Head of Commercial Finance - Financial Services in London
Head of Commercial Finance - Financial Services

Head of Commercial Finance - Financial Services in London

London Full-Time No home office possible
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At a Glance

  • Tasks: Lead financial strategies and drive growth in a dynamic financial services environment.
  • Company: Join a leading Financial Services organisation in Bristol with a strong focus on innovation.
  • Benefits: Competitive daily rate, flexible working, and the chance to shape financial leadership.
  • Why this job: Make a real impact by influencing senior leadership and driving commercial success.
  • Qualifications: Qualified accountant with senior commercial finance experience in financial services.
  • Other info: Opportunity to lead a high-performing team and develop strategic insights.

Overview

Investigo are partnered with a leading Financial Services organisation in Bristol looking for a commercially minded Head of Finance to support leadership. This is a highly visible leadership role, responsible for shaping and delivering ambitious commercial, product and channel strategies that drive high-quality growth, strong client outcomes and sustainable profitability. You will bring deep commercial insight, forward-looking financial leadership and the confidence to challenge and influence at the most senior level.

Key Responsibilities

  • Act as Finance Business Partner to C-suite Commercial leadership, influencing strategic and operational decision-making.
  • Sit as a member of senior leadership teams across Commercial and entity leadership forums.
  • Lead and develop a high-performing team of qualified finance and treasury professionals.
  • Co-author three-year plans and annual budgets across products, channels, sales routes and multiple entities.
  • Own Income Statement and Balance Sheet performance, including underlying performance and strategic investment.
  • Oversee treasury strategy, balancing client outcomes and commercial returns, including optimal placement of significant client cash balances.
  • Deliver robust budget execution, proactively managing risks and opportunities arising from internal and external change.
  • Champion profitable growth, operating leverage and efficiency, ensuring capital and people are deployed for maximum return.
  • Continuously evolve management information, with a strong forward-looking bias and clear "so what" insight.
  • Review, challenge and recommend high-quality forecasts and plans to executive leadership.
  • Drive investment cases across pricing, proposition, incentives, operating model and transformation initiatives.
  • Sponsor value-add analysis across the business, ensuring alignment with Consumer Duty and Assessment of Value obligations.
  • Own finance risk and controls maturity for Commercial and Product functions.
  • Identify market share opportunities through competitor analysis and benchmarking.
  • Develop a deep understanding of products, clients and end-to-end client journeys.
  • Lead continuous improvement of finance processes, insight and ways of working.

Qualifications

  • Qualified accountant (ACA / ACCA / CIMA / CIPFA) with significant post-qualification experience.
  • MUST HAVE senior commercial finance leadership experience within a financial services environment (ideally digitally led).
  • Proven ability to influence and partner at Executive and Board level.
  • Strong strategic mindset with the ability to look beyond the numbers and understand wider business drivers.
  • Exceptional analytical capability, translating complex data into clear, actionable insight.
  • Demonstrated success in driving performance, profitability and investment decisions.
  • Experience leading, developing and scaling high-performing finance teams.
  • Strong financial modelling skills and advanced Excel capability.
  • Deep understanding of financial regulation and governance within financial services.
  • Outstanding communication and presentation skills, with gravitas and clarity.
  • Proactive, commercially minded and resilient, thriving in a fast-paced, growth-oriented environment.

Head of Commercial Finance - Financial Services in London employer: Investigo

As a leading Financial Services organisation in Bristol, we pride ourselves on fostering a dynamic and inclusive work culture that empowers our employees to excel. With a strong focus on professional development, we offer exceptional growth opportunities for finance professionals, alongside competitive remuneration and the chance to influence strategic decisions at the highest level. Join us to be part of a forward-thinking team dedicated to driving sustainable profitability and delivering outstanding client outcomes.
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Contact Detail:

Investigo Recruiting Team

StudySmarter Expert Advice 🀫

We think this is how you could land Head of Commercial Finance - Financial Services in London

✨Network Like a Pro

Get out there and connect with people in the financial services sector. Attend industry events, join relevant LinkedIn groups, and don’t be shy about reaching out to potential contacts. We all know that sometimes it’s not just what you know, but who you know!

✨Showcase Your Expertise

When you get the chance to chat with hiring managers or during interviews, make sure to highlight your commercial finance experience. Share specific examples of how you've influenced strategic decisions and driven profitability. We want to see that you can bring real value to the table!

✨Prepare for the Tough Questions

Expect to be challenged on your financial insights and strategic mindset. Brush up on your knowledge of financial regulations and governance, and be ready to discuss how you’ve navigated complex situations in the past. We’re looking for candidates who can think on their feet!

✨Apply Through Our Website

Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets seen by the right people. Plus, we love seeing candidates who take the initiative to engage directly with us. Let’s get you that Head of Finance role!

We think you need these skills to ace Head of Commercial Finance - Financial Services in London

Commercial Finance Leadership
Financial Modelling
Advanced Excel Skills
Strategic Mindset
Analytical Capability
Performance Management
Team Development
Financial Regulation Knowledge
Communication Skills
Presentation Skills
Influencing Skills
Risk Management
Budgeting and Forecasting
Client Relationship Management
Continuous Improvement

Some tips for your application 🫑

Tailor Your CV: Make sure your CV speaks directly to the job description. Highlight your experience in commercial finance and leadership roles, especially within financial services. We want to see how your skills align with what we're looking for!

Craft a Compelling Cover Letter: Your cover letter is your chance to shine! Use it to tell us why you're the perfect fit for the Head of Finance role. Share specific examples of how you've influenced strategic decisions and driven performance in previous roles.

Showcase Your Analytical Skills: We love numbers, but we also love stories! When you describe your achievements, focus on how you translated complex data into actionable insights. This will show us your exceptional analytical capability and strategic mindset.

Apply Through Our Website: Don't forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way for us to receive your application and ensures you’re considered for this exciting opportunity. We can’t wait to hear from you!

How to prepare for a job interview at Investigo

✨Know Your Numbers

As a Head of Commercial Finance, you'll need to demonstrate your deep understanding of financial metrics. Brush up on key financial statements, ratios, and performance indicators relevant to the financial services sector. Be ready to discuss how you've used these insights to influence strategic decisions in your previous roles.

✨Showcase Your Leadership Style

This role requires leading a high-performing team, so be prepared to share examples of how you've developed and motivated finance teams in the past. Highlight your approach to mentoring and fostering a collaborative environment, as well as any specific successes in driving team performance.

✨Prepare for Strategic Discussions

Expect to engage in conversations about commercial strategies and operational decision-making. Familiarise yourself with the company's current market position and be ready to discuss how you would contribute to their three-year plans and annual budgets. Bring your own ideas on how to champion profitable growth and efficiency.

✨Demonstrate Your Analytical Skills

The ability to translate complex data into actionable insights is crucial. Prepare to discuss specific instances where your analytical capabilities have led to significant business improvements. Use examples that showcase your financial modelling skills and how you've applied them to drive performance and investment decisions.

Head of Commercial Finance - Financial Services in London
Investigo
Location: London

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