Finance Business Partner

Impact Food Group; Knaphill; On-site; GBP 55,000 - 75,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

25 days annual leave + bank holidays

Staff discount scheme

Pension scheme

Monthly incentives

Job summary

Impact Food Group is seeking a Finance Business Partner to embed within operational teams and provide strategic financial guidance. The role focuses on turning data into actionable insights to drive growth, protect margins, and improve financial performance across multiple sites and contracts.

The ideal candidate will bring 2–4 years in FP&A or business partnering, strong Excel skills, and experience in cost allocation and margin analysis. DBS checks may be required in the school catering sector.

Qualifications

• Finance background with accounting qualification or progress toward
• 2–4 years of experience in commercial pricing, FP&A, or business partnering
• Advanced financial modelling and robust Excel skills

Responsibilities

• Act as the dedicated financial advisor to non-finance directors and managers.
• Lead annual budgeting and rolling forecasts for assigned divisions.
• Build and maintain multi-tab financial models to stress-test variables.
• Design and track KPIs to guide teams toward profitability and efficiency.
• Automate routine reporting and improve data consistency across the team.

Skills

Commercial advisory

Stakeholder management

Financial modelling

Education

CIMA/ACCA/ACA

Tools

Excel

Job description

The Finance Business Partner (FBP) acts as the primary financial co-pilot and strategic advisor to key operational and commercial stakeholders. Rather than just reporting on past performance, the FBP is an embedded partner who seeks to understand the "why" behind the numbers, providing clarity on the past, insight for the present, and foresight for the future. The ultimate goal of this role is to turn robust financial data into actionable commercial insight, enabling operational teams to drive growth, protect margins, and deliver measurable financial improvements. What you ll be Doing Role Responsibilities Strategic Partnering & Influence

Strategic Partnering & Influence

• Commercial Advisory: Act as the dedicated point of contact for financial advice to non-finance operational directors and managers, translating complex data into clear, actionable business recommendations.
• Challenge & Collaboration: Build strong, collaborative relationships across departments while maintaining the commercial diplomacy to constructively challenge operational assumptions and plans when necessary.

Budgeting, Forecasting & Foresight

• Agile Planning: Lead the annual budgeting and rolling reforecasting processes for assigned operational divisions, ensuring alignment with overall corporate strategy.
• Scenario Modelling: Build and maintain flexible, multi-tab financial models to stress-test business variables (such as volume shifts, supply chain changes, and macroeconomic cost pressures).

Commercial Performance & Benchmarking

• Post-Mobilisation Reviews: Conduct "Actual vs. Business Case" performance reviews on recently launched contracts or initiatives to measure financial success and feed lessons learned back into future models.
• KPI Development: Design and track forward-looking operational benchmarks (e.g., gross profit percentages, labour efficiency ratios, and volume uptakes) to guide teams toward maximum profitability.

Systems, Data & Process Excellence

• Data Leverage: Work closely with systems specialists to fully exploit core financial platforms, automating routine reporting to maximize time spent on high-value analysis.
• Consistency of Output: Adhere to and help refine standardised operational procedures to ensure absolute consistency and quality of commercial finance outputs across the team.

What We Are Looking For Technical & Professional Credentials

• Finance Background: Newly qualified or part-qualified accountant (CIMA / ACCA / ACA) with strong foundational knowledge of P&L mechanics, margin analysis, and cost allocation.
• Proven Experience: 2 4 years of experience in a highly commercial pricing, FP&A, or business partnering role. Ideally within a fast-paced, multi-site, or contract-led industry.
• Advanced Financial Modelling: Superb Excel skills with a proven track record of building robust, clean, and easily navigable commercial models.

At Impact Food Group, we re more than just a school caterer. We re on a mission to create a positive food culture and help more students enjoy healthier, better-quality food. Making a positive social impact is at the heart of everything we do. We re constantly learning, evolving, and improving every way, every day.

We one of England s fastest-growing school food providers, serving around one million students every day across more than 1,500 schools. We are dedicated to delivering high-quality, nutritious meals that support student wellbeing and enjoyment. Our brands include Innovate, Cucina, Chapter One (Independent Schools), Hutchison, and Dolce, reflecting our breadth of experience and reach across the school catering sector. Guided by our values, integrity, bold, impactful, humble and community; you will help us shape a workplace and culture we can all be proud of.

• 25 days annual leave plus bank holidays
• Staff discount scheme across 850+ retailers
• Pension scheme and other great company benefits
• Monthly incentives and recognition for top performers

Our Team

IFG are committed to the safeguarding of children, and our employees share this commitment.

Successful candidates are required to undergo an enhanced DBS check, which IFG will pay for.