Head of Strategic & Financial Planning (London)

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Job Description

We're looking for a dynamic and strategic Head of Strategic & Financial Planning to lead the financial planning function across Pizza Hut's International Operating Markets (IOM) – namely, UK & Ireland, Canada, France, and Germany . This is a high-impact leadership role that will shape and drive the Financial Planning strategy across four diverse markets and play a critical hand in ensuring we meet our financial objectives.

This role will report directly to the CFO of IOM and be a key thought partner to senior leadership across markets and the global function.

This role is responsible for leading the annual and quarterly forecasting process across the IOM , partnering with the Financial Control Centre of Excellence to analyse and communicate results to Leadership teams. They will serve as a key commercial thought partner to cross-functional teams by tracking and reporting performance versus budget/ forecast, and identifying and leading benchmarking, cost saving and other financial initiatives, to ensure the business unit achieves its profit targets.

This is an exciting opportunity for an individual with demonstrable senior stakeholder management skills and commercial acumen. A strong sense of accountability, urgency and ownership is essential alongside a continuous growth mindset, passion for coaching and hunger for process efficiency. This role is a great fit for an individual looking for significant stretch and growth in a vibrant and entrepreneurial company.

Key Responsibilities:

Strategic Financial Planning & Forecasting (40%)

• Full responsibility for completing the Pizza Hut IOM quarterly forecasts, annual budgeting process and 3-year plan, ensuring a timely and accurate submission and analysis to the Pizza Hut Global Planning team. This covers all P&L lines, including a detailed review of all PL cost lines (General & Administrative expenses, G&A) including headcount, NNUs (Net New Units), Sales plan and profit forecast
• Work closely with key stakeholders across the business to bring together our business strategy and reflect this in our key forecasts. Robustly challenge estimates to ensure gaps to plan are identified and addressed
• Monitor risks and opportunities to plan, including an awareness of balance sheet movements.
• Present periodic updates to the wider business and Leadership Teams across IOM, including forward looking insights to ensure financial targets are met and business decisions are grounded in robust financial understanding.
• At a budget holder level, communicate monthly G&A performance versus budget and hold budget owners accountable to achieve plan
• Drive standardized and scalable Financial Planning processes across all four IOM markets.
• Identify and implement efficiencies and automation opportunities to enhance speed, accuracy, and insight generation.

Month End Reporting and Variance Analysis (30%)

• Partner with the Finance Control Centre of Excellence to manage and deliver a high quality and insightful end-to-end monthly process by understanding financial performance versus forecast across the whole P&L for each IOM market, working with business partners to understand and identify reasons for variances to inform business decisions & enhance forecast accuracy
• Monitor, track and report financial risks and opportunities as well as identify business levers to deliver plan each month
• Communicate a clear and coherent story of performance and actions to the senior leadership teams, including developing and building presentation decks for the senior leadership teams.
• Work directly with the Global Planning team at Pizza Hut International Headquarters (USA) to report monthly/ quarterly results and provide additional updates.

Coaching, Strategic Thought Leadership and Cross-Functional Engagement (30%)

• Develop & lead a high performing team through;
• Coaching, leading & motivating a geographically dispersed team of three FP&A analysts.
• Foster a culture of collaboration, growth, and accountability across the team.
• Mentor and coach team members to support their professional development and elevate FP&A capabilities across the function.
• Partner with senior-level stakeholders across the IOM, Global Finance, and Commercial teams to align financial goals with strategic priorities.
• Build trusted relationships across functions and geographies to influence decision-making and resource allocation.
• Act as a key liaison between market finance teams and the global Pizza Hut Planning function, ensuring alignment and integration of financial plans.
• Support cross-functional partners in creating business plans for additional investment in G&A activities
• Own the execution of benchmarking, cost saving & other financial initiatives
• Opportunity to participate in, or lead, additional cross functional projects of strategic significance.
• Support the CFO in day-to-day ad hoc requests

Required Qualifications:

• Minimum of 5 years of experience in a financial analysis role or relevant experience in positions that require analysis, reporting financial results, forecasting, budgeting, variance analysis, and data interpretation of business impact and results across multiple markets/categories/business units.
• Experience in one or several of the following fields: Consulting, Strategic Planning, Commercial Finance in FMCG, Retail, or Manufacturing preferred. Strong skills in financial planning and modelling required.
• A minimum of 2 years' experience leading a team, ideally through a period of transformation and growth, with the ability to effectively coach, develop, and engage team members both in person and remotely across multiple countries and cultures.
• Highly computer literate with excellent command of Excel and PowerPoint. Comfortable building and running complex financial models.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience in Hyperion & JD Edwards would be beneficial but is not required.
• Fluency in English is required. Proficiency in French and/or German is highly desirable.
• CIMA, ACCA or equivalent chartership preferred

Competencies:

• Exceptional communication, interpersonal and stakeholder management skills (written and verbal) – able to influence and collaborate across cultures and seniorities.
• Strong adaptability to a fast-moving environment and high sense of urgency and accountability with ability to manage multiple deadlines and stakeholders
• An eye toward continuous process improvement, including the ability to innovate and simplify both finance and business processes
• Demonstrable coaching experience to stretch, grow and develop the team.
• Desire to develop career into senior leadership. Potential for future flexibility to relocate internationally.
• Highly analytical, strategic thinker with attention to detail and a bias for action.

Work Environment :

This role is based out of our Restaurant Support Centre in Central London, a minimum of 2 days per week in the RSC is required. As Pizza Hut is a franchise business, you may be required to attend franchisee offices, and other locations from time to time. There will be events throughout the year that will take place in London including (but not limited to) RSC days, Functional team meetings / 121s and supporting with market visits.

Why Pizza Hut IOM?

At Pizza Hut, part of the Yum! Brands family, we're on a journey to accelerate growth and transform our business . Our International Operating Markets team is a fast-paced, entrepreneurial group driving performance across diverse, high-potential markets. You'll be joining a team that values bold ideas, teamwork, and the ability to make a real difference at scale.

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