At a Glance
- Tasks: Partner with the Commercial Director to drive performance through financial insights and analysis.
- Company: Join a well-known FMCG/retail business with a vibrant culture.
- Benefits: Enjoy hybrid working, career growth, and a supportive team environment.
- Why this job: Make a real impact in a fast-paced retail setting while developing your finance skills.
- Qualifications: Qualified accountant with 3-5+ years in commercial finance, preferably in retail.
- Other info: Dynamic role with opportunities to challenge and influence senior leaders.
The predicted salary is between 48000 - 72000 £ per year.
SRM are delighted to be working with an instantly recognisable FMCG/retail business who is looking for a Senior Finance Business Partner to support the Commercial Director and wider operations team. The role is highly commercial and fast paced, focused on driving performance through insight, challenge and decision support.
Key Responsibilities
- Partner with Commercial Director to produce accurate P&L forecasting, budgeting, and variance analysis tailored to retail KPIs like sales density, stock turnover, and store profitability.
- Provide constructive financial challenge on store strategies, merchandising decisions, and cost optimisation, translating complex data into clear recommendations for non-finance stakeholders.
- Develop financial models for scenario planning (e.g., promotional impacts, staffing costs, outlet expansions) and monitor performance in a fast-paced retail environment.
- Deliver monthly management reporting, executive summaries, and ad-hoc analysis to influence commercial outcomes and mitigate risks.
- Collaborate across retail operations, supply chain, and central finance to ensure alignment on budgets and drive efficiency.
Essential Requirements
- Qualified accountant (ACA, ACCA, CIMA) with 3-5+ years in commercial finance, ideally in retail or fast-paced FMCG.
- Proven ability to adapt to dynamic, high-pressure environments with strong retail metrics knowledge (e.g., like-for-like sales, gross margins).
- Exceptional stakeholder skills: comfortable challenging senior leaders constructively while building trusted partnerships.
- Advanced Excel/modelling expertise; experience with retail systems (e.g., ERP, BI tools) a plus.
- Commercial mindset with excellent communication to influence without authority.
This organisation has a great culture, career opportunities and offers Hybrid working.
Senior Finance Business Partner in Guildford employer: SRM RECRUITMENT LIMITED
Contact Detail:
SRM RECRUITMENT LIMITED Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Senior Finance Business Partner in Guildford
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to your connections in the FMCG and retail sectors. A friendly chat can lead to insider info about job openings or even a referral, which can give you a leg up in the application process.
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for interviews by diving deep into the company’s financial performance and recent news. Show them you’re not just another candidate; you’re genuinely interested in their business and ready to contribute from day one.
✨Tip Number 3
Practice your storytelling skills! Be ready to share specific examples of how you've driven performance through insight and decision support in previous roles. This will help you stand out as a candidate who can make an impact.
✨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 and engaged with our brand.
We think you need these skills to ace Senior Finance Business Partner in Guildford
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your CV: Make sure your CV speaks directly to the role of Senior Finance Business Partner. Highlight your experience in commercial finance, especially in retail or FMCG, and showcase your skills in P&L forecasting and budgeting.
Craft a Compelling Cover Letter: Use your cover letter to tell us why you're the perfect fit for this fast-paced environment. Share specific examples of how you've driven performance through insight and decision support in previous roles.
Showcase Your Stakeholder Skills: In your application, emphasise your ability to build trusted partnerships and challenge senior leaders constructively. We want to see how you’ve influenced outcomes in your past positions.
Apply Through Our Website: We encourage you to apply directly through our website. It’s the best way for us to receive your application and ensures you don’t miss out on any important updates about the role!
How to prepare for a job interview at SRM RECRUITMENT LIMITED
✨Know Your Numbers
As a Senior Finance Business Partner, you'll need to be on top of your game with financial metrics. Brush up on key retail KPIs like sales density and stock turnover. Be ready to discuss how you've used these metrics in past roles to drive performance.
✨Prepare for Scenario Planning
Expect questions about scenario planning and financial modelling. Think of examples where you've developed models for promotional impacts or staffing costs. Show how your insights have influenced decision-making in a fast-paced environment.
✨Master the Art of Constructive Challenge
This role requires you to challenge senior leaders while maintaining strong relationships. Prepare examples of how you've constructively critiqued strategies or decisions in the past, and how that led to better outcomes.
✨Showcase Your Communication Skills
You'll need to translate complex financial data into clear recommendations for non-finance stakeholders. Practice explaining financial concepts in simple terms, and be ready to demonstrate your ability to influence without authority.