required to partner effectively with the CFO, CEO and Executive Leadership Team. Alongside this, you will bring the leadership capability to develop the finance team and drive accountability. This is a high-visibility, influential position, requiring someone who is equally comfortable operating strategically and in the detail. About the business This is a fast-moving, team-first business where the best idea wins, regardless of where it comes from. Hierarchy does not get in the way of progress; collaboration is what drives outcomes. Individuals are given full ownership of their work, from initial concept through to execution and results, whether that’s on the shelf or in the numbers. There is a strong culture of accountability, with an emphasis on seeing things through, learning from outcomes, and continuously improving. The business operates with pace and agility. Problems are addressed proactively, without waiting for perfect conditions or complete information. The structure reflects this mindset — flexible, responsive, and built on trust, with talented individuals given real responsibility from day one. It is an environment where curious, driven, and solutions-focused people tend to thrive, particularly those motivated by making a tangible impact and seeing the direct results of their work. Key Tasks and Responsibilities Strategic Financial Management and Reporting • Full ownership of the month-end close process, including management accounts, journals, overhead analysis, P&L and balance sheet preparation, and variance analysis, • Responsibility for group consolidation and delivery of timely, accurate management reporting to the CFO and Executive Leadership Team, • Ownership of the balance sheet, including reconciliations, fixed asset register, and stock control — ensuring integrity at every period end, • Drive automation and system improvement across the finance function, including ERP optimisation, • Maintain and continuously strengthen the internal control environment, including policies, processes and systems, • Ensure all statutory and regulatory compliance obligations are met, working alongside the Financial Reporting Manager Planning, Budgeting and Forecasting • Lead the annual budget process and rolling reforecast cycle, partnering with budget holders to challenge assumptions and drive rigour, • Deliver regular financial forecasts, updating assumptions to reflect trading performance and market conditions, • Provide meaningful variance analysis against budget, forecast and prior year, translating numbers into clear business narrative, • Lead financial appraisal of capital investment proposals, including ROI analysis and post-investment review Commercial and Operational Business Partnering • Act as the senior finance presence within Manufacturing Operations, driving financial accountability and performance improvement, • Own standard costing, PPV and labour variance analysis, providing robust insight to support margin management and pricing decisions, • Partner with the CEO and Executive Leadership Team to provide financial analysis supporting strategic decision-making, • Conduct financial appraisals of commercial initiatives, new product development, and cost-saving programmes, • Work cross-functionally to ensure business leaders understand the financial drivers of performance Team Leadership • Direct line management of the management accounts team (Management Accountant, Junior Management Accountant, Overheads Controller), • Act as a development-focused leader — coaching, stretching and retaining finance talent, • Represent finance credibly at senior level, including board and investor-facing contexts where required Qualifications & Experience • Fully qualified accountant (ACA, ACCA or CIMA) — essential, • Minimum 5 years post-qualification experience, including at least 3 years in a Financial Controller or equivalent role, • Proven track record in a product-led, manufacturing or FMCG business strongly preferred, • Experience with standard costing and manufacturing variances highly advantageous, • Demonstrable experience owning an end-to-end finance function Technical Skills • Strong technical accounting capability across financial reporting, balance sheet management, and internal controls, • Advanced Excel and strong ERP proficiency (manufacturing systems preferred), • Ability to build, interrogate and present financial models clearly Leadership & Commercial Attributes • A natural business partner, able to influence non-finance stakeholders including CEO and operational leaders, • Strong leadership presence, balancing accountability with team development, • Commercially curious, with the ability to connect financial data to operational reality, • Clear communicator, able to translate complexity into insight for senior audiences, • Comfortable operating at pace in a lean, entrepreneurial environment. Why this role? This is not a purely strategic leadership position — it is a hands-on Head of Commercial Finance role where you will directly own the numbers, shape the narrative, and influence outcomes. If you’re looking for a role where you can operate at both depth and altitude, drive real impact, and be part of a business that values ownership, pace, and collaboration, this opportunity offers exactly that