At a Glance
- Tasks: Shape data usage across operations and commercial decision-making.
- Company: High-growth wholesale and retail business with strong expansion.
- Benefits: 33 days holiday, birthday off, enhanced family leave, and free parking.
- Other info: Great career progression opportunities and supportive senior leadership.
- Why this job: Build impactful reporting and insights from scratch in a dynamic environment.
- Qualifications: Strong analytical mindset and experience in commercial finance or data analysis.
The predicted salary is between 50000 - 60000 £ per year.
The Opportunity
Sowena are partnered with a high-growth wholesale and retail business experiencing strong year-on-year expansion and building out its commercial finance capability in their search for a new Finance Business Partner. This is a newly created role sitting at the intersection of operations, stock, and commercial decision-making, offering the opportunity to shape how data is used across the business. With increasing access to operational and financial data, the business is now looking for someone to build meaningful insight, reporting, and simple models from the ground up. Working closely with both operational and commercial leadership, this role will suit someone with a strong analytical mindset who is confident working with data, enjoys building reporting from scratch, and is comfortable challenging stakeholders in a fast-paced environment. You’ll have strong support from senior leadership, but this role requires someone who can work proactively, take ownership, and operate with a high level of autonomy.
The Role
This is a commercially focused business partnering role, supporting both operations (nursery, logistics, fulfilment) and commercial teams (pricing, buying). The position is less about traditional accounting and more focused on data, analysis, and insight, helping the business better understand margins, stock, pricing, and operational performance. You’ll play a key role in building and developing reporting using Power BI, Excel, and Business Central, helping to drive smarter, data‑led decision-making across the organisation.
Key Responsibilities
- Business Partnering (Operations & Commercial)
- Act as a key partner to operations, supporting performance across pick, pack, dispatch, and logistics
- Work closely with commercial teams on pricing, promotions, and buying decisions
- Challenge and influence stakeholders using data‑led insight to improve profitability
- Analysis & Reporting
- Analyse stock movements, inventory levels, and operational costs
- Provide insight into margins, pricing performance, and product profitability
- Develop reporting on operational KPIs including productivity, fulfilment, and cost per order
- Deliver high volumes of ad‑hoc analysis to support trading and commercial decisions
- Build and develop reporting models from scratch using Excel and Power BI
- Work with Business Central data to improve visibility and reporting capability
- Identify opportunities to automate reporting and improve data quality
- Translate complex data into clear, actionable insight for non‑finance teams
- Planning & Performance
- Support budgeting and forecasting across operations and commercial areas
- Track performance against plan, highlighting risks and opportunities
- Contribute to pricing strategy, stock optimisation, and profitability improvement
About You
- Background in commercial finance, data analysis, or operations/stock‑focused roles
- Strong understanding of stock, pricing, margin, or operational processes
- Advanced Excel skills with experience building reports or models
- Exposure to Power BI and/or Business Central highly beneficial
- Comfortable working with large datasets and building insight from scratch
- Confident communicator, able to challenge and influence strong personalities
- Proactive, self‑starter who can work independently and take ownership
- Not necessarily qualified, strong commercial and analytical capability is key
- Experience within retail, wholesale, manufacturing, or supply chain environments would be advantageous.
Why This Role?
- High‑growth business with strong expansion trajectory
- Opportunity to build reporting and insight capability from the ground up
- Broad exposure across operations, stock, and commercial decision‑making
- Work closely with senior stakeholders across the business
- Clear progression opportunities as the function develops
- 33 days holiday (including bank holidays)
- Birthday day off
- Enhanced family leave
- Company sick pay
- Dog‑friendly office
- Free on‑site parking
This is an excellent opportunity for someone commercially minded and data‑driven to step into a role with real ownership, influence, and long‑term progression within a growing retail and wholesale environment.
Finance Business Partner in Preston employer: Sowena Group
Sowena is an exceptional employer, offering a dynamic work environment within a high-growth wholesale and retail business that prioritises data-driven decision-making. Employees benefit from a supportive culture with strong leadership backing, ample opportunities for professional development, and a range of perks including 33 days of holiday, a dog-friendly office, and enhanced family leave. This role not only allows for significant autonomy but also provides the chance to shape the future of commercial finance in a rapidly expanding organisation.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Finance Business Partner in Preston
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to people in the finance and retail sectors, especially those who work in companies similar to Sowena. A friendly chat can lead to insider info about job openings or even a referral.
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for interviews by brushing up on your data analysis skills. Be ready to discuss how you've used data to drive decisions in past roles. We want to see you shine with examples that show your analytical mindset!
✨Tip Number 3
Showcase your ability to build reports from scratch. Whether it’s through Power BI or Excel, have some examples ready to demonstrate your skills. This is your chance to impress us with your proactive approach!
✨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 take the initiative to connect directly with us.
We think you need these skills to ace Finance Business Partner in Preston
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your CV:Make sure your CV speaks directly to the role of Finance Business Partner. Highlight your experience with data analysis, reporting, and any relevant tools like Power BI or Excel. 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 explain why you're excited about this role and how you can contribute to our high-growth business. Be sure to mention your analytical mindset and experience in commercial finance.
Showcase Your Analytical Skills:In your application, don’t just list your skills—show us how you've used them! Share specific examples of how you've built reports or provided insights that influenced decision-making. We love seeing real-world applications of your expertise.
Apply Through Our Website:We encourage you to apply through our website for a smoother process. It helps us keep track of your application and ensures you get all the updates. Plus, it shows you're keen on joining our team at StudySmarter!
How to prepare for a job interview at Sowena Group
✨Know Your Numbers
Before the interview, brush up on key financial metrics and data analysis techniques relevant to the role. Be prepared to discuss how you’ve used data to influence decisions in past roles, especially in commercial finance or operations.
✨Showcase Your Analytical Skills
Bring examples of reports or models you've built using Excel or Power BI. Discuss the insights you derived from them and how they impacted business decisions. This will demonstrate your ability to translate complex data into actionable insights.
✨Prepare for Stakeholder Challenges
Think about scenarios where you had to challenge stakeholders or influence decisions based on data. Prepare to share these experiences, highlighting your communication skills and confidence in presenting data-driven insights.
✨Understand the Business Landscape
Research Sowena and their position in the wholesale and retail market. Familiarise yourself with their operations, stock management, and pricing strategies. This knowledge will help you tailor your responses and show that you're genuinely interested in the role.
