At a Glance
- Tasks: Support financial performance and drive commercial decision-making in a fast-growing manufacturing environment.
- Company: Established, high-growth manufacturer with a strong reputation for quality products.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, bonus, hybrid work, and opportunities for professional development.
- Other info: Join a people-first culture with clear progression as the business expands.
- Why this job: Make a tangible impact on business performance and shape financial processes.
- Qualifications: ACA/ACCA/CIMA qualified with strong commercial acumen and analytical skills.
The predicted salary is between 60000 - 65000 £ per year.
Location: Penrith (Hybrid)
Salary: £60,000-£65,000 + Bonus
Reporting to: Head of Finance
Our client is an established, high growth manufacturer with a strong reputation for producing high-quality products supplied to major retailers across the UK. Headquartered in Penrith, the business has built its success on a combination of expertise and continuous investment in innovation, automation and operational excellence.
They are currently scaling their commercial and operational capabilities to support increased demand and expansion across product ranges and customer channels. The culture is collaborative and hands-on, with a strong focus on quality, efficiency and continuous improvement.
This is a business where finance plays a key strategic role, working closely with operations and commercial teams to drive performance, improve margins, and support data-led decision making as the organisation continues its growth journey.
Sowena Group have been exclusively retained to recruit for a Commercial Finance Business Partner. You will play a key role in supporting the financial performance and commercial decision-making across sales and production within a fast-growing manufacturing environment.
Acting as a trusted partner to both finance and operational teams, the role will ensure accuracy and insightful commercial reporting, while helping to drive improved profitability, cost efficiency, and customer performance. Reporting into the Head of Finance, this is a highly visible position that combines core financial reporting responsibilities with forward-looking commercial analysis, budgeting and forecasting, and continuous improvement of management information and reporting systems.
The role will also support the development of junior team members as the finance function continues to scale. This offers genuine ownership of the commercial finance function, with the opportunity to shape and embed your own approach and make a tangible impact.
- Preparation of the monthly Sales report for the Finance Director for inclusion in the Management report
- Assist in the Development and preparation of Sales and Contribution reports for the Commercial Team
- Analysis of Customer performance for Sales and Contribution alongside Sales, providing guidance into maximising Contribution
- Supporting the preparation of the annual Budget and periodic forecasting processes and continuously improve budgeting, financial projections, and operating forecast
- Supporting systems development. Assessing trends in manufacturing performance, preparing margins by customer, product portfolio and segment
- Act as a key driver in the structuring of the overall MI suite, for delivering the business requirements on an automated basis
- Working with a cross functional team to identify areas to focus on improving business performance by analysing KPI trends relating to financial metrics such as sales, expenditures, and profit margin
- Partnering with the commercial teams to develop more robust pricing tools & processes
- Ad-hoc business performance reporting
- Presentation of monthly and quarterly financial reports of various units and departments
- Project lead for automating reporting, blueprinting business requirements and working with central BI experts
- Implementation of a business intelligence tool and dashboard reporting
- Developing financial models and analyse them to support strategic initiatives
- Support management team with data-driven analysis
Qualifications:
- ACA/ACCA/CIMA qualified
- Strong commercial acumen with experience in business partnering
- Advanced analytical skills with the ability to translate data into actionable insight
- Proven track record of driving performance through KPIs and financial analysis
- A scaling business with strong growth ambitions and a people-first culture
- Opportunity to shape reporting, processes, and commercial decision-making
- Clear progression as the business continues to expand
Finance Business Partner - Immediate Start in Penrith employer: Sowena Group
Contact Detail:
Sowena Group Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Finance Business Partner - Immediate Start in Penrith
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to your connections in the finance industry, especially those who work in manufacturing. A friendly chat can lead to insider info about job openings or even a referral.
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for interviews by researching the company’s recent projects and financial performance. Show them you’re not just another candidate; you’re genuinely interested in their growth and how you can contribute.
✨Tip Number 3
Practice your pitch! Be ready to explain how your skills in financial analysis and business partnering can drive performance and improve margins. Make it clear that you’re the right fit for their collaborative culture.
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets noticed. Plus, we love seeing candidates who are proactive about their job search.
We think you need these skills to ace Finance Business Partner - Immediate Start in Penrith
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your CV: Make sure your CV reflects the skills and experiences that align with the Finance Business Partner role. Highlight your commercial acumen and any relevant achievements in financial analysis or business partnering.
Craft a Compelling Cover Letter: Use your cover letter to tell us why you're the perfect fit for this role. Share specific examples of how you've driven performance through KPIs and financial analysis in previous positions.
Showcase Your Analytical Skills: In your application, emphasise your advanced analytical skills. We want to see how you can translate data into actionable insights, so include examples of how you've done this in past roles.
Apply Through Our Website: We encourage you to apply directly through our website. This way, we can ensure your application gets the attention it deserves and you can easily keep track of your application status.
How to prepare for a job interview at Sowena Group
✨Know Your Numbers
As a Finance Business Partner, you’ll need to demonstrate your strong analytical skills. Brush up on key financial metrics and be ready to discuss how you've used data to drive performance in previous roles. Prepare examples of how you've improved margins or contributed to budgeting processes.
✨Understand the Business
Familiarise yourself with the company’s products and market position. Research their recent growth and any innovations they’ve implemented. This will help you speak confidently about how you can contribute to their commercial success and align with their focus on quality and efficiency.
✨Showcase Your Collaboration Skills
This role requires working closely with both finance and operational teams. Be prepared to share examples of how you've successfully partnered with different departments in the past. Highlight your ability to communicate complex financial information in a way that’s accessible to non-financial colleagues.
✨Prepare for Scenario Questions
Expect questions that assess your problem-solving abilities in real-world scenarios. Think about challenges you've faced in previous roles, particularly in budgeting or forecasting, and how you overcame them. This will show your proactive approach and readiness to tackle issues head-on.