Interim Finance Business Partner

Michael Page; Gloucester; Hybrid; GBP 55,000 - 60,000; Full time

Job summary

Michael Page is recruiting an interim finance professional to partner with operational functions in a Gloucester SME. You will deliver commercial finance support, drive P&L insights, and lead monthly reviews with stakeholders. The role focuses on margin, cost control, revenue delivery, and forecast accuracy, with a hybrid 2 days on-site work and start in September.

The six-month FTC offers an opportunity to influence strategic financial decisions while collaborating across business units.

Qualifications

• Full accountancy qualification (CIMA/ACA/ACCA) or equivalent experience.
• Experience in a commercial/analytical role within an SME.
• Strong Excel skills with complex data and Pivot tables.

Responsibilities

• Act as the primary finance partner to internal departments.
• Lead monthly financial performance reviews with key stakeholders.
• Provide financial support around margin, cost control and revenue.
• Collaborate on scenario planning with line manager.
• Analyse project cost accounting and variances vs budget.
• Attend project meetings to provide financial insight and controls.
• Monitor spend on large scale enabling works and forecast.
• Review capital expenditure and month-end postings.
• Support divisional forecasts and budgets alignment.
• Provide variance commentary linking operations to finance.
• Identify improvements to reporting tools and processes.

Skills

Advanced Excel

Financial analysis

Stakeholder management

Forecasting

Communication

Education

CIMA/ACA/ACCA or qualified by experience

Tools

Pivot tables

Power BI

Excel

Job description

This is an excellent interim role that is hands on and operationally focused. This position will provide key commercial and financial support to the operational functions of the business and required prior business partnering experience.

Client Details

My client are a SME business located in Gloucester. They are well established and market leaders in their field of expertise.

Description

Responsibilities within the role:

• Act as the primary finance partner to various internal departments, supporting delivery of their divisional P&Ls through commercial insight and financial analysis.
• Lead monthly financial performance reviews with key stakeholders, identifying risks and opportunities against budget and forecast.
• Provide financial support and challenge around margin performance, cost control and revenue delivery.
• Collaborate with immediate line manager on scenario planning.
• Take responsibility for project cost accounting, analysing, and interrogating actual/forecast versus budget variances, working alongside finance and operational colleagues across the business.
• Attend project team meetings as required, contributing financial insight and highlighting cost variances to inform forecast adjustments required. Manage queries regarding supplier orders/ invoicing.
• Provide monthly updates on project financial performance, reconciling any movements and aligning forecasts with figures recognised in the management accounts.
• Monitor ongoing spend on large scale enabling and rectification works, forecasting future expenditure and ensuring appropriate provisions are recorded in collaboration with finance colleagues.
• Monitor ongoing capital expenditure, including a review of appropriateness of posting as part of the month end process.
• Support the preparation of divisional forecasts and budgets, ensuring consistency with central finance assumptions and alignment with operational plans.
• Provide commentary and insight to variance analysis, bridging operational drivers with financial outcomes.
• Proactively identify opportunities to improve reporting tools and financial processes, including use of Excel, AI and Power tools.

Profile

The successful candidate:

• A full accountancy qualification (CIMA/ACA/ACCA) or qualified by experience
• Demonstrable experience in a similar commercial/analytical role within a SME
• Advanced Excel skills: ability to manage complex data and Pivot tables.
• Pro-active with strong communication skills
• Ability to build and maintain relationships with both finance and non-finance staff across the business, up to board level

Job Offer

This position is paying £55,000 - £60,000 (depending on experience) and is a 6 month FTC requiring a start in September. This is a hybrid working role with 2 days required on-site each week.