Finance Business Partner

FGH (Freemans Grattan Holdings); Bradford; On-site; GBP 45,000 - 65,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading retail firm in Bradford is seeking a Finance Business Partner to support financial matters and ensure optimal commercial outcomes. The successful candidate will deliver month-end reporting, provide financial planning, and hold strong leadership within the finance team. Essential qualifications include a financial certification and previous experience in a commercial environment, along with strong Excel skills. This role offers an opportunity to drive financial performance in a dynamic setting.

Qualifications

• Good commercial understanding of business and retailing.
• Previous experience in a commercial or retail environment.
• Business partnering experience with a strong sense of customer focus.
• Professionally qualified with 2 years PQE.
• Production of month end accounts and end-to-end budgets/forecasts.

Responsibilities

• Deliver month end reporting and commentaries.
• Develop and maintain schedules for financial performance.
• Deliver accurate and timely month end accounts.
• Ensure compliance with UK and local regulations.

Skills

Commercial understanding of business and retailing

Strong Excel & modelling skills

Excellent communication & organisational skills

Ability to understand key business cost drivers

Strong sense of customer focus

Education

Financial Qualification (CIMA, ACCA, ACA)

Maths and English grade C or above

Job description

About the role

Working as part of the Finance Directorates senior management team, this integrated functional business partnering role is responsible for all financial matters relating to the partnered department and as such also being a senior and valued member of that departmental management team. Specifically delivering month end reporting and commentaries, planning responsibilities and commercial support whilst ensuring appropriate controls and financials disciplines are in place as well as provision of day to day finance support. Providing insight and challenge to enhance decision making and improve commercial outcomes. Furthermore, review reporting and (including project accounting) and ensure appropriate detail is in place to help guide the business and track improvements. This requires active relationship building whilst pro‑actively seeking out opportunities to enhance the financial performance of the business in a fast‑paced environment. Whilst the role has analyst support - and therefore management skills ar

Role Responsibilities

Commercial Decision Support

• Work hand in glove with Director & senior management team whilst maintaining commercial objectivity – pro‑actively providing financial analysis & information to enable the team to make the right decisions
• Actively seek out opportunities to improve business performance and obtain buy in along the way
• Commercial awareness to credibly challenge decision making & address KPI performance
• Develop and maintain appropriate schedules for financial performance, financial simulations, business cases and project accounting. Hold the department to account on the commitments
• Ensure appropriate reporting is in place and provide insight into KPI’s – ensuring these are aligned to the business objectives.

Financial Planning & Forecasting

• Deliver regular financial forecasts and budgets including packs and supporting analysis – ensuring appropriate reviews are in place and business buy in is obtained
• Own the forecast timetable and ensure all reviews and deadlines are maintained and stakeholders managed and updated accordingly
• Ensure process is aligned to wider FGH planning cycle and proactively drive the integration and implementation of seasonal planning within the business function
• Actively seek out opportunities to improve and simplify the forecast process – including cash flow and balance sheet dimensions
• Work with FP&A the stakeholders to consolidate forecasts and enhance understanding
• Deliver weekly latest views for the relevant area ensure the function is aligned on that view

Month End Reporting and Commentaries

• Deliver accurate and timely month end accounts with commentaries. Work with business stakeholders to ensure variances are understood and risks and opportunities actioned
• Liaise with reporting teams to ensure numbers are understood and onward commentary is provided, appropriate, timely, on format and is insightful
• Deliver balance sheet reconciliations including risks and opps
• Manage Internal and External Audit interaction and ensure appropriate schedules in place

Leadership & Relationships

• Finance representative within senior team forums
• Appropriate staff management, undertaking and contributing to regular one to one’s, and the annual performance management processes
• Build relationships across the business & Group – earning trust in the business department and displaying the FGH values
• Provide financial leadership and ensure controls & disciplines are adhered to.
• Keep close relationship with reporting team to ensure understanding of actuals vs forecast & potential risks and opportunities

Miscellaneous

• Deputise for Head of Finance
• Supplementary ad hoc tasks as they arise
• To be committed to good outcomes for customers at all times
• Ensure compliance with all applicable UK and local regulations, Company Policies and FCA Conduct Rules
• Demonstrate behaviours in line with company values
• To take reasonable care for the health and safety of yourself and other persons who may be affected by acts and omissions at work

About you

Role Related Skills, Specialist Knowledge and Experience

Essential

• Good commercial understanding of business and retailing. (K)
• Previous role held, work placement or part time role in a commercial or retail environment. (E)
• Business partnering experience with strong sense of customer focus and objective challenge
• To be Professionally Qualified with 2 yrs PQE – internal candidates may be considered at a lower level of PQE with appropriate experience
• Production of month end accounts
• Production of end to end budgets / forecast
• Retail or consumer business experience
• Strong Excel & modelling skills, tables, spreadsheets, graphs etc
• Excellent communication & organisational skills
• Ability to understand key business cost drivers, experience of profitability and decision support modelling
• Ability to forge effective business relationships with colleagues across the business at all levels
• Good relationship building skills but ability to be objective and to challenge in a positive manner
• Attention to detail and ability to deliver reporting and budgeting to timetable
• Staff management skills if responsible for team members

Qualifications & Professional Development / Memberships

• Financial Qualification, CIMA, ACCA, ACA
• Maths and English grade C or above, or equivalent.

Personal Attributes

• Ability to work under pressure to tight deadlines with high levels of accuracy
• Personable but professional – good relationship building skills