Find a job 
Featured Companies 
Featured Universities 
For Companies At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead financial planning and analysis, budgeting, and performance improvement initiatives.
- Company: Join a national consumer brand known for its innovative approach and strong market presence.
- Benefits: Enjoy competitive salary, career development opportunities, and a collaborative work culture.
- Why this job: Be a key player in driving financial success and shaping business strategy in a dynamic environment.
- Qualifications: Qualified Accountant with extensive FP&A experience, ideally in retail or customer-facing sectors.
- Other info: Opportunity to mentor a high-performance team and influence senior management decisions.
The predicted salary is between 43200 - 72000 £ per year.
HW Finance are delighted to have been retained by a national consumer brand to help appoint their new Head of FP&A.
About the Role
The Head of FP&A will be a key leadership role, responsible for overseeing and driving the financial planning and analysis function. This role will focus on providing financial insights, leading the budgeting and forecasting cycles, driving improvement in working capital and cash flow, aligning operational and financial planning, and identifying opportunities for cost efficiency and performance improvement. You will work closely with senior management to ensure that financial performance aligns with business objectives, contributing to the continued success of the business.
Responsibilities
- Budgeting
- Lead the P&L, capex and cashflow budgeting cycle across the Group, working collaboratively with senior leadership to align financial and operational plans with the business strategy.
- Lead reforecasting processes through the year.
- Develop 3-year financial statements, supporting the development of longer-term strategy for the Group.
- Ensure compensation plans for the business are aligned to budgets and remain motivational for colleagues to drive performance.
- Aligning Operational & Financial Planning
- Lead for planning across the Group, developing both an operational and financial planning cycle and working with senior leaders to understand plans and build financial statements around them.
- Understand the requirements from the wider Group and feed into business planning.
- Work with HR and operational managers to ensure that staffing and resource planning are aligned with financial and operational objectives.
- Managing P&L, Cash Flow, and Capex Outturn
- Develop an outturn process to manage deliver of financial performance across the Group.
- Support increased accountability for P&L performance through the right framework of performance meetings and reporting.
- Forward looking assessment of financial performance to identify risks and opportunities ahead of time.
- Drive improvements in working capital and cash conversion across the Group.
- Oversee the capex outturn process, ensuring that capital expenditure is effectively managed and aligned with strategic priorities.
- Providing Insight on Performance and Recommendations for Improvement
- Produce insightful analysis on the Group’s financial performance, including periodic reviews, variance analysis, and identification of key drivers impacting profitability.
- Provide recommendations to senior management on performance improvement, including initiatives to enhance profitability, optimise costs, and improve efficiency.
- Leading Cost Reduction and Improvement Programmes
- Lead and drive cost-saving initiatives across the Group.
- Identify improvement programmes to drive financial efficiencies and profitability across the group.
- Work closely with senior management to instill a culture of cost-consciousness and continuous improvement, ensuring that cost management initiatives are aligned with long-term business goals.
- Leadership & Team Development
- Build, develop, and mentor the FP&A team, fostering a high-performance culture focused on delivering insightful financial analysis, timely reporting, and strategic recommendations.
- Collaborate with other departments and business units to ensure seamless coordination between finance and operational teams, ensuring alignment of goals and objectives across the Group.
- Ensure that the FP&A team is equipped with the tools and training needed to support decision-making processes effectively, especially in a fast-paced retail environment.
Qualifications
- Qualified Accountant (e.g., ACA, ACCA, CIMA) with significant post-qualification experience.
- Extensive experience in FP&A roles, ideally within a retail or customer-facing business.
- Proven experience in leadership roles, influencing senior stakeholders, and driving organisational change.
- Recognised leader across finance functions with a track record for development.
- Familiarity with financial performance management tools.
Required Skills
- Strong analytical skills and attention to detail.
- Excellent communication and interpersonal skills.
- Ability to work collaboratively with cross-functional teams.
Preferred Skills
- Experience in a fast-paced retail environment.
- Proficiency in financial modeling and forecasting.
Contact Detail:
HW Finance Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Head of FP&A
✨Tip Number 1
Network with professionals in the finance and retail sectors. Attend industry events, webinars, or local meetups to connect with individuals who may have insights into the role or the company. Building relationships can often lead to referrals or insider information that could give you an edge.
✨Tip Number 2
Research the company thoroughly. Understand their financial performance, recent news, and strategic goals. This knowledge will not only help you tailor your discussions but also demonstrate your genuine interest in the role and the organisation during interviews.
✨Tip Number 3
Prepare to discuss your leadership style and experiences in detail. As a Head of FP&A, you'll need to influence senior stakeholders and drive change, so be ready to share specific examples of how you've successfully led teams and implemented financial strategies in the past.
✨Tip Number 4
Familiarise yourself with the latest financial performance management tools and technologies. Being knowledgeable about current trends and tools in FP&A will show that you're proactive and ready to bring innovative solutions to the team.
We think you need these skills to ace Head of FP&A
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your CV: Make sure your CV highlights relevant experience in FP&A roles, particularly within retail or customer-facing businesses. Emphasise your leadership skills and any specific achievements that align with the responsibilities outlined in the job description.
Craft a Compelling Cover Letter: Write a cover letter that showcases your understanding of the role and how your background makes you a perfect fit. Mention your experience with budgeting, forecasting, and financial performance management tools, and how you can contribute to the company's success.
Highlight Key Achievements: In your application, include specific examples of how you've driven cost-saving initiatives or improved financial performance in previous roles. Use metrics where possible to demonstrate your impact, such as percentage improvements in cash flow or reductions in costs.
Showcase Leadership Experience: Since this is a leadership role, be sure to detail your experience in mentoring teams and influencing senior stakeholders. Discuss how you've fostered a high-performance culture and collaborated with cross-functional teams to achieve business objectives.
How to prepare for a job interview at HW Finance
✨Showcase Your Leadership Experience
As the Head of FP&A, you'll be leading a team and influencing senior stakeholders. Be prepared to discuss your previous leadership roles, how you've driven organisational change, and any specific examples where your leadership made a significant impact.
✨Demonstrate Financial Acumen
This role requires a strong understanding of financial planning and analysis. Brush up on your knowledge of budgeting, forecasting, and financial performance management tools. Be ready to discuss how you've applied these skills in past roles, particularly in a retail or customer-facing environment.
✨Prepare for Scenario-Based Questions
Expect questions that assess your problem-solving abilities and analytical skills. Prepare to discuss how you would handle specific financial challenges, such as improving cash flow or managing P&L performance. Use real-life examples to illustrate your thought process and decision-making.
✨Align with Business Objectives
The role involves aligning financial and operational plans with business strategy. Research the company’s goals and be ready to discuss how your financial insights can support their objectives. Show that you understand the bigger picture and can contribute to the company's success.
