Head of Finance - Premium Food

Sodexo; Whitehall; On-site; GBP 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Wellbeing platform

Employee Assistance Programme

Virtual GP Service

Discount scheme

Pension Plan

Learning and development

Bike to Work

Enhanced benefits

Job summary

Sodexo is seeking a Senior Finance leader to support the Managing Director in maximizing divisional profitability and growth. This role requires rigorous financial management, strong governance, and cross-functional collaboration with clients and Sodexo functions.

You will drive budgeting, forecasting, reporting, and analytics, ensuring policies are followed and a culture of continuous improvement within the finance team.

Qualifications

• 10 years professional experience in finance and financial analysis (minimum).
• Degree qualified in business administration/finance.
• Fluency in English; another language an advantage.

Responsibilities

• Support the Managing Director to maximise divisional profitability and growth.
• Ensure Group Finance policies, processes and procedures are followed in monthly results.
• Lead budgeting and quarterly forecasting for the division; manage P&L, balance sheet and cash flow.
• Compile and support audit and statutory accounts.
• Deliver timely, accurate analytics to inform commercial decisions.
• Develop and mentor the finance team; build engagement and succession planning.

Skills

Finance acumen

Leadership

Communication

Analytical thinking

Education

Business/Finance degree

Job description

• Support the Managing Director to maximize the profitability of Good Eating company & Fooditude, via rigorous management of the divisional finances, challenging performance and driving profitable organic growth
• Ensure that all the Group Finance policies, processes and procedures are consistently followed in the delivery of the monthly result
• Compile and support with audit and statutory accounts
• Drive growth along side the 'Food transformation' program
• Create a business partner relationship with all key stakeholders as well as the Managing Director, including clients and other Sodexo functions
• Deliver consistent, high quality, timely reporting to support all key commercial decisions
• Create a culture of continuous improvement across the team, leading in key work areas - people, efficiency, control and service
• Ensuring all Group Finance policies, processes and procedures are known, understood and consistently applied
• Managing / optimising the divisional financial performance: profit and loss, balance sheet and cash-flow
• Managing the multiple interfaces with Clients /Segments/Service Operations/Transversal Functions (HR will be a key partner) in the division to ensure their Finance needs are fully understood and met, and that Group Finance requirements are understood and consistently applied across all contracts
• Contributing to the overall performance of the Division
• Ensuring timely provision of strong, accurate and relevant analytics (data and analysis) transparently to all stakeholders
• Support and drive all financial initiatives e.g labour management, rebid activity, commercial opportunities
• Ensuring a risk management and internal control framework permitting effective identification and management of financial risks, with remediation alerts and escalation as necessary
• Driving standardised processes and methods within the division to maximize efficiency e.g. reporting
• Development of the finance team to maximize engagement, develop a succession plan and support the business in the best possible way
• Lead the annual budgeting and quarterly forecasting process for the division
• Lead the monthly review process to optimize divisional financial performance
• Attend client meetings as required .e.g. regular governance or ad hoc meetings as specific financial issues occur.
• Support retention / new bid work as required
• Completion of ad-hoc Finance-related studies/ missions/ presentations as required Strong Finance acumen, ability to manage full financial responsibilities (P&L, balance sheet and cash flow - accounting, reporting and development support)
• Strong technical skills to support the audit process
• Proactivity and re-activity in a challenging day-to-day operational environment
• Process and progress driven, based on factual analytics, combined with very transparent skills (up, transversally and down) of simple financial reflexes
• Excellent organisational skills and ability to respect deadlines
• Flexible and pragmatic, able to deal with complexity
• Collaborative leadership style, strong interpersonal and communication skills, strong partnering capabilities with senior management
• Strong culture of team support/team work and business advancement (in area of risk management, problem resolution or development oriented)
• Demonstrates initiative and anticipates needs of key stakeholders

At Sodexo, we're passionate about our people. We know that our teams are the key to delivering exceptional service and creating meaningful experiences for our clients, customers, and employees.

Experience

• 10 years professional experience in finance and financial analysis as a minimum
• Degree qualified in a business administration/finance
• Fluency in English and any other language an advantage
• Role model the Sodexo values and ethical principles Working with Sodexo is more than a job; it's a chance to be part of something greater.

Belong in a company and team that values you for you. Act with purpose and have an impact through your everyday actions. Thrive in your own way. We also offer a range of perks, rewards and benefits for our colleagues and their families:

• Unlimited access to an online platform offering wellbeing support
• An extensive Employee Assistance Programme to help with everyday issues or life's larger problems, including legal and financial advice, support with work or personal issues impacting your wellbeing
• Access to a 24hr virtual GP Service
• Sodexo Discounts Scheme, offering great deals 24/7 across popular high street retailers (also open to friends and family)
• Save for your future by becoming a member of the Pension Plan
• Opportunities to enable colleagues to grow and succeed throughout their career at Sodexo, including a variety of learning and development tools
• Bike to Work Scheme to help colleagues to do their bit for the environment whilst keeping fit
• Sodexo UK and Irelands enhanced benefits and leave policies

A little more about Sodexo:

At Sodexo, our purpose is to create a better every day for everyone to build a better life for all.As the global leader in services that improve the Quality of Life, we operate in 55 countries, serving over 100million consumers each day through our unique combination of On-Site Food and FM Services, Benefits & Rewards Services and Personal & Home Services.