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, commercially driven finance role.
- Qualifications: Strong analytical skills, advanced Excel proficiency, and excellent attention to detail required.
The predicted salary is between 37338 - 44962 £ per year.
Location: Chertsey/Chester/Normanton
Foodbuy (NHS Supply Chain Contract) | Compass Group UK & Ireland
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 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 in Chertsey, Chester, or Normanton, you'll benefit from a supportive environment that encourages professional growth, with opportunities to engage with senior stakeholders and contribute to impactful projects within the NHS Supply Chain. Join us to be part of a team that values your contributions and is committed to driving financial performance while making a difference in the healthcare sector.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Senior Finance Assistant
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to people in the finance sector, especially those working 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 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 formulas. We love seeing candidates who can handle data like a champ!
✨Tip Number 4
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, so keep checking back for new roles that fit your skills.
We think you need these skills to ace Senior Finance Assistant
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 relevant experience with financial reporting or stakeholder engagement. We want to see how you can drive value in a commercial setting!
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 role. Mention specific examples of how you've contributed to financial performance in previous roles and how you can bring that expertise to Foodbuy.
Show Off Your Excel Skills:Since advanced Excel skills are a must-have, don’t forget to mention your proficiency with pivot tables, lookups, and other functions. If you’ve used these skills to produce insightful analysis or support decision-making, let us know!
Apply Through Our Website:We encourage you to apply through our website for a smoother application process. It’s the best way for us to receive your application and ensure it gets the attention it deserves. Plus, it shows you’re keen on joining our team!
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 decision-making in previous roles. Prepare examples of savings analysis you've conducted and how it impacted the business.
✨Excel Like a Pro
Advanced Excel skills are a must 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 led to improved financial outcomes.
✨Show Your Commercial Awareness
The role is commercially focused, so it's important to understand the broader business context. Research Foodbuy and its clients, especially the NHS Supply Chain. Be ready to discuss how you can contribute to cost efficiencies and value delivery in this environment.
