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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 the future of a leading brand.
- Qualifications: Qualified Accountant with extensive FP&A experience, ideally in retail or customer-facing roles.
- Other info: Opportunity to mentor a dynamic 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.
Head of FP&A (West Yorkshire) employer: HW Finance
Contact Detail:
HW Finance Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Head of FP&A (West Yorkshire)
✨Tip Number 1
Network with professionals in the finance and retail sectors. Attend industry events or webinars where you can meet potential colleagues or leaders from similar companies. Building these connections can provide valuable insights and may even lead to referrals.
✨Tip Number 2
Research the company thoroughly. Understand their financial performance, recent news, and strategic goals. This knowledge will help you tailor your discussions during interviews and demonstrate your genuine interest in contributing to their success.
✨Tip Number 3
Prepare to discuss your leadership style and experiences in detail. Since this role involves managing a team and influencing senior stakeholders, be ready to share specific examples of how you've successfully led teams and driven change in previous roles.
✨Tip Number 4
Familiarise yourself with the latest financial performance management tools and techniques. Being able to discuss your proficiency in these areas during interviews will set you apart as a candidate who is not only qualified but also up-to-date with industry standards.
We think you need these skills to ace Head of FP&A (West Yorkshire)
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your CV: Make sure your CV highlights relevant experience in financial planning and analysis, particularly in retail or consumer brands. Emphasise leadership roles and any specific achievements that align with the responsibilities outlined in the job description.
Craft a Compelling Cover Letter: In your cover letter, address how your skills and experiences make you the ideal candidate for the Head of FP&A role. Discuss your approach to budgeting, forecasting, and driving cost efficiencies, and provide examples of how you've successfully led teams in the past.
Showcase Analytical Skills: Highlight your strong analytical skills by including specific examples of financial insights you've provided in previous roles. Mention any tools or methodologies you used to analyse performance and drive improvements, as this is crucial for the position.
Demonstrate Leadership Experience: Clearly outline your leadership experience, especially in mentoring teams and collaborating with senior management. Provide examples of how you've influenced organisational change and aligned financial strategies with 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 your experience with P&L management and how you've improved cash flow in past roles.
✨Prepare for Scenario-Based Questions
Expect questions that assess your problem-solving skills and ability to identify risks and opportunities. Think of scenarios where you had to make tough financial decisions or implement cost-saving initiatives, and be ready to explain your thought process and outcomes.
✨Align Your Vision with Business Objectives
The interviewers will want to see how you can align financial planning with the overall business strategy. Prepare to discuss how you've previously collaborated with senior management to ensure financial performance meets business goals, and share your vision for aligning operational and financial planning.
