Finance Business Partner

The successful candidate will act as the Finance Director's number two, helping to drive better decision-making, improve processes, support acquisitions and integrations, and build a more scalable, technology-enabled finance function through the effective use of automation, data analytics and AI-supported forecasting.

Client Details

An owner managed, franchise business with a growing estate, based in south Manchester. They are growing to become a leading franchise and have plans to continue to drive their success. It is an exciting time to join a deliberately small finance team, with mentorship from the FD and working closely with CEO as they make finance a partner to the wider business.

Description

This is a newly evolved Finance Business Partner position, designed to move beyond traditional finance management and provide genuine commercial partnership to a growing franchise business.

Business Partnering & Commercial Finance

Partner with operational leaders across the business to provide financial insight and support decision-making.

Challenge performance constructively and identify opportunities to improve profitability and operational efficiency.

Support revenue growth initiatives through analysis, reporting and actionable recommendations.

Support the development of dashboards and performance reporting tools.

Support acquisition activities, due diligence and business integration projects.

AI and process implementation

Work directly with our cloud data warehouse, which holds transaction-level trading data for the whole estate; sales, labour, waste, stock etc and P&L's. A great deal of the insight in this business comes from querying it directly, and we will support you to learn the query language if you don't already have it.

Combine warehouse data with the management accounts to produce reporting that is genuinely forward-looking.

Management Accounting & Financial Control

Lead the period end management accounts.

Oversee Balance Sheet Reconciliations ensuring accuracy and efficiency.

Using automation, AI-enabled tools and operational data to improve forward-looking insight.

Oversee P&L performance across a large multi-site estate.

Deliver variance analysis, budgeting and forecasting activities.

Produce financial packs and management information for senior leadership.

Monitor key performance indicators and communicate trends and risks.

Support cash flow reporting and working capital management.

Ensure financial integrity whilst maintaining a pragmatic and commercial mindset.

Profile

We're looking for a commercially minded finance professional who combines strong technical skills with curiosity, initiative and a positive approach.

You'll enjoy understanding how businesses operate, be comfortable working with large volumes of data, and be excited by the opportunity to improve systems and processes in a growing organisation.

Essential Experience

Qualified Accountant (ACA, ACCA, CIMA or equivalent).

Management accounting and financial reporting experience.

Advanced Excel and financial analysis skills.

Budgeting, forecasting and business planning experience.

Ability to influence stakeholders outside of finance.

Experience identifying and delivering process improvements.

Excellent communication and relationship-building skills.

Desirable Experience

Multi-site, retail or franchise environment.

FP&A and commercial finance exposure.

Finance systems implementation or automation projects.

Acquisition and integration experience.

Experience working in a high-growth or private equity-backed business.

Job Offer

Competitive salary at 55,000- 65,000 dependant on experience.

Four days a week onsite, one day flex.

Employee discount and reward programmes.

25 days holiday, plus bank, with additional entitlement gained with years service.