Head of Commercial Finance
22 hours ago
Blackburn
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.