At a Glance
- Tasks: Drive financial performance and identify savings opportunities in a key NHS Supply Chain contract.
- Company: Join Foodbuy, a leading food procurement organisation in the UK.
- Benefits: Gain exposure to senior stakeholders and enhance your finance skills in a dynamic environment.
- Other info: Opportunity for career growth and professional development in a supportive team.
- Why this job: Make a real impact in a fast-paced role that values your analytical skills.
- Qualifications: Strong numeracy, analytical skills, and advanced Excel proficiency required.
The predicted salary is between 35000 - 45000 £ per year.
Location: Chertsey/Chester/Normanton
Foodbuy is one of the UK’s leading food procurement organisations, managing over £2bn of spend across a diverse client base including NHS Supply Chain. We partner with some of the UK’s largest organisations to drive value, manage cost, and deliver strategic procurement solutions.
The Role
Reporting to the Finance Manager, you will provide end-to-end financial support across a high-profile contract, working closely with operational, procurement, and client stakeholders. You’ll be at the heart of financial performance management – producing insightful analysis, validating savings, and ensuring accuracy across reporting processes to help maximise value delivery.
Key Responsibilities
- Commercial & Analytical Focus
- Produce detailed monthly savings analysis in line with open book contract requirements
- Validate and reconcile client and supplier data to identify savings opportunities and challenge anomalies
- Deliver clear financial insight to support operational and commercial decision-making
- Partner with internal teams and client stakeholders to drive cost efficiencies
- Financial Reporting & Control
- Support month-end close, ensuring revenue and costs are accurately reported
- Prepare monthly business reviews and contribute to commercial strategies
- Manage accruals, prepayments, and core management accounting processes
- Track actual costs and savings against agreed targets and report to client standards
- Stakeholder Engagement
- Act as a finance lead in meetings with internal teams and client contacts
- Support resolution of supplier queries and billing processes
- Build strong relationships across finance, procurement, and account management teams
About You
We’re looking for someone who combines strong technical finance skills with commercial awareness and the ability to influence stakeholders.
Essential:
- Highly numerate with strong analytical capability
- Excellent attention to detail
- Advanced Excel skills (pivot tables, lookups, SUMIF, INDEX/MATCH)
- Strong communication skills with the ability to present financial insight clearly
- Confident working with stakeholders and challenging data where needed
Desirable:
- Experience with SAP
- Studying towards a professional qualification (CIMA, ACCA or equivalent)
- A proactive, solutions-focused approach with a continuous improvement mindset
Why Join Foodbuy?
You’ll be joining a fast-paced, commercially driven environment where finance plays a key role in delivering client value. This is a great opportunity to step into a more commercially focused finance role, gain exposure to senior stakeholders, and contribute to a high-impact contract.
Senior Finance Assistant in Chertsey employer: Compass Group UK & Ireland Ltd
At Foodbuy, part of Compass Group UK & Ireland, we pride ourselves on being an excellent employer that fosters a dynamic and supportive work culture. Located in Chertsey, Chester, and Normanton, we offer our employees the chance to engage in meaningful work that directly impacts the NHS Supply Chain, alongside opportunities for professional growth and development in a fast-paced environment. With a focus on collaboration and innovation, we empower our team members to drive financial performance and contribute to strategic procurement solutions, making it a rewarding place to advance your career.
Contact Details:
Compass Group UK & Ireland Ltd Recruitment Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Senior Finance Assistant in Chertsey
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to people in the finance sector, especially those connected to NHS Supply Chain or Compass Group. A friendly chat can lead to insider info about job openings and even referrals.
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for interviews by brushing up on your financial analysis skills. Be ready to discuss how you've driven cost efficiencies or validated savings in past roles. We want to see your analytical prowess in action!
✨Tip Number 3
Showcase your Excel skills! During interviews, be prepared to demonstrate your knowledge of pivot tables and advanced functions. We love seeing candidates who can handle data like a champ!
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets noticed. Plus, you’ll find all the latest opportunities right there, tailored just for you.
We think you need these skills to ace Senior Finance Assistant in Chertsey
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your CV:Make sure your CV speaks directly to the Senior Finance Assistant role. Highlight your analytical skills, attention to detail, and any experience with financial reporting. We want to see how you can drive financial performance!
Craft a Compelling Cover Letter:Your cover letter is your chance to shine! Use it to explain why you're the perfect fit for this commercially focused finance role. Share specific examples of how you've identified savings opportunities or supported decision-making in previous roles.
Show Off Your Excel Skills:Since advanced Excel skills are essential, don’t forget to mention your experience with pivot tables, lookups, and other functions. If you’ve used these skills to produce financial insights, let us know!
Apply Through Our Website:We encourage you to apply through our website for the best chance of getting noticed. It’s the easiest way for us to keep track of your application and ensure it reaches the right people!
How to prepare for a job interview at Compass Group UK & Ireland Ltd
✨Know Your Numbers
As a Senior Finance Assistant, you'll need to demonstrate your strong analytical skills. Brush up on key financial metrics and be ready to discuss how you've used data to drive decision-making in previous roles. Prepare examples of savings analysis you've conducted and how it impacted the business.
✨Master Excel Like a Pro
Advanced Excel skills are essential for this role. Make sure you're comfortable with pivot tables, lookups, and functions like SUMIF and INDEX/MATCH. Consider doing a quick refresher course or practice exercises to ensure you can showcase your proficiency during the interview.
✨Engage with Stakeholders
This position requires strong communication skills and the ability to influence stakeholders. Think about times when you've successfully collaborated with different teams or resolved conflicts. Be prepared to share these experiences and how they contributed to achieving financial goals.
✨Show Your Commercial Awareness
Foodbuy is looking for someone who understands the commercial side of finance. Research the company and its role within the NHS Supply Chain. Be ready to discuss how you can contribute to cost efficiencies and value delivery, demonstrating your proactive, solutions-focused mindset.
