Commercial Finance Lead

Applus+; Madrid; On-site; EUR 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

Applus+ is seeking a Commercial Finance Lead to join the Corporate FP&A team in Madrid. You will partner transformation initiatives, translate them into measurable outcomes, and drive value through ROI, NPV and benefits realisation analysis.

The role requires fluency in English and strong financial modelling, with SAP and Power BI experience preferred. You will develop business cases, provide forward-looking insights, and support governance discussions to steer strategic investments across a

Qualifications

• Qualified accountant with post-qualification FP&A experience.
• Experience supporting transformation, strategic change or large-scale initiatives.
• Ability to influence senior stakeholders outside finance.
• Experience with SAP, Power BI or similar analytics platforms desirable.
• Fluent English; Spanish language is a significant benefit.
• Strong financial acumen linking activity to outcomes.
• Advanced modelling, business case development and investment appraisal skills.
• Analytical capability with focus on drivers of value creation.
• Clear communication to executive audiences and stakeholders.

Responsibilities

• Partner with transformation leaders to build and validate the financial case for change.
• Translate initiatives into measurable outcomes like revenue growth and cost optimisation.
• Link improvements to financial performance and value creation.
• Support investment decisions with ROI, NPV and benefits realisation analysis.
• Develop financial models and business cases for strategic initiatives.
• Stress-test assumptions and identify delivery risks.
• Provide governance-ready analysis for decision forums.
• Champion the use of data, AI and digital tools to improve insights.
• Create dashboards and reports to support decision-making.
• Monitor spend and benefits against approved business cases.

Skills

FP&A experience

Commercial finance partnering

Influencing senior stakeholders

Financial modelling

Investment appraisal

Data analytics mindset

Strategic transformation

SAP familiarity

Power BI usage

English fluency; Spanish helpful

Tools

SAP

SAP BPC

Power BI

Job description

Applus+ is a global leader in testing, inspection and certification, operating in more than 70 countries and backed by private equity. It is a fast-paced, value-creation-driven environment where you will see first-hand how a company of this scale is run and how strategic decisions are made.

We are currently recruiting for the Commercial Finance Lead to join our Corporate FP&A team.

You will partner strategic transformation initiatives across the Group, ensuing business leaders focus on the KPIs, value drivers and financial outcomes that matter most, shaping investment decisions and driving accountability. You will combine commercial insight, analytical rigour and influencing skills to deliver value and operational efficiency across a global business.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

Strategic Business Partnering & Value Creation:

• Partner with transformation leaders, operational teams and divisional Finance Directors to build and validate the financial case for change.
• Translate transformation initiatives into measurable outcomes, including revenue growth, margin improvement, productivity gains and cost optimisation.
• Link operational / commercial improvements to financial performance and value creation.
• Act as a trusted advisor, providing challenge, insight and independent financial judgement.
• Support investment decisions through ROI, payback, NPV and benefits realisation analysis.
• Lead the development of financial models and business cases for strategic initiatives.
• Evaluate the financial impact of transformation investments and prioritisation decisions.
• Stress-test assumptions, challenge unsupported projections and identify delivery risks.
• Support governance and investment forums with evidence-based recommendations and decision-ready analysis.

Insight, Analytics & Performance Management:

• Convert complex operational and financial data into actionable business insights. Identify the key value drivers with the greatest impact on performance and growth.
• Develop concise dashboards, reports and presentations that support decision-making.
• Own the narrative linking operational KPIs to financial performance and strategic outcomes.
• Provide forward-looking analysis rather than historical reporting.
• Track programme spend and benefits against approved business cases.
• Monitor and report progress against committed financial outcomes.
• Highlight performance risks, delivery challenges and benefit shortfalls early.
• Ensure appropriate rigour, transparency and accountability across transformation initiatives.
• Champion the use of data, AI and technology to improve insights and decision-making.
• Simplify reporting, streamline processes and improve productivity through digital tools.
• Support modern FP&A capabilities through Power BI, AI analytics and advanced modelling.
• Promote a culture of continuous improvement, innovation and data-driven decision-making.

QUALIFICATIONS & SKILLS

• Qualified accountant with significant post-qualification experience in FP&A, commercial finance or finance business partnering.
• Desirable to have commercial business controlling experience.
• Experience supporting transformation, strategic change, operational improvement or large-scale business initiatives in technical, regulated, multi-site or services-based organisations.
• Proven ability to influence senior stakeholders outside finance.
• Consulting, corporate finance, strategy or transformation experience would be highly valued.
• Fluent English required, with Spanish as significant benefit.
• Strong financial acumen with the ability to link business activity to financial outcomes.
• Advanced financial modelling, business case development and investment appraisal skills.
• Exceptional analytical capability with a focus on identifying drivers of value creation.
• Ability to simplify complexity and communicate clearly to executive audiences.
• Strong stakeholder management, influencing and communication skills.
• Comfortable operating in ambiguity and managing competing priorities.
• Experience using SAP, SAP BPC, Power BI or similar analytics platforms is desirable.
• Genuine curiosity about AI and other technologies and how they can transform performance.