Head of Commercial Finance

COREcruitment Ltd; Crawley; Hybrid; GBP 70,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading drinks manufacturing company in Crawley seeks a hands-on Commercial Head of Finance to steer the finance function and support growth. This hybrid role requires a qualified accountant with FMCG experience and advanced Excel skills. Responsibilities include financial reporting, budgeting, cash flow management, and strategic initiatives. Ideal candidates should thrive in fast-changing environments and possess strong communication skills.

Qualifications

• Qualified accountant preferred with ACCA, ACA, CIMA, or equivalent.
• Experience in FMCG with finance management roles.
• Advanced Excel proficiency essential for data analysis.

Responsibilities

• Lead the finance function and align performance with growth objectives.
• Ensure compliance with financial reporting standards and regulations.
• Develop budgets and forecasts; analyse variances for profitability.

Skills

Qualified accountant (ACCA, ACA, CIMA or equivalent)

Experience in FMCG, specifically F&B

Financial management experience

Data management and reporting experience

Advanced Excel skills

Understanding of IT network systems

Strong numeracy and communication skills

Adaptable and solution-oriented

Job description

Commercial Head of Finance, Drinks Manufacturing, Crawley (hybrid), 70-90k DOE

I’m working with a UK-based manufacturer specialising in alcoholic cocktails. They are scaling the business nationally and positioning themselves as a market leader in the on‑trade and off‑trade.

They are looking for a hands‑on Commercial Head of Finance to lead the finance function and support the growth of the business. The role will be split across supporting the Finance division of the business and other responsibilities, such as IT and Properties.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead the finance and commercial function, aligning financial and operational performance with company growth objectives, and advising the MD and Board on strategy, profitability, and market expansion.
• Ensure accurate financial reporting across the UK in compliance with UK GAAP and oversee audits, tax compliance, and excise duty obligations.
• Deliver monthly management accounts, KPI dashboards, and profitability reports for both production and sales channels; provide actionable insights on sales performance, product margins, and cost trends to inform strategic decisions.
• Develop and manage budgets and forecasts, including production, sales, and marketing spend; analyse variances and recommend actions to optimise profitability and working capital.
• Oversee cash flow, working capital, and banking relationships, ensuring liquidity and efficiency across production, export, and domestic operations.
• Manage all core finance operations (payroll, ledgers, stock, COGS, revenue recognition) while ensuring strong internal controls, compliance with alcohol duty regulations, and continuous process improvements.
• Lead the IT and systems function, ensuring ERP, reporting, and e‑commerce platforms support commercial operations, financial analysis, and regulatory compliance.
• Oversee property, lease, and rental obligations for production and storage facilities, negotiating terms, managing costs, and ensuring alignment with operational requirements.
• Partner closely with sales, production, operations, and marketing teams to drive commercial decision‑making, optimise route‑to‑market strategies, and maximise profitability across on‑trade and off‑trade channels.
• Support strategic initiatives such as new market entry, product launches, and partnership deals, providing financial modelling, scenario planning, and commercial insight.

The successful candidate

• Qualified accountant (ACCA, ACA, CIMA or equivalent) is preferable.
• Experience within the FMCG industry, ideally in a F&B business.
• Experience of being in a Finance Managerial role covering all areas of the finance function
• Experience in data management and reporting
• Advanced Excel skills, including complex formulae (e.g., VLOOKUP, IFERROR) and the ability to build and analyse pivot tables
• A solid understanding of IT network systems
• Team player with strong numeracy and verbal communication skills
• Adaptable, solution‑oriented, and able to thrive in fast‑changing environments