At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead financial strategy and drive growth in a dynamic food business.
- Company: Fast-growing, private-equity-backed FMCG food company.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, bonus, hybrid working, and career development opportunities.
- Other info: Hands-on role with significant exposure to leadership and M&A activities.
- Why this job: Shape the future of a thriving business while making impactful financial decisions.
- Qualifications: Qualified finance professional with FMCG experience and strong P&L ownership.
The predicted salary is between 63000 - 77000 £ per year.
An exciting opportunity has arisen for a commercially minded Head of Finance to join a fast-growing, private-equity-backed food business at a pivotal stage of its UK development. With an ambitious growth strategy and further acquisitions on the agenda, the business is looking for a senior finance leader who can combine strong financial control with genuine commercial business partnering. This is not a traditional reporting-focused Head of Finance role. You'll work closely with the UK leadership team and Group CFO, taking ownership of UK financial performance while playing a central role in acquisition integration, profitability improvement, cash generation and commercial decision-making.
The Opportunity
You'll become the senior finance partner for the UK business, providing the financial insight, challenge and discipline required to support its next phase of growth. A key part of the mandate will be supporting the integration of acquired businesses, bringing them onto consistent financial reporting, controls and performance measures while identifying and tracking commercial and operational synergies. Alongside this, you'll take ownership of the UK P&L and help leadership understand exactly where value is being created - and where it's being lost - across customers, products, supply chain and the wider operating model.
Key Responsibilities
- Own the UK P&L, budget, forecasting and financial reporting
- Partner senior leadership on commercial and strategic decision-making
- Drive improvements in profitability, EBITDA, cash flow and working capital
- Build robust customer and product profitability reporting
- Develop clear visibility of product costs and margins across the full supply chain
- Analyse freight, chilled/frozen warehousing, logistics, inventory and customer-specific costs
- Challenge commercial investment, promotional spend and retailer deductions
- Lead the finance workstream for acquisitions and post-deal integration
- Integrate acquired businesses into Group reporting, controls and financial processes
- Identify, quantify and track acquisition synergies
- Support due diligence and integration planning for future transactions
- Deliver the reporting, forecasting and cash discipline expected within a PE-backed environment
- Manage relationships with external accountants, auditors and outsourced service providers
The role is deliberately hands-on. Transactional accounting and elements of compliance are outsourced, so your focus will be on owning, understanding and commercially using the numbers, rather than simply producing them.
About You
We're looking for a qualified or suitably experienced senior finance professional with a strong grounding in food manufacturing or FMCG. Experience across chilled or frozen food, contract manufacturing/co-manufacturing, outsourced supply chains or third-party logistics would be particularly relevant. You'll ideally bring:
- ACA, ACCA or CIMA qualification, or equivalent experience
- Strong P&L ownership and commercial finance experience
- Food/FMCG experience supplying major UK grocery customers
- Excellent understanding of product costing and margin management
- Experience managing budgets, forecasts, cash flow and working capital
- Exposure to complex supply chains and cost-to-serve analysis
- Previous post-acquisition integration experience
- The confidence to challenge senior commercial and operational stakeholders
- Strong financial modelling and analytical capability
- Experience operating successfully in a lean, hands-on finance structure
- Previous experience within a private equity-backed business would be highly advantageous, as would experience of business acquisitions, due diligence or integrating acquired companies into a wider Group structure.
Why Join?
This is a rare opportunity to combine commercial finance leadership with genuine M&A and integration exposure. The UK business is at an important stage of its development, meaning you'll have the opportunity to build rather than simply inherit - improving financial visibility, challenging the operating model, integrating acquisitions and helping shape how the business grows. For someone looking for a strategic Head of Finance position within a PE-backed growth environment, with significant exposure to both UK leadership and Group finance, this offers an exceptionally broad remit.
Salary: Dependant on Experience + Bonus + benefits
Based: Central London (hybrid working)
Finance Controller - FMCG Food employer: Allexo search
Allexo offers an exceptional work environment for the Grocery National Account Manager role, situated in the vibrant Greater London area. With a strong focus on employee development and collaboration, the company fosters a culture of innovation and teamwork, providing ample opportunities for professional growth. Employees benefit from a competitive salary package, flexible working arrangements, and the chance to work with a leading international FMCG business, making it a rewarding place to advance your career.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Finance Controller - FMCG Food
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We think you need these skills to ace Finance Controller - FMCG Food
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Off Your Numbers!:In the banking and financial services world, quantifiable achievements are key. Make sure your CV highlights your grades in relevant subjects, any financial certifications you hold, and specific projects where you've delivered measurable results. Employers love to see how your skills translate into real-world success.
Tailor Your Cover Letter to the Role:When applying for a full-time position, your cover letter should make a direct connection between your experience and the job description. Don't just state your enthusiasm for finance—dive into how your background in banking or financial analysis sets you apart. Let your passion shine through while being specific about what you can bring to Allexo search.
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Research and Reflect:Before hitting that 'apply' button on Allexo search's website, do a little digging. Look up their recent projects, values, and culture. Reflecting their ethos in your application can make a huge difference and show you’re genuinely interested in being part of the team!
How to prepare for a job interview at Allexo search
✨Brush Up on Financial Analysis Skills
Make sure you're well-versed in financial concepts and analytical techniques relevant to banking and financial services. Get comfortable with tools like Excel for modelling or financial forecasting, as technical questions in this area are common during interviews with Allexo search.
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