Commercial Finance Manager

Role Purpose

We have partnered with a Contract Catering institution, and we are working on several Finance Manager positions at all levels, from Commercial, to Senior, and Regional.

As a Finance Manager, you will act as the key finance business partner for a portfolio of catering and soft FM contracts, driving profitable growth through robust financial control, commercial analysis, and operational support.

Key Responsibilities (common to all levels)

Financial control & compliance
Own monthly P&L for assigned contracts, ensuring accurate accruals, prepayments, and cost allocations in line with UK GAAP. Manage cash flow and working capital (stock, debtors).Commercial decision support
Partner with operational General Managers to optimise menu pricing, labour scheduling, and event margins. Challenge waste and supply chain costs using real‑time data.Budgeting & forecasting
Lead annual budget cycles and monthly re‑forecasts. Provide variance analysis with actionable insights (e.g. “sales mix shift lowered gross margin by 1.2%”).Client & contract governance
Attend client review meetings to present financial performance. Manage contract price indexation (CPI/RPI) and variation orders.Mobilisation & bids
Support contract mobilisations and re‑tenders by building financial models for new business or contract extensions.Team leadership (Senior Manager only)
Mentor a small team (2‑4 analysts / site accountants). Drive a culture of commercial curiosity.

Additional Responsibilities by Level

 

Finance Manager

Commercial Finance Manager

Senior Finance Manager

Contract value

£2m‑£10m p.a.

£10m‑£25m p.a.

£25m+ or multi‑contract cluster

Stakeholders

Site GMs, Regional Ops

Regional Directors, Client procurement

Divisional MD, Key strategic clients

Complexity

Single site or small cluster

Multi‑site, complex volume swings

High‑risk turnarounds, large bids

Team

No direct reports

May mentor an analyst

Manages 2‑4 finance staff

Experience Required

Finance Manager: 2‑3 years PQE (or qualified by experience) in contract catering / retail / hospitality finance.Commercial Finance Manager: Fully qualified (CIMA/ACCA/ACA) with 4‑6 years PQE, strong commercial modelling.Senior Finance Manager: 8+ years PQE, proven ability to influence at board level, previous people management.

Key Competencies

Deep understanding of high‑volume, low‑margin operations.Advanced Excel (Power Query / Power BI desirable).Ability to translate complex finance into operational actions.