At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead financial oversight on exciting projects and drive impactful change.
- Company: Join one of the UK's top financial services firms with a supportive culture.
- Benefits: Enjoy a competitive salary, annual bonus, and generous leave policies.
- Other info: Hybrid working model and a commitment to diversity and inclusion.
- Why this job: Make a real difference in strategic financial decisions and project success.
- Qualifications: Bring your finance expertise and strong communication skills to the table.
The predicted salary is between 56250 - 68750 £ per year.
Utilise your extensive financial experience working within Change & IT project environments, shaping and delivering strategic financial insight. Influence high-impact change across company-wide projects, for one of the UK’s leading Financial Services organisations. Hybrid working on offer - work at our Stratford-upon-Avon offices 2-3 days per week, with the rest of the week working from home.
As Commercial Finance Manager, you’ll provide strategic financial oversight and commercial support across a diverse portfolio of projects. You’ll play a pivotal role in ensuring robust financial control, accurate reporting, and insightful analysis, managing project spend, performance and profitability in line with our long-term strategic objectives. You will be accountable for leading the development and management of business cases, supporting bid and tender processes, and evaluating project impact and return on investment.
This role involves building and maintaining strong relationships with project teams, senior stakeholders, and external partners to ensure commercially optimised achievement of business objectives. You will monitor and challenge budgets, forecasts, and actuals, ensuring timely financial reporting and modelling. In addition, you will oversee forecasting and planning at project level, identifying risks and opportunities, and providing insightful analysis to support decision-making and drive value.
As a champion for improvements in financial planning and analysis, you will drive enhancements to policies, systems, and processes as part of the wider change proposition. You will influence, coach, and guide colleagues to continuously improve their skills and effectiveness, while leading, motivating, and developing both direct and indirect reports to set clear direction and foster a high-performance culture.
With significant experience managing financial information and planning for change & IT projects (ideally on a large scale), you’ll bring a blend of technical expertise and strong interpersonal skills. You will be comfortable working in complex and ambiguous environments, partnering with senior stakeholders, and translating financial insight into clear, actionable recommendations.
- A recognised accountancy qualification (ACCA, CIMA, ACA) or equivalent professional qualification (e.g., MBA).
- Strong experience in project accounting, ideally in a commercial environment.
- Advanced financial modelling, analysis, evaluation, and forecasting skills, with attention to detail and strong IT skills (especially MS Excel).
- The ability to gather and analyse data from a wide range of sources to drive commercial insight.
- Excellent communication skills - i.e., able to explain complex financial information to both financial and non-financial audiences and able to create clarity from ambiguity.
- Senior stakeholder management experience, with the ability to build and maintain effective relationships up to C-suite level.
- A collaborative, proactive approach, with strong influencing, storytelling, and commercial acumen.
- A passion for continuous improvement and change management.
At NFU Mutual, we support an inclusive workplace and value all the differences that make us unique. We celebrate the creativity and innovation that comes from diverse perspectives and experiences and share a common vision of doing the right thing for our customers and employees.
We recognise that some candidates may experience barriers during the recruitment process. So, we encourage candidates to discuss any adjustments or accommodations they need to be the best they can be throughout our recruitment process. We're proud to be a Disability Confident Employer, a Race at Work and Women in Finance Charter signatory and welcome applications from people of all backgrounds, regardless of age, ethnicity, disability, neurodiversity, gender, religion, marital status, sexual orientation, or socioeconomic background.
Benefits and Rewards:
- Salary - up to £75,000 dependent on experience.
- Annual bonus (up to 25% of salary).
- Contributory pension scheme, up to 20%, including your 8% contribution.
- 28 days annual leave + bank holidays + buy/sell/save holiday trading scheme.
- A Family Friendly policy that helps you balance your work and family responsibilities.
- Private medical insurance + options to add family members.
- Access to savings at High Street brands, travel and supermarkets.
- £20 contribution to a monthly gym membership - subject to T&Cs.
- Health and wellbeing plan - cashback for dentist, opticians, physio and more.
- Employee Volunteering - volunteer in the community for one day each year.
- Unlimited access to Refer a Friend £500 bonus scheme.
- Life Assurance cover of 4 x salary.
- Employee discounts of 15% on a range of NFU Mutual insurance policies.
- Salary sacrifice employee car scheme - subject to eligibility.
We’re one of the UK’s leading general insurance and financial services organisations, and for over 110 years we’ve put our customers at the heart of everything we do. Our people are just as important to us, so we’re proud to be recognised as "a great place to work". Our Gallup Exceptional Workplace 2026 award was not only awarded with Distinction, but it also marked us as the first UK based company to earn a Gallup Exceptional Workplace award for eleven consecutive years. We’ve also been consistently recognised by Glassdoor. We appeared in the Glassdoor Best Places to Work UK list in 2023, 2024 and 2026 - and in 2026, we were the highest ranked insurance business in the UK, highlighting our strong employee experience and the positive feedback our people share on the platform. Additionally, we were named in the LinkedIn Top Companies 2026 list of "Best midsize employers to grow your career in the UK", and we’ve been certified as a UK Top Employer by the Top Employers Institute in 2023, 2024, 2025 and 2026.
We offer a supportive and empowering culture where people are inspired to perform, given opportunities to grow, and recognised and rewarded for their contribution. Our people are proud to work for a company that respects them and their communities, and they trust us to be financially sustainable- so we’re successful now and in the future.
Commercial Finance Manager Projects employer: NFU Mutual
NFU Mutual is an excellent employer that values collaboration and innovation, offering a hybrid work model that allows for 80% homeworking. With a strong focus on employee development and a supportive work culture, team members are encouraged to grow their skills in data analysis and coding while making a real impact on customer outcomes. The Stratford-upon-Avon office provides a vibrant environment where employees can connect with colleagues across various departments, enhancing both professional and personal growth.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Commercial Finance Manager Projects
✨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 NFU Mutual. 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 Projects
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 NFU Mutual.
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 NFU Mutual'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 NFU Mutual
✨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 NFU Mutual.
✨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 NFU Mutual 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 NFU Mutual 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.
