Commercial Finance Manager in Chelmsford

My client is now seeking to recruit a high-calibre, commercially minded and pragmatic Commercial Finance Manager (ACCA/CIMA/ACA) to strengthen the Group Finance function and support the next phase of growth and value creation. As a PE-backed business, it is entering a phase where the quality, speed and credibility of financial insight are critical. The existing finance team performs strongly in core reporting and control, but the business now requires enhanced senior FP&A capability and deeper commercial business partnering to support investor and business expectations. This is a newly created role, designed as a targeted strategic investment rather than incremental overhead, to elevate the Group’s commercial finance capability and strengthen decision making.

Reporting directly to the Group Finance Director, the Commercial Finance Manager will operate as a senior FP&A and commercial business-partnering lead within the finance leadership team. The role will work closely with the Group Finance Director, Group Board Directors, the senior leadership team and operational leaders to deliver forward-looking insight, scenario modelling, and value-driver analysis aligned to the PE value-creation plan.

The role will play a central part in:

• Strengthening FP&A capability through robust forecasting, budgeting, scenario and sensitivity analysis.
• Embedding finance as a true strategic partner in commercial and operational decision-making (pricing, investment appraisal, cost optimisation, growth initiatives).
• Improving the quality, consistency and integrity of financial and operational data, including building a data cube in conjunction with specialist 3rd party support.
• Building investor-grade reporting and insight.

The Commercial Finance Manager will also play a key role in developing a data-led control environment, improving visibility of performance drivers, and supporting value-creation delivery across the Group. Working as part of the wider finance leadership team, and alongside a highly capable and well-regarded finance function, the role will help free up senior leadership capacity during critical periods, improve execution speed and decision quality.

This is a strategically important role, created to support the growth ambitions, strengthening commercial insight, financial leadership capability and long-term value creation.

Key Responsibilities:

• Collaborate with a third-party specialist to build a high-quality data cube.
• Support exit-readiness preparation across multiple functional areas.
• Build strong FP&A capability to support improved decision-making.
• Develop advanced models, reporting, and dashboards.
• Lead investment appraisals and develop financial business cases including ROI assessments.
• Act as a strategic business partner to Operations, Sales, Commercial, and Strategy teams.
• Provide data-driven recommendations that influence decisions and drive performance.
• Build, interpret, and challenge the sales pipeline to improve forecasting.
• Troubleshoot complex issues, identify root causes, and recommend pragmatic solutions.
• Enhance understanding of business drivers across P&L, cash flow, balance sheet, and KPIs.
• Develop robust financial models and tools that support forecasting and planning.

The successful candidate is expected to meet or exceed the following criteria:

• Fully qualified accountant (CIMA, ACCA or ACA).
• Trained with a major accountancy practice (Big 4 or equivalent).
• Minimum 2+ years of industry or advisory experience post-qualification.
• Strong technical understanding of P&L, cash flow, balance sheet, KPIs, and financial modelling.
• Track record of influencing business decisions and performance.

Desired Qualities & Attributes:

• Highly data literate with expert analytical capability.
• Exceptional commercial acumen.
• Self-starter with strong ownership and initiative.
• High intellectual rigor and passion for evidence-based decision-making.
• Ability to translate complex data into actionable insights.
• Confident and credible communicator.
• Strong interpersonal skills and high emotional intelligence.
• Willingness to challenge the status quo.
• Above-average work output and strong work ethic.
• Highly resilient and pragmatic.
• Ambition to progress into a future Finance Director role.

What the Successful Candidate Can Expect:

We aim to create an environment where people can do meaningful work, feel valued, and see the real impact of what they contribute. This role offers genuine influence and visibility within the business, with the opportunity to shape commercial insight, strengthen decision-making and play a meaningful part in the Group’s continued growth. The successful candidate will work closely with senior leaders across the organisation in a role that combines challenge, autonomy and real responsibility, with the freedom to bring ideas, challenge constructively and help shape how the business evolves.

The successful candidate will be joining a PE-backed organisation with strong momentum, but one that has retained a grounded, collaborative and low-ego person-led culture. Leadership is approachable, relationships are important, and people are trusted to take ownership and make things better. The business values integrity, openness and shared accountability, and success is driven as much by how things are done as by what is delivered.

From a reward perspective, we offer a competitive and well-balanced package, including:

• A strong market-aligned base salary.
• Company performance-related bonus opportunity.
• A long-term career platform rather than a short-term role.
• Genuine investment in development, progression and leadership growth.

We believe in building careers, not just filling roles. This is an opportunity to join a growing organisation where ambition, contribution and integrity are genuinely valued, where people are supported to develop and progress, and where success is shared over the long term.