At a Glance
- Tasks: Partner with teams to turn financial data into actionable insights and support decision-making.
- Company: Join a growing, privately backed services business with a collaborative culture.
- Benefits: Enjoy a high-visibility role with autonomy and the chance to make a real impact.
- Other info: Embrace inclusivity and be part of a team that values diverse backgrounds.
- Why this job: Shape reporting and influence business decisions in a dynamic environment.
- Qualifications: Qualified accountant with strong commercial acumen and cross-functional collaboration skills.
The predicted salary is between 55000 - 65000 £ per year.
My client requires a commercially minded FP&A Manager to join their growing, privately backed services business. This is a broad, hands-on role for someone who enjoys working close to the action, partnering with non‑finance stakeholders and helping the business make better decisions through insight rather than reporting for reporting's sake. This is not a highly structured, transactional finance role. It's designed for someone who thrives in an SME environment, is comfortable with ambiguity, and is happy to roll up their sleeves in a lean, collaborative team.
You will act as a trusted finance partner to sales and operations, helping translate financial data into meaningful commercial insight. While budgeting and forecasting are part of the role, the primary focus is on business partnering, performance analysis, and decision support. Key elements include:
- Partnering with operational and commercial teams to understand performance, challenge assumptions, and influence outcomes
- Turning complex financial and operational data into clear, actionable insight
- Producing and improving management information, KPIs, and analysis to support decision-making
- Supporting revenue recognition, reporting improvements, and cover within the team as needed
- Contributing to ad‑hoc projects, process improvements, and future system evaluations
This role will suit someone who:
- Has strong commercial acumen and instinct, not just technical finance skills
- Comes from an SME or scale‑up background, where flexibility and initiative are essential
- Is an experienced finance business partner who enjoys working cross‑functionally
- Can analyse ambiguous problems and explain the 'so what,' not just the numbers
- Is confident engaging with non‑finance stakeholders and influencing conversations
- Is practical, curious, and comfortable in an unstructured, fast‑moving environment
- Is a qualified accountant
The role is primarily office‑based to encourage strong collaboration and effective business partnering. Some limited home working flexibility is available, but this position is best suited to someone who values face‑to‑face engagement with the business.
High visibility role with real influence on business decisions. Broad scope and autonomy in a growing organisation. Opportunity to shape reporting, insight, and ways of working. A chance to make a tangible commercial impact rather than sit in a rigid finance structure.
If you're a commercial finance professional who enjoys variety, ownership, and working closely with the business, I'd love to hear from you. At Gleeson Recruitment Group, we embrace inclusivity and welcome applicants of all backgrounds, experiences, and abilities. We are proud to be a disability confident employer. By applying you will be registered as a candidate with Gleeson Recruitment Limited. Our Privacy Policy is available on our website and explains how we will use your data.
FP&A Manager in Reading employer: Gleeson Recruitment Ltd
Contact Detail:
Gleeson Recruitment Ltd Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land FP&A Manager in Reading
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to your connections in the finance world, especially those who work in SMEs. They might know about opportunities that aren't advertised yet, and a personal recommendation can go a long way.
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for those interviews by brushing up on your business partnering skills. Be ready to discuss how you've turned financial data into actionable insights in past roles. Show them you can influence decisions, not just report numbers!
✨Tip Number 3
Don’t underestimate the power of follow-ups! After an interview, drop a quick thank-you email to express your appreciation and reiterate your enthusiasm for the role. It keeps you fresh in their minds and shows your interest.
✨Tip Number 4
Check out our website for the latest job openings! We often have roles that fit your skills perfectly, and applying directly through us can give you a better chance of standing out. Let’s get you that FP&A Manager position!
We think you need these skills to ace FP&A Manager in Reading
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Your Commercial Mindset: When writing your application, make sure to highlight your commercial acumen. We want to see how you can turn financial data into actionable insights that drive business decisions. Use examples from your past experiences to illustrate this.
Embrace the SME Environment: Let us know about your experience in SME or scale-up settings. We love candidates who thrive in less structured environments, so share stories that showcase your flexibility and initiative in tackling challenges head-on.
Engage with Non-Finance Stakeholders: This role is all about collaboration, so emphasise your ability to work cross-functionally. Talk about times when you've successfully influenced conversations with non-financial teams and how you made complex data understandable for them.
Apply Through Our Website: We encourage you to apply directly through our website. It’s the best way for us to receive your application and ensures you’re considered for this exciting opportunity. Don’t miss out on the chance to join our team!
How to prepare for a job interview at Gleeson Recruitment Ltd
✨Know Your Numbers
Before the interview, brush up on key financial metrics and concepts relevant to the FP&A role. Be ready to discuss how you’ve used data to influence business decisions in your previous roles. This shows you’re not just about reporting but about driving insights.
✨Understand the Business
Research the company’s services and market position. Familiarise yourself with their operational challenges and think about how your financial expertise can help address these. This will allow you to speak confidently about how you can add value as a finance partner.
✨Prepare for Scenario Questions
Expect questions that assess your problem-solving skills in ambiguous situations. Think of examples where you’ve turned complex data into actionable insights or influenced non-finance stakeholders. Use the STAR method (Situation, Task, Action, Result) to structure your responses.
✨Show Your Collaborative Spirit
Since this role involves working closely with various teams, be prepared to discuss your experience in cross-functional collaboration. Share specific examples of how you’ve built relationships and communicated effectively with non-financial colleagues to drive results.