Finance Manager

SSP Food Travel Experts; Birmingham; On-site; GBP 50,000 - 70,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading food travel company in Birmingham is seeking a Finance Manager to support financial performance and strategic direction. This role involves business partnering, financial analysis, and managing month-end accounting processes. The ideal candidate has strong financial acumen, experience in a retail environment, and advanced Excel skills. This is a great opportunity for career progression within a dynamic finance team.

Qualifications

• Proven experience in a complex, client-facing or retail environment.
• Demonstrated expertise in financial accounting, budgeting, and business planning.
• Comfortable attending and contributing to client meetings.

Responsibilities

• Act as a trusted financial advisor to RG Operators and management.
• Support key client accounts by preparing financial insights.
• Lead preparation of annual budgets and quarterly forecasts.

Skills

Financial accounting

Business partnering

Advanced Excel skills

Financial analysis

Education

ACCA or CIMA qualified

Tools

SAP S/4HANA

Job description

About the Role

The Finance Manager plays a key role in supporting the financial performance and strategic direction of the Rail Gourmet (RG) business. This is a broad and hands‑on role, encompassing business partnering, management accounting, financial planning & analysis (FP&A), and commercial support for new and existing business proposals.

Working within a close‑knit RG finance team and reporting to the Financial Controller, the Finance Manager will collaborate closely with RG Operators, business partners, and key client accounts. The role offers excellent exposure to senior stakeholders and provides a strong platform for career progression within the wider SSP finance organisation.

What you'll be doing:

• Business Partnering: Act as a trusted financial advisor to RG Operators and management, contributing to strategic and operational decision‑making.
• Client Engagement: Support key client accounts by preparing financial insights and attending client meetings to provide commercial and financial input.
• Contract & Proposal Support: Prepare financial models and analysis for new business opportunities and revisions to existing contracts, ensuring robust evaluation of returns and risks.
• Performance Analysis: Deliver insightful financial analysis to support the review of operational performance and identify areas for improvement.
• Financial Planning & Forecasting: Lead the preparation of annual budgets, quarterly forecasts, and financial plans for RG client accounts.
• Month‑End Close: Manage month‑end accounting processes, including journal postings, reconciliations, and preparation of financial statements to support audit requirements.
• Business Improvement: Identify and implement initiatives to enhance financial processes, drive productivity, and support continuous improvement across the RG business.

To be successful in this role you will need:

Essential:

• Proven experience in a complex, client‑facing or retail environment
• Strong financial and commercial acumen
• Demonstrated expertise in financial accounting, budgeting, and business planning
• Experience in business partnering and supporting operational teams
• Comfortable attending and contributing to client meetings
• Advanced Excel skills and strong analytical capabilities

Desirable:

• ACCA or CIMA qualified, with a minimum of 5 years post‑qualification experience
• Experience in the rail or contract services industry
• Familiarity with SAP S/4HANA
• Experience in developing financial models for contract services or commercial proposals

SSP is proud to be an equal opportunities employer. We are committed to recruiting and retaining the most talented individuals from a range of backgrounds, skills, and perspectives.