Head of Fixed Cost Management in Uxbridge

Head of Fixed Cost Management in Uxbridge

Uxbridge Full-Time 60000 - 75000 £ / year (est.) No working from home possible
All The Top Bananas

At a Glance

  • Tasks: Lead cost management for a £1bn budget across 40+ sites in the UK and Europe.
  • Company: Join a leading FMCG company focused on innovation and efficiency.
  • Benefits: Competitive salary, career development, and opportunities for travel across Europe.
  • Other info: Dynamic role with opportunities to coach talent and lead cross-functional projects.
  • Why this job: Make a significant impact by driving cost-saving initiatives and fostering a cost-conscious culture.
  • Qualifications: Qualified accountant with 8+ years of experience in FMCG or manufacturing.

The predicted salary is between 60000 - 75000 £ per year.

Head of Fixed Cost Management

Location: Uxbridge (5 days onsite) Reporting to the Director of FP&A, the Head of Fixed Cost Management will own the planning, control, benchmarking and reduction of Pilgrim's Europe's c. £1bn total fixed cost base (indirect labour, contract services, utilities, R&M, rent & lease, IT, professional fees, insurance, other overheads and depreciation & amortisation) across 40+ sites in the UK and Europe.

The role will: Set and embed a cost-aware, low-cost mindset across the business, in line with "every penny is a prisoner" principle.

Own and industrialise the Zero-Based Budgeting (ZBB) framework across all fixed cost groups, building on the existing site-level ZBB cadence and monthly Costs Dashboard.

Identify and drive cross-site cost-reduction projects grounded in internal and external benchmarks, ensuring each site operates at the right cost level for its scale, mix and category.

Own the fixed-cost gap-up target and the tracking of delivery against it into the P&L.

Responsibilities: Lead and develop the Group-wide Zero-Based Budgeting (ZBB) framework and governance model.

Own planning, forecasting and reporting for a c.£1bn fixed cost base, including depreciation and amortisation.

Drive a cost-conscious culture centred on the principle that "every penny is a prisoner".

Identify, prioritise and deliver cross-site cost reduction initiatives through internal and external benchmarking.

Lead monthly cost reviews with senior operational and finance stakeholders.

Develop and enhance cost dashboards and reporting through Anaplan, Qlik and other BI tools.

Own indirect labour cost governance, recharge mechanisms and central cost controls.

Partner with Engineering and Operations to ensure CAPEX investments deliver planned savings and financial benefits.

Coach and develop analytical talent whilst leading cross-functional cost improvement programmes.

Requirements: Qualified accountant (ACA / ACCA / CIMA) with 8+ years post-qualification experience.

Deep FMCG / food / manufacturing background, ideally multi-site and multi-entity.

Proven track record building and running a ZBB or Zero-Overhead programme at scale (£500m+ overhead base).

Strong benchmarking and project delivery experience, with a demonstrable savings track record.

Advanced Excel, and fluency in Anaplan, SAP and Qlik (or equivalent BI).

Senior stakeholder management with Exec, Engineering, Supply Chain, Opex and Site GM audiences; comfortable challenging cost owners with data.

Willingness to travel across UK and European sites (AVZ, France, Ireland, Northern Ireland).

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Head of Fixed Cost Management in Uxbridge employer: All The Top Bananas

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All The Top Bananas

Contact Details:

All The Top Bananas Recruitment Team

StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫

We think this is how you could land Head of Fixed Cost Management in Uxbridge

Tip Number 1: Tap Into Professional Networks

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We think you need these skills to ace Head of Fixed Cost Management in Uxbridge

Zero-Based Budgeting (ZBB)
Cost Management
Financial Planning and Analysis (FP&A)
Benchmarking
Cross-Functional Leadership
Advanced Excel
Anaplan

Some tips for your application 🫡

Show Off Your Numbers Game:In financial controlling, detail is everything! Make sure your CV showcases your proficiency with numbers—highlight any relevant experience in budgeting, forecasting, or working with financial software. Quantifying your past achievements will make you stand out, so don’t be shy about flaunting those impressive percentages or cost savings you've implemented.

Tailored Cover Letter is Key:Your cover letter is a chance to shine, especially for a full-time role. Use it to express your genuine interest in All The Top Bananas and the specific impact you hope to make in financial controlling. Mention any relevant qualifications or experiences that align with the company’s goals, and don’t forget to show that you're ready for a long-term commitment!

Certifications Matter:List relevant certifications such as ACCA or CIMA on your CV. These qualifications not only showcase your dedication to the field but also your technical competence in financial principles. If you have any ongoing training or courses, make sure to mention those as well to demonstrate your commitment to continual learning in financial controlling.

Don’t Overlook Soft Skills:While numbers are crucial, so are those soft skills! Financial controllers need strong communication and analytical reasoning abilities. We recommend embedding examples of these skills in your CV and cover letter, like how you’ve successfully delivered financial reports to stakeholders or collaborated with teams to improve processes. Let’s show All The Top Bananas how you can be a team player!

How to prepare for a job interview at All The Top Bananas

Brush Up on Technical Skills

Make sure you're comfortable with key financial concepts, especially around forecasting, budgeting, and variance analysis. Sometimes, interviewers may throw in technical questions or case studies, so practicing these types of scenarios will help you shine!

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If you've had experience with specific financial software like SAP or Oracle, make it known! Be ready to discuss how you used these tools to improve processes or reporting, as this hands-on knowledge can really set you apart in a full-time role with All The Top Bananas.

Know Your Numbers

In full-time interviews, especially in financial controlling, be prepared for numerical reasoning tests or questions. Brush up on your mental maths and understand how to interpret and analyse financial statements on the spot, as this may come up during the assessment.

Connect with Company Goals

Familiarise yourself with All The Top Bananas's financial objectives and any recent developments. During the interview, try to weave your understanding of their business model and challenges into your answers—this shows your genuine interest and alignment with their goals!