Business Controller

Moët Hennessy; City Of London; On-site; GBP 60,000 - 85,000; Full time

Job summary

A luxury goods company is seeking a Business Controller to join their London finance team. The role involves managing the monthly closing process, overseeing gross margin analysis, and collaborating with various departments to drive financial performance. Candidates should have a relevant degree, a minimum of 6 years experience in financial analysis, and proficiency in SAP and Excel. Strong analytical and communication skills are essential for this position.

Qualifications

• 6+ years’ experience in a Controlling or Financial Analysis position.
• Solid finance background with business analysis experience.
• Experience in FMCG or professional services environment is a plus.

Responsibilities

• Manage monthly closing process and gross margin.
• Conduct variance analysis to identify risks and opportunities.
• Collaborate with Supply Chain on logistics costs and inventory reviews.
• Automate reports and processes to drive efficiency.

Skills

Finance literacy

Analytical thinking

Team collaboration

Attention to detail

Communication

Education

Relevant University degree

CIMA or equivalent qualification

Tools

Microsoft Office (Excel)

SAP

Power BI

Hyperion (Topaz)

Anaplan

Job description

Position

The MHUK Controlling team works closely with all areas of the business (Sales, Marketing, HR, Accounting) to review, analyse, and drive profitability. Controlling has the ownership of the budgeting and forecasting processes, as well as the full company P&L, ensuring financial targets are met and correct accounting standards are respected.

The Business Controller is a key member of the finance team, responsible for overseeing and managing the monthly closing process as well as the financial planning for cost of distribution, overheads, and inventory provisions. This role involves a high degree of collaboration with the commercial planning department to coordinate and consolidate information to analyze gross margin, providing insightful analysis and recommendations to support strategic decision-making.

Job Responsibilities

• Monthly Closing & Gross Margin Management: Manage relevant aspects of the monthly closing process related to Gross Margin, Variable Selling Costs, and Fixed Selling Costs. This includes journal entry preparation, system checks, reporting, and variance analysis against forecasts.
• Lead variance analysis for each brand, identifying and highlighting key risks and opportunities (R&Os).
• Contribute to monthly/quarterly management reports, providing value-added analysis and insightful commentary.
• Consolidate Gross Margin impacts for comprehensive reporting.

Gross Margin Analysis & Collaboration

• Partner with Commercial Planning to report, challenge, and analyse Gross Margin trends (volumes, price, duties and COGS).
• Ensure accurate and insightful commentary during actual reporting phases and proactively identify and incorporate risks and opportunities into forecasts and planning processes.

P&L Ownership (Variance & Fixed Costs)

• Serve as the primary Business Partner for Supply Chain, reviewing logistics costs across warehouses and the impact of environmental taxes.
• Collaborate closely with accounting on inventory depreciation reviews.
• Support monthly overhead activities and forecast planning, acting as a key Business Partner to communicate financial results effectively with diverse stakeholders.

Other Activities

• Conduct monthly reviews of Balance Sheet positions on key accounts to identify P&L risks and opportunities.
• Participate in key regional projects focused on creating and automating reports using Power BI.
• Support the automation and streamlining of reports and processes to drive efficiency.
• Contribute to Internal Control activities, with a focus on creating detailed procedures to document existing processes.

Profile

Education/Background:

• Finance literate with relevant University degree
• Study towards a CIMA or equivalent qualification

Professional experience & know how:

• 6 years’ minimum experience in a Controlling or Financial Analysis position
• Solid Finance background with business analysis experience
• Previous experience in an FMCG or professional services environment (plus)

Technical skills:

• Microsoft Office (Excel proficiency)
• SAP (minimum 2 years' experience)
• Power BI
• Hyperion (Topaz), Anaplan is a plus

Personal & interpersonal skills:

• Well organised
• Accuracy & attention to detail
• Strong team player with excellent collaboration skills
• Respect of deadlines
• Strong communication skills
• Hard-working and hands-on
• Trust and integrity
• Curious – interested in getting into the detail of analysis
• Flexible

Languages

• English

Applicants must have the right to work in the UK.