Role purpose
You will support management in financial planning, performance management and decision-making across the business. The role is responsible for budgeting, forecasting, management reporting, financial modelling and performance analysis, working closely with operational teams to understand key business drivers, identify risks and opportunities, and support actions to improve financial performance.
The position will also support cost accounting, capital investment analysis and the continued development of management information and ERP systems.
Key responsibilities
1. Financial planning, budgeting & forecasting
· Lead the annual budgeting process, working with business and functional teams to develop robust operational and financial assumptions
· Prepare periodic and rolling forecasts covering financial and key operational performance
· Monitor forecast accuracy and identify emerging risks, opportunities and corrective actions
· Develop scenario and sensitivity analyses to support management planning and decision-making
· Support cash flow forecasting and working capital planning.
2. Management reporting & performance analysis
· Prepare timely weekly, monthly and periodic management reports
· Analyse actual performance against budget, forecast and prior periods, identifying the key drivers of variances
· Provide clear and actionable commentary on financial and operational performance
· Develop management reporting that focuses on business drivers, trends, risks and opportunities rather than financial results alone
· Support management in translating financial analysis into specific performance improvement actions.
3. Financial modelling & decision support
· Develop financial models to support operational and strategic decision-making
· Undertake profitability, scenario, sensitivity and break-even analysis as required
· Evaluate cost reduction, productivity and operational improvement initiatives
· Support business cases for new projects, investments, outsourcing and other strategic initiatives
· Analyse the financial implications of alternative courses of action and provide recommendations to management
4. Cost accounting & operational performance
· Analyse costs of production, cost of goods sold and gross margins across products and business activities
· Work closely with Operations and Production teams to understand and monitor the key drivers of cost and productivity
· Analyse actual production costs against budget and operational standards and investigate significant variances
· Support development and monitoring of cost of production and operational efficiency targets
· Identify opportunities to improve margins, productivity and cost efficiency
5. Business partnering
· Partner with operational and functional teams to improve understanding of financial performance and business drivers
· Challenge operational and financial assumptions where appropriate and support development of realistic performance targets
· Provide financial support and analysis to management on key commercial and operational decisions
· Proactively identify issues requiring management attention and follow through on agreed actions
6. KPI & performance management
· Develop, monitor and report key financial and operational performance indicators
· Ensure KPIs are aligned to budgets, forecasts and the key drivers of business performance
· Analyse trends and exceptions and provide management with early warning of adverse performance
· Support development of appropriate performance dashboards and management information
7. Capital expenditure & investment appraisal
· Review capital expenditure proposals and prepare financial evaluations including payback, return on investment and other appropriate investment measures
· Monitor capital expenditure against approved budgets and project plans
· Undertake post-investment reviews where appropriate to assess performance against approved business cases.
8. Management accounts & financial reporting support
· Support the timely preparation and review of monthly and annual management accounts
· Ensure management reporting accurately reflects underlying operational performance
· Investigate significant accounting or reporting variances affecting management information
· Work with the wider Finance team to continuously improve the quality and timeliness of financial information
9. ERP, systems & management information
· Play an active role in the continued development and implementation of Sage and other integrated business systems
· Support development of reporting structures that improve cost accounting, production analysis and management information
· Improve the use of systems and data to automate reporting and reduce reliance on manual processes
· Promote data integrity and consistency across financial and operational reporting
10. Audit & other financial support
· Provide analysis and supporting information required for internal and external audits
· Assist in resolving audit and control action items within agreed timelines
· Support the Financial Controller, CFO and senior management on financial analysis and projects as required
Minimum qualifications & experience
i. Bachelor's degree in Commerce, Accounting, Finance, Economics, Statistics, Business Administration, Business Management or a related discipline from a recognised institution
ii. Professional accounting qualification such as CPA, ACCA, CIMA or ACA
iii. Minimum 8 years' relevant experience in management accounting, FP&A, cost accounting, budgeting, forecasting or financial analysis
iv. Experience within agriculture, manufacturing or another operationally intensive environment would be an advantage
v. Demonstrated experience in financial modelling, budgeting and management reporting.
Skills / attributes / knowledge required
a) Advanced Microsoft Excel and strong financial modelling skills
b) Strong analytical ability with the capacity to interpret financial and operational information and identify key business drivers
c) Ability to translate analysis into clear conclusions and practical recommendations
d) Strong commercial and business acumen
e) Ability to challenge assumptions constructively and independently investigate issues
f) Sound understanding of budgeting, forecasting, cost accounting and management reporting
g) Good ERP knowledge; experience with Sage would be an advantage
h) Strong communication and business partnering skills, with the ability to work effectively with finance and non-finance teams
i) Excellent planning and organisational skills, with the ability to manage competing priorities and meet deadlines
j) High level of attention to detail and accuracy
k) Proactive, inquisitive and solution-oriented approach to problem solving
l) Ability to work independently while being an effective member of the wider Finance team.