Head of Commercial Finance in Manchester

The role involves joining our growing Experiences division as a commercially minded Head of Commercial Finance. Reporting directly to the Finance Director, you’ll play a key role in shaping commercial decisions across a fast-growing global business. You'll lead finance partnering for our Americas region while supporting strategic business development, global growth initiatives and new product development across the Experiences portfolio.

This is a highly visible leadership role where you'll work closely with senior stakeholders across the UK and US, providing insight, challenge and commercial guidance that influences business performance and future investment decisions. You’ll also manage two direct reports, helping develop capability across the wider team while driving a culture of continuous improvement.

As our Experiences business continues its ambitious growth journey, this role offers the opportunity to influence international expansion, support new partnerships and franchises, and play a significant part in the business planning and forecasting process. This role is based at Manchester Airport with hybrid working (typically two days per week in the office). You'll also be comfortable flexing your working hours on 3 days of the week to collaborate with US stakeholders and travelling to the US approximately once per quarter.

What you’ll be doing:

• Partnering with senior stakeholders across the UK and Americas to provide commercial finance leadership and insight.
• Acting as the lead finance partner for the Americas region, supporting operational performance and strategic growth.
• Supporting business planning, forecasting, budgeting and reporting across the global Experiences business.
• Leading commercial appraisal of new business opportunities, partnerships and investment decisions.
• Delivering insightful financial analysis to influence strategic and operational decision making.
• Supporting international expansion into new markets, ensuring appropriate financial governance and controls are established.
• Leading and developing two direct reports while coaching and supporting the wider finance team.
• Driving improvements across reporting, forecasting, financial processes and analytical capability.
• Working cross‑functionally with Growth, Operations, Delivery and Corporate Finance teams to support successful commercial outcomes.

About you:

You’ll be an experienced commercial finance professional who enjoys partnering with senior stakeholders, building trusted relationships and influencing business decisions. You are naturally curious, commercially aware and thrive in fast‑paced, growing organisations where no two days are the same. We’re looking for someone who brings:

• A recognised accounting qualification (ACA, ACCA, CIMA or equivalent).
• Significant experience within commercial finance, finance business partnering or commercial leadership.
• Experience influencing senior stakeholders and challenging decisions in a constructive, commercially focused way.
• Strong business partnering skills with the confidence to build relationships across international teams and remote stakeholders.
• Previous experience leading or coaching finance professionals.
• Excellent commercial awareness with the ability to translate financial information into meaningful business insight.
• Experience within a consumer‑focused industry such as travel, hospitality, leisure or retail would be advantageous, although airport experience isn't essential.
• A proactive, collaborative approach and genuine enthusiasm for helping a growing international business succeed.

What’s in it for you?

As well as a competitive benefits package, you’ll be joining a business that’s growing rapidly with genuine opportunities to develop your career. You’ll work alongside passionate colleagues, influence major commercial decisions and play a key role in shaping the future of our Experiences division. Our benefits include:

• 25 days holiday, increasing with service (up to 28)
• Option to buy up to 10 extra days + 4 flexible bank holidays
• 10% company pension
• On‑site gym
• A range of flexible benefits and discounts, including up to 50% off CAVU products such as Escape Lounges and Airport Parking
• Rail and retail discounts
• 2 paid volunteering days per year
• Access to health & wellbeing events, ID&E activities, and learning opportunities
• Formal and informal development options, including mentoring programmes and learning grants
• Enhanced parental leave (T&Cs apply)

Equal Opportunities & Reasonable Adjustments:

We’re building something brilliant at CAVU: a diverse team of people who reflect the global customer base we serve. We’re proudly part of MAG, and together we’re on a mission to be number one in our industries - and that takes talent in all its forms. Whether this is your first role or your next big step, we want to hear from you, even if you don’t think you tick every box. What matters most is what you bring. We’re proud to be a Disability Confident employer. If you need any adjustments to support your application or interview, just let us know – we’re committed to helping you perform at your best.

Our Colleague Communities play a big part in that journey, including Women’s Network, Embrace (Race & Ethnicity), Fly with Pride (LGBTQIA+), Mind Matters (Mental Health), PACT (Parents & Carers), RespectABILITY (Disability & Neurodiversity), and the CAVU Global ID&E Affinity Group.