Senior Finance Business Partner

Reed; Sittingbourne; On-site; GBP 70,000 - 100,000; Full time

Job summary

Reed is seeking a Senior Finance Business Partner to join a fast-paced, commercially focused finance team in Sittingbourne, Kent. You will translate complex financial data into actionable insights for senior stakeholders and partner with operational teams to drive performance.

You will lead two Finance Business Partners, collaborate with the Finance Director and senior management, and help protect margins while supporting strategic decision-making across the business.

Qualifications

• Recognised accounting qualification such as CIMA or ACCA; qualified-by-experience considered.
• Strong experience in finance business partnering, management accounting, operational finance or commercial analysis.
• Excellent Excel skills with financial modelling and performance analysis.
• Good working knowledge of Power BI and BI/reporting tools.
• Ability to translate complex financial/operational data into clear commercial recommendations.
• Strong communication skills and ability to influence senior stakeholders.
• Experience managing, coaching or developing others.

Responsibilities

• Partner with senior operational stakeholders to provide financial and commercial insight.
• Review labour planning to drive efficiency and performance.
• Analyse performance across sites, customers and product lines to identify trends, risks and opportunities.
• Identify opportunities to improve cost recovery, reduce waste, protect margins and maximise revenue.
• Monitor key costs and ensure costing models reflect changes.
• Employ Excel, Power BI and BI tools to improve reporting and management information.
• Ensure cost issues are reflected in management accounts, forecasts and reporting.
• Lead, coach and develop two Finance Business Partners.
• Build relationships across Finance, Operations, Planning and other functions.

Skills

Finance partnering

Stakeholder influence

Management accounting

Operational finance

Commercial analysis

Education

CIMA or ACCA qualification

Tools

Power BI

Prophet

Anaplan

Excel

Job description

Senior Finance Business Partner

Are you an experienced Finance Business Partner who enjoys getting out from behind the numbers and working closely with operational teams?

I am recruiting for a Senior Finance Business Partner to join a successful, growing organisation operating within a fast-paced environment. This is an excellent opportunity for a commercially minded finance professional who can turn complex financial and operational data into clear insight that drives business performance.

Working closely with the Finance Director and senior operational management, you will play a key role in improving operational efficiency, identifying commercial opportunities, protecting margins and supporting informed decision-making across the business. You will also lead and develop two Finance Business Partners.

As Senior Finance Business Partner, your responsibilities will include:

• Partnering with senior operational stakeholders to provide meaningful financial and commercial insight.
• Reviewing and challenging labour planning to drive greater efficiency and operational performance.
• Analysing performance across different sites, customers and product lines to identify trends, risks and opportunities.
• Identifying opportunities to improve cost recovery, reduce waste, protect margins and maximise revenue.
• Monitoring key operating and packaging costs and ensuring changes are appropriately reflected within costing models.
• Using Excel, Power BI and other business intelligence tools to improve reporting and provide actionable management information.
• Ensuring key cost issues are accurately reflected within management accounts, forecasts and performance reporting.
• Leading, coaching and developing two Finance Business Partners.
• Building strong relationships across Finance, Operations, Planning and other key business functions.

To be successful in this position, you will ideally have:

• A recognised accounting qualification such as CIMA or ACCA, although qualified-by-experience candidates will also be considered.
• Strong experience within finance business partnering, management accounting, operational finance or commercial analysis.
• Excellent Excel skills with experience of financial modelling and performance analysis.
• Strong working knowledge of Power BI and business intelligence/reporting tools.
• The ability to take complex financial and operational information and translate it into clear commercial recommendations.
• Strong communication skills and the confidence to challenge and influence senior stakeholders.
• Experience managing, coaching or developing others.
• A highly organised approach with the ability to operate effectively within a fast-paced environment.
• Previous knowledge of Prophet or Anaplan would be advantageous but is not essential.

Why apply?

This is a fantastic opportunity for someone looking to take on a high-profile commercial finance role with genuine exposure to senior leadership and operational decision-making.

Rather than simply reporting on historic numbers, you will have the opportunity to influence business performance, challenge operational decisions and identify opportunities that positively impact costs, revenue and margins.

The position is primarily based in Sittingbourne, with some involvement across other Kent location