Role Overview:

The Commercial Financial Controller is a strategic finance leader responsible for partnering with key business functions including Sales, Marketing, and Operations to drive profitability and sustainable growth. This role provides high-quality financial insights, budgeting, forecasting, and performance analysis to support fast-paced manufacturing and distribution environments. The position requires strong commercial acumen, robust technical accounting expertise, and advanced ERP and Excel capabilities. The role also ensures strong financial controls, supports senior leadership decision-making, manages financial risks, and drives continuous process improvement while leading and developing finance teams.

Key Responsibilities:

Financial Planning & Analysis (FP&A):

- Lead budgeting, forecasting, and long-range planning processes

- Develop financial models and conduct variance analysis

- Provide actionable insights to guide business strategy and decision-making

Commercial Partnering:

- Act as a finance business partner to Sales, Marketing, and Operations

- Understand key business drivers and challenge assumptions constructively

- Support commercial initiatives to enhance performance and margins

Performance Reporting:

- Prepare and deliver insightful monthly and quarterly MIS reports

- Conduct detailed cost and profitability analysis

- Present financial performance and trends to senior management and Directors

Process & Controls:

- Strengthen internal controls and ensure compliance with policies and standards

- Drive continuous improvement in financial processes and systems

- Ensure accuracy, timeliness, and integrity of financial information

Leadership & Team Management:

- Lead, mentor, and develop finance team members

- Foster a proactive, collaborative, and can-do culture

- Support talent development and succession planning

Risk & Cash Flow Management:

- Oversee cash flow planning and working capital management

- Identify, assess, and mitigate financial and commercial risks

- Support governance and risk management initiatives

Key Skills & Qualifications:

Education & Professional Qualification:

- Qualified Accountant: ACA / ACCA / CIMA

Experience:

- Minimum 7+ years of post-qualification experience

- FMCG / Manufacturing / Retail finance background

- Experience working with senior leadership and Directors

Technical Skills:

- Advanced Excel proficiency

- ERP systems experience (SAP preferred)

- Strong financial modeling skills

Soft Skills:

- Strong analytical and problem-solving skills

- Excellent communication and stakeholder management

- Ability to work cross-functionally and challenge the status quo

Why This Is a Key Role

This role bridges finance and business and is critical in FMCG environments characterized by tight margins, high volumes, and rapid market changes. The Commercial Financial Controller translates complex financial data into actionable commercial strategies that drive growth, efficiency, and profitability.