Commercial Finance Manager

Commercial Finance Manager

Full-Time 60000 - 75000 £ / year (est.) No working from home possible
gategroup

At a Glance

  • Tasks: Own revenue recognition, forecasting, budgeting, and profitability analysis in a dynamic environment.
  • Company: Join a leading FMCG company with a focus on innovation and collaboration.
  • Benefits: Competitive salary, professional development, and opportunities for career growth.
  • Other info: Fast-paced role ideal for proactive individuals who thrive on challenges.
  • Why this job: Make a real impact by shaping bids and improving customer profitability.
  • Qualifications: Qualified accountant with 5-8 years in commercial finance and strong analytical skills.

The predicted salary is between 60000 - 75000 £ per year.

You'll own revenue recognition, forecasting, budgeting and profitability analysis, working shoulder to shoulder with commercial and operations to build, price and stress-test tenders before they go out the door.

Just as importantly, you'll follow them afterwards: checking that the margin we approved is the margin we actually earn.

This is a role for someone comfortable applying professional objectivity — challenging assumptions, questioning pricing, and pushing the business toward better customer profitability and a tighter order-to-cash process.

  • What you'll be doing
  • Develop a detailed understanding of our performance drivers, pricing mechanisms, contracts and competitive position across UK & Ireland
  • Build a robust toolbox of measures, ratios and internal/external benchmarks to bring rigour to the tender process
  • Partner with commercial to build the models and yardsticks used to complete RFPs and critique proposals
  • Reporting and analysis
  • Own month-end close and reporting, ensuring revenue streams are correctly accounted for
  • Deliver accurate, timely daily, weekly and monthly revenue reporting with variances clearly understood
  • Perform variance analysis of actuals against forecast, investigating root causes and communicating risks and opportunities
  • Develop and maintain reporting tools that generate genuine decision-making insight
  • Support an effective monthly, quarterly and annual rolling forecast process, including risk-adjusted forecasting
  • Improvement and ownership
  • Provide oversight of the order-to-cash process
  • Lead projects to improve customer profitability
  • Work with commercial, procurement, operations and the wider finance team to identify revenue leakage and margin improvement opportunities
  • Agree clear objectives and SLAs with internal stakeholders for revenue and profitability reporting
  • What you'll bring
  • Qualified accountant (ACA, ACCA or CIMA/CGMA)
  • 5–8 years in commercial finance within a large FMCG business
  • Proven track record managing large, complex RFPs and tenders
  • Demonstrable experience improving profitability and bringing clarity to complex commercial models
  • Confidence presenting to senior stakeholders
  • Technical
  • Strong working knowledge of a range of commercial models
  • Ability to get to grips with customer contracts and pricing quickly
  • Excellent analytical skills — turning data into clarity and clarity into influence
  • Advanced Excel, with strong Office 365 and MS Project competency
  • Sound judgement in handling sensitive and confidential information
  • Hands-on, proactive and genuinely collaborative
  • Communication
  • Able to flex your style to engage stakeholders at every level
  • Skilled at making complex data sets land with non-finance audiences
  • Comfortable using data to support your reasoning — and to negotiate deliverables that are realistic and achievable

Is this you?

You enjoy pace.

You're happy being the person who asks the awkward question about a pricing assumption at 4pm on a Friday.

And you'd rather be in the room shaping the bid than reporting on it six months later.

If that sounds right, we'd like to hear from you.

#J-18808-Ljbffr

Commercial Finance Manager employer: gategroup

Gategroup is an exceptional employer, offering a supportive work environment for Warehouse Operatives in Woolsington, Newcastle Upon Tyne. With a strong focus on employee well-being, we provide complimentary meals, free life insurance, and a comprehensive pension scheme, alongside opportunities for in-house training and development. Our culture promotes teamwork and flexibility, ensuring that every team member can thrive while contributing to our commitment to quality and safety.

gategroup

Contact Details:

gategroup Recruitment Team

StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫

We think this is how you could land Commercial Finance Manager

Tap into Campus Networks

If you're still in uni, don’t forget to engage with your campus's career services and attend finance-related events. Banks often do presentations and recruitment drives on campus, so put yourself out there and make use of these opportunities to show off your passion for the field.

Get Certified

Consider pursuing relevant certifications like the CFA or ACCA while you’re job hunting. They not only beef up your CV but also connect you with professional bodies which can lead to networking opportunities and even job openings in banking and financial services.

Connect on Professional Platforms

Join finance-focused groups on platforms like LinkedIn and engage in discussions. This can really help you stand out from the crowd, allowing potential employers to see your knowledge and interest in industry trends. Plus, you might stumble upon job postings shared exclusively within the group.

Apply Directly and Be Proactive

Don’t shy away from reaching out directly to firms like gategroup. Use their websites and apply through them, but also consider following up with a polite email to express your enthusiasm. Being proactive can make a huge difference in getting noticed in the competitive financial services sector.

We think you need these skills to ace Commercial Finance Manager

Revenue Recognition
Forecasting
Budgeting
Profitability Analysis
Tender Management
Variance Analysis
Reporting Tools Development

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 gategroup.

Include Relevant Financial Software Experience:If you've worked with financial modelling tools or software like Excel, SAP, or specific analytical tools during your studies or internships, bring that up! Highlighting your proficiency can really make your application pop and show you're ready to hit the ground running in a full-time role.

Research and Reflect:Before hitting that 'apply' button on gategroup'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 gategroup

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 gategroup.

Prepare for Case Studies

Expect to tackle case studies that demonstrate your problem-solving skills in real-world banking scenarios. Familiarise yourself with the types of problems you might face—think risk assessments or investment evaluations—and be ready to articulate your thought process clearly.

Show Your Passion for Finance

Since this is a full-time position, employers at gategroup will be keen to see your genuine interest in finance. Be prepared to discuss recent industry trends or news articles that excite you, showcasing your enthusiasm and engagement with the field.

Network with Industry Professionals

Before your interview, reach out to current or former gategroup employees on platforms like LinkedIn. They'll offer unique insights into the company's culture and the interview process, which can give us a delightful edge in showcasing a good fit for the team.