Head of Commercial Finance

Currently recruiting a Head of Commercial Finance/Head of FP&A for a PE backed start up business in Central London for a leisure/hospitality business.

Looking for a high performing Head of Commercial Finance to support the CFO in achieving business results through performance management. The post holder will define the Franchise business vision and strategy agenda and will become a critical finance business partner to the general managers, being able to drive the agenda in a fast growing organisation.

Key Deliverables:

• Lead the annual budget, quarterly forecasts and annual business plan processes to deliver robust and challenging strategic and operational plans
• Support the Franchise Director with new and renewal contract negotiations including direct involvement in negotiations as required, as well as bringing in new thinking & robust challenge to proposed commercial terms and offer innovative solutions where required
• Own the governance process for all new and renewed contracts & commercial agreements for the division
• Deliver insightful management accounts and insightful commentary, including regular risks and opportunities review with Franchise Director.
• Provide support the Senior Leadership Team to identify risks/opportunities in their businesses and drive the relationship between Finance and Business Development
• Provide support to the Senior Leadership team as required e.g. business acquisition evaluation
• Commercial modelling to support/challenge departments on proposed investment business cases, new products and new concepts
• Support in delivering key strategic projects, examples include new sales channels, Ops simplification, labour deployment
• Support the Senior Leadership team in leading the financial planning and forecast processes including
• Owning the preparation of the long-term 5-year business planning model (including scenario modelling), the yearly Budgeting process and the quarterly re-forecasting cycle
• Consolidation of submissions from franchise operating companies to ensure budgets and forecasts are consistent, challenged and robust
• Producing 3YP, budget and forecasting packs (in collaboration with the operating businesses) for execs
• Financial planning and forecasting process responsibility will be at both a corporate office local level and liaising with the operating
• Profitability analysis / comparison across the various territories in which we operate to inform investment decisions
• Being the key financial modelling and analysis expert to deliver insightful analysis to support executive requests and to support the operating companies. Recent projects / analysis has included:
• Provide insight and analysis into market trends, macro economy and the wider F+B landscape through keeping joined up with our operating companies, the external world and having a natural outward looking curiosity.
• Help support the franchise businesses to grow and improve their commercial insight and analysis capability and support them on specific areas of analysis as relevant
• Find opportunities to improve processes across the office / group
• Own the weekly financial analysis of trading results for presentation to the Senior Leadership team

Candidate Requirements:

• Qualified ACA, CIMA, ACCA (or equivalent) - must have 7-10 years experience minimum
• Excellent academics from a top university
• Previous experience on a top tier graduate scheme working in a fast paced, diverse environment at a world class business, followed by some strong PQE experience (c. 5+ years PQE)
• Previous experience within an international business
• Business experience working within a franchise model - preferred
• Strong financial modelling and analysis skills
• An enthusiastic team player with a strong drive to create a positive and inclusive work environment.
• Hardworking, diligent and strong attention to detail with a natural curiosity to learn and a bias to work well in an ambiguous, fast-paced environment
• Natural problem solver who is a structured, analytical thinker who can work independently and self-sufficiently with little hand holding
• Excellent communication and written and verbal presentation skills as well as the confidence to articulate analysis appropriately to senior stakeholders.