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- Tasks: Lead financial planning, forecasting, and performance analysis for a dynamic international company.
- Company: Sperry Marine is a leading global provider of navigation and communication systems.
- Benefits: Enjoy hybrid working, competitive salary, generous leave, and health benefits.
- Why this job: Join a supportive team and shape financial strategies in a high-impact role.
- Qualifications: Proven FP&A experience, strong analytical skills, and a relevant accounting qualification required.
- Other info: Be part of a company that values diverse perspectives and invests in your development.
The predicted salary is between 54000 - 84000 £ per year.
Head of Financial Planning & Analysis (FP&A)
- Head of Financial Planning & Analysis (FP&A)
Role Overview
Sperry Marine is a leading supplier of navigation, communication, information, and automation systems for commercial marine and naval markets. Headquartered in the United Kingdom, we have an extensive international presence across Europe, the Americas and Asia, employing almost 400 people across ten countries.
With annual turnover of c.$100m and strong order book growth in recent years, Sperry Marine has ambitious plans for expansion. We are now seeking a dynamic and commercially-minded Head of Financial Planning & Analysis (FP&A) to lead our financial planning, performance analysis, and forecasting activities. Reporting to the Finance Director, you will be a strategic finance partner to senior leadership, responsible for driving insight-led decision-making across the organisation.
This is a high-impact role with visibility across the executive team. You will lead the development and continuous improvement of our FP&A function, ensuring robust financial planning, meaningful performance reporting, and strategic analysis that supports our growth ambitions.
Key Responsibilities
- Lead the FP&A function, providing financial leadership across planning, forecasting, budgeting, and performance analysis.
- Act as a strategic advisor to the Finance Director, Managing Director, and wider executive team, delivering financial insight to support key business decisions.
- Drive financial discipline across the business through effective stakeholder engagement and proactive forecasting.
Planning, Forecasting & Analysis
- Own and evolve the global Sperry Marine enterprise-wide forecasting model, ensuring it remains aligned with business strategy and accurately reflects performance across all key financial statements (income statement, balance sheet, and cash flow).
- Oversee the consolidated monthly forecasting process, collaborating with regional controllers, sales, operations, and product teams to incorporate real-time insights and business assumptions.
- Lead the delivery of monthly financial performance reporting for business unit leaders and senior executives, providing clarity on key variances, risks, and opportunities.
- Partner with value stream owners and cost centre leads to ensure financial accountability and improve forecast accuracy, driving strategic actions where needed.
- Champion a culture of continuous improvement across FP&A processes, identifying opportunities to streamline workflows, enhance data integrity, and reduce cycle times.
- Lead the adoption and integration of new planning tools, data platforms, and technologies to increase forecasting agility, automation, and decision-making quality across the organisation
- Manage the Annual Operating Plan (AOP) process, including scenario planning and financial modelling to support business planning cycles.
- Lead the translation of strategic plans into annual budgets, working closely with business partners to ensure alignment and ownership across departments.
- Maintain a structured process for cost centre budgeting, forecasting, and monitoring, ensuring visibility and accountability across support functions.
About You
We’re looking for a commercially-minded leader who brings a balance of strategic thinking, operational rigour, and cross-functional collaboration.
You are:
- A strategic thinker , able to connect financial insights to the bigger business picture.
- A collaborative leader , skilled at influencing and partnering with senior stakeholders across finance and the wider organisation.
- Analytically strong , comfortable working with complexity and ambiguity to produce actionable insights.
- A change agent , passionate about driving improvements in processes, models, and systems.
Skills and Experience:
- Proven experience in a senior FP&A or finance leadership role, ideally in a capital intensive, multi-disciplinary business.
- Strong financial modelling and analytical skills, with a track record of delivering high-impact insight and performance reporting.
- Deep understanding of management accounting principles, forecasting processes, and financial planning cycles (US GAAP and IFRS 15/ASC 606 experience is advantageous).
- Experience leading budgeting and forecasting processes across multiple departments and geographies.
- Qualified accountant (e.g., ACCA, CIMA, ACA) with significant post-qualification experience.
- Excellent communication and presentation skills, with confidence in engaging senior leadership and external stakeholders.
What We Offer:
At Sperry Marine , we offer a rewarding leadership role in a growing international business. You’ll be part of a supportive and forward-thinking finance team with the opportunity to shape the way we operate. Benefits include:
- Competitive salary with annual reviews
- Hybrid working and option for a compressed working pattern (e.g., alternate Fridays off)
- Up to 8% employer pension contribution
- 26 days annual leave plus bank holidays
- Health and wellbeing benefits for you and your family
- Ongoing training, development, and career progression
About Us
With over 100 years of history and expertise in navigation, we have established our self as a major global provider of navigation solutions, including radars, compass systems, steering systems, speed logs, integrated bridge and control systems. We take pride in our commitment to provide 24/7 support to all of our customers.
People are at the heart of everything we do. Our company grows because of our employees' dedication and commitment to delivering for our customers, something we always remember. In return for working for us you will have access to a benefits package that provides you with flexibility to balance your professional career with your personal life, health & well-being benefits, and investment in your future development.
We know everyone brings a unique perspective. We want to harness diverse thinking by bringing bright minds together and valuing the differences that lead to stronger insights and innovation.
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Head of Financial Planning & Analysis (FP&A) (London) employer: Northrop Grumman Sperry Marine
Contact Detail:
Northrop Grumman Sperry Marine Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Head of Financial Planning & Analysis (FP&A) (London)
✨Tip Number 1
Network with professionals in the financial planning and analysis field, especially those who have experience in capital-intensive industries. Attend industry events or webinars to connect with potential colleagues and learn about the latest trends in FP&A.
✨Tip Number 2
Familiarise yourself with Sperry Marine's business model and recent developments. Understanding their strategic goals will help you articulate how your skills can contribute to their growth during interviews.
✨Tip Number 3
Prepare to discuss specific examples of how you've driven financial discipline and improved forecasting accuracy in previous roles. Highlighting your achievements will demonstrate your capability to lead the FP&A function effectively.
✨Tip Number 4
Showcase your analytical skills by being ready to solve complex financial scenarios during the interview process. This will illustrate your ability to work with ambiguity and produce actionable insights, which is crucial for the role.
We think you need these skills to ace Head of Financial Planning & Analysis (FP&A) (London)
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your CV: Make sure your CV highlights relevant experience in financial planning and analysis. Focus on your leadership roles, financial modelling skills, and any experience with budgeting and forecasting processes.
Craft a Compelling Cover Letter: In your cover letter, express your passion for the role and the company. Mention specific achievements that demonstrate your strategic thinking and ability to drive financial insights, aligning them with Sperry Marine's goals.
Highlight Relevant Skills: Emphasise your analytical skills and experience with management accounting principles. Mention any familiarity with US GAAP and IFRS standards, as well as your ability to collaborate with senior stakeholders.
Showcase Continuous Improvement Initiatives: Discuss any past experiences where you have successfully implemented process improvements or adopted new technologies in FP&A functions. This will demonstrate your change agent mindset and commitment to enhancing operational efficiency.
How to prepare for a job interview at Northrop Grumman Sperry Marine
✨Understand the Business
Before your interview, take the time to research Sperry Marine and its position in the market. Familiarise yourself with their products, recent news, and financial performance. This will help you demonstrate your strategic thinking and how your financial insights can align with their business goals.
✨Showcase Your Analytical Skills
Be prepared to discuss specific examples of how you've used financial modelling and analysis to drive decision-making in previous roles. Highlight your experience with forecasting processes and how you've improved accuracy and accountability in budgeting across departments.
✨Emphasise Collaboration
As a Head of FP&A, you'll need to work closely with various stakeholders. Share examples of how you've successfully influenced senior leadership and collaborated with cross-functional teams to achieve financial objectives. This will showcase your ability to be a strategic partner within the organisation.
✨Demonstrate Change Management
Discuss your experience as a change agent in previous roles. Provide examples of how you've driven improvements in financial processes or systems, and how you've championed a culture of continuous improvement. This will resonate well with their desire for someone who can lead the evolution of their FP&A function.
