At a Glance
- Tasks: Support financial performance and identify savings opportunities for a key NHS Supply Chain contract.
- Company: Join Foodbuy, a leading food procurement organisation in the UK.
- Benefits: Gain exposure to senior stakeholders and develop your finance skills in a dynamic environment.
- Other info: Opportunity for professional growth and to work with diverse teams.
- Why this job: Make a real impact in a fast-paced finance role that drives client value.
- Qualifications: Strong analytical skills, attention to detail, and advanced Excel proficiency required.
The predicted salary is between 37000 - 44000 £ per year.
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.
We’re now looking for a Senior Finance Assistant to join our team supporting a key NHS Supply Chain contract. This is a commercially focused finance role where you’ll play a critical part in driving financial performance, identifying savings opportunities, and supporting operational decision-making.
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: Foodbuy
At Compass Group UK & Ireland, we pride ourselves on being an excellent employer, offering a dynamic work culture that fosters collaboration and innovation. As a Senior Finance Assistant, you will benefit from professional growth opportunities while working in a fast-paced environment that values your contributions to the NHS Supply Chain contract. With a focus on employee development and a commitment to delivering client value, you'll find meaningful and rewarding employment here in Chertsey, Chester, or Normanton.
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 who work with NHS Supply Chain or similar organisations. 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 used data to drive cost efficiencies or improve financial performance 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 advanced functions like pivot tables and lookups. This is crucial for the Senior Finance Assistant role, so let your skills shine!
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets noticed. Plus, we love seeing candidates who are proactive and take the initiative to connect directly with us.
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 reflects the skills and experiences that match the Senior Finance Assistant role. Highlight your analytical capabilities and any relevant finance experience, especially in commercial settings.
Craft a Compelling Cover Letter:Use your cover letter to tell us why you’re the perfect fit for this role. Share specific examples of how you've driven financial performance or identified savings opportunities in previous positions.
Show Off Your Excel Skills:Since advanced Excel skills are essential, mention any relevant projects where you’ve used pivot tables, lookups, or other functions. We want to see your technical prowess shine through!
Apply Through Our Website:Don’t forget to submit your application through our website! It’s the best way for us to receive your details and ensure you’re considered for this exciting opportunity.
How to prepare for a job interview at Foodbuy
✨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 decisions 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 skills confidently during the interview.
✨Communicate Clearly
Strong communication skills are crucial, especially when presenting financial insights. Practice explaining complex financial concepts in simple terms. You might even want to prepare a short presentation on a past project where you successfully communicated financial data to stakeholders.
✨Build Relationships
This role involves engaging with various stakeholders, so think about how you've built relationships in the past. Be ready to share examples of how you've collaborated with teams or resolved conflicts. Highlight your proactive approach to stakeholder engagement and how it led to successful outcomes.
