Head of Commercial Finance

A leading organisation is seeking a Head of Commercial Finance to join their Manchester-based team, offering you the opportunity to play a pivotal role in shaping the financial future of a rapidly expanding global business.

As the Senior finance business partner for the overseas business region, you will be at the heart of strategic decision-making, supporting business development, product innovation, and capital programme transformation.

This highly commercial position provides you with direct influence over major financial initiatives, including new market entry, partnership structures, and global expansion. You will work closely with senior leaders across multiple regions, imparting your expertise through coaching and knowledge sharing while fostering a high-performance culture.

What you'll do:

• Provide senior financial partnering support to the wider Senior Leadership Team, acting as the lead finance contact for operational locations globally.
• Deliver strategic business development support globally by appraising investment opportunities and advising on commercial direction and optimal deployment of funds.
• Oversee consolidated reporting tasks including Profit & Loss (P&L), Balance Sheet (BS), Cashflow, business planning, forecasting, and transformation within group services.
• Line manage Finance Business Partners, coaching them in best practice and supporting their career development while ensuring delivery of regional P&L.
• Establish robust financial structures for new territories, by liaising with cross-departmental teams to ensure compliance with tax, payroll, legal, and external reporting requirements.
• Lead financial review of organic business cases through first-line coaching of the wider team to ensure evaluations are commercially strong and achieve strategic goals.
• Act as finance lead for strategic level business development appraisals pre- and post-investment stages, maintaining due governance throughout.
• Drive transformation of global capital programmes by designing necessary governance controls at each stage and delivering process improvements in reporting and forecasting.
• Support divestment and renewal decisions as key contracts come to term by conducting post-investment appraisals across the global portfolio.
• Work proactively with stakeholders to develop successful relationships that add demonstrable value through forward-looking insight and challenge.

What you bring:

• Qualified Accountant with at least five years’ experience in commercial finance roles within high-growth environments, ideally multisite industry.
• Proven track record in business partnering across multiple lines and workstreams at a senior strategic level.
• Exceptional modelling skills with experience coaching others or building new models as required.
• Strong commercial expertise demonstrated by adding value through influencing both tactical and strategic decisions.
• Extensive experience in appraising investment opportunities financially and commercially within complex settings.
• Outstanding analytical skills paired with attention to detail and deep commercial awareness.
• Considerable proficiency in reporting, financial analysis, management accounting, and system skills including Excel and PowerPoint; knowledge of SAP or BI is beneficial.
• Exemplary interpersonal communication skills with a passion for building successful relationships across all levels of an organisation.
• Demonstrated ability to present confidently to senior executives, as well as external stakeholders.
• Experience leading and managing teams through coaching best practice while developing others’ skills; keen interest in furthering leadership abilities.

To apply for this fantastic opportunity, please get in touch!

Robert Walters Operations Limited is an employment business and employment agency and welcomes applications from all candidates