Vibrant Foods is one of Europe's largest South Asian food groups, bringing together a portfolio of well-established heritage brands, including East End, TRS, Fudco, Cofresh, and Everest. Headquartered in Watford, with three manufacturing facilities across the Midlands, the company is dedicated to creating authentic, flavour-led food experiences that celebrate South Asian heritage while meeting the growing demand for plant-based and vegetarian products.
The business combines a rich cultural legacy with a modern, growth-focused approach, supplying both retail and foodservice markets across the UK and internationally. Its purpose is to create adventures in flavour that bring people together by connecting consumers with foods rooted in taste, heritage, and culture.
At the heart of Vibrant Foods is a people-focused culture underpinned by five core values: Swift, Passionate, Inclusive, Collaborative, and Empowered. Employees are encouraged to share ideas, work collaboratively to solve challenges, and take ownership of their work. This creates an agile, supportive environment where innovation, continuous improvement, and personal development are actively encouraged.
Job Title - Commercial Finance Business Partner - Grocery
Location - Watford, UK
Working Pattern - Monday to Friday
Reporting to - Head of Commercial Finance
Role Purpose
To lead the finance partnership for Grocery, providing robust challenge and decision support to drive profitable growth. The role combines customer, category and financial insight to improve Joint Business Plans, forecasts, investment decisions, NSV, gross margin and EBITDA delivery.
Key Responsibilities
- Partner the Grocery Sales Director and account teams, providing constructive challenge and insight.
- Own month-end Grocery analysis, explaining P&L and margin drivers, risks, opportunities and actions.
- Oversee commercial close activities, including journals, accruals, controls and reconciliations.
- Lead Grocery management information, including P&L, margin bridges, KPIs and senior narrative.
- Evaluate customer profitability, pricing, promotions, tenders, range, distribution and trade-spend efficiency.
- Own weekly flash forecasts and Grocery S&OP, challenging volume, promotions, stock, service and margin.
- Build and track customer Joint Business Plans aligned to NSV, Gross-to-Net, margin and EBITDA targets.
- Govern Gross-to-Net investment, including promotions, discounts, rebates, credits, overriders and accruals.
- Improve reporting, controls and decisions through automation, technology and stronger data governance.
Person Specification
- Qualified or part-qualified accountant (ACA, ACCA, CIMA or equivalent) with commercial finance experience.
- Strong understanding of P&L, NSV, gross margin, pricing, promotions, Gross-to-Net, accruals and reconciliations.
- Experience of customer P&Ls, JBPs, trade investment, forecasting and commercial decision support.
- Advanced Excel and analytical skills, handling large datasets and building auditable models.
- Ability to translate complex customer, category and financial information into recommendations.
- Confident business partner who challenges assumptions, identifies risks and drives action.
- Strong organisation across month-end, S&OP, JBP reviews, pricing and promotional evaluation.
- Commercial Finance or FP&A experience within Grocery, FMCG, retail or branded food.
- Power BI and ERP or reporting-tool experience, including reporting automation.
- Experience coaching analysts and presenting performance to senior or board audiences.
Benefits Full of Flavour
At Vibrant Foods, we believe great benefits are an essential ingredient in a rewarding career. Here's a taste of what you can enjoy:
- 33 days' annual leave - Plenty of time to relax, recharge and enjoy life outside work.
- Pension contributions matched up to 5% - Contribute 5% and we'll match it - giving you a total pension contribution of 10%.
- Private healthcare eligibility - Access additional support to help you look after your health and wellbeing.
- Volunteering days - Take time away from your usual role to support the causes and communities that matter to you.
- Free on-site parking - Making your daily journey a little easier.
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Finance Business Partner in Watford employer: Vibrant Foods
Vibrant Foods is an exceptional employer that fosters a vibrant and inclusive work culture, where employees are empowered to share ideas and collaborate on innovative projects. Located in Birmingham, the company offers generous benefits such as 33 days of annual leave, matched pension contributions, and private healthcare eligibility, ensuring a rewarding work-life balance. With a strong focus on personal development and a commitment to celebrating South Asian heritage, Vibrant Foods provides meaningful opportunities for growth and engagement within a supportive environment.
