Fresh People are recruiting for an experienced Senior Finance Business Partner to join a large, fast-paced, product-led operation based primarily in Sittingbourne, with responsibility across a number of additional Kent sites.

This is a highly commercial and operational finance role, working closely with the Finance Director and senior operational teams to turn complex financial and operational data into meaningful insight.

We are particularly interested in candidates with a strong FP&A, Finance Business Partnering or Business Analyst background who are confident interrogating large volumes of data, identifying trends and opportunities, and using Power BI to influence operational and commercial decision-making.

You will need to understand how a product-based operation works – including the relationship between volumes, labour, costs, pricing, waste, operational performance and margin.

The Role

As Senior Finance Business Partner, you will provide analysis and insight across operational and commercial performance, helping senior management understand what is driving performance and where improvements can be made.

Key responsibilities will include:

• Analysing operational performance across sites, customers and SKUs
• Using Power BI, Excel and other BI tools to identify trends, risks and opportunities
• Reviewing labour planning, productivity and operational efficiency
• Providing clear FP&A and commercial analysis to support senior decision-making
• Identifying opportunities to improve cost recovery, reduce waste and protect margin
• Analysing product, packaging and other operating cost movements
• Supporting forecasting, management reporting and performance analysis
• Developing dashboards and improving the accessibility and quality of management information
• Working closely with Finance, Operations, Planning, Packaging and site leadership teams
• Providing constructive commercial challenge to operational stakeholders
• Leading, coaching and developing two Finance Business Partners
• Supporting the Finance Director with projects and ad hoc commercial analysis

What We’re Looking For

We are looking for someone who combines strong financial capability with excellent analytical and commercial skills.

You will ideally have:

• Strong experience within FP&A, Finance Business Partnering, commercial finance or business analysis
• A background within a product-led environment such as food manufacturing, fresh produce, FMCG, manufacturing or a similarly fast-paced operation
• Strong Power BI capability – this is an important requirement for the role
• Advanced Excel and financial modelling skills
• Experience analysing operational as well as purely financial data
• The ability to interpret complex datasets and translate them into clear commercial recommendations
• Strong understanding of cost drivers, margin, productivity and operational performance
• Confidence partnering with and constructively challenging senior operational stakeholders
• Previous experience managing, coaching or developing others
• Qualified accountant status (CIMA/ACCA or equivalent) or significant relevant experience

Experience of Anaplan and/or Prophet would be advantageous but is not essential.

This would suit an experienced Finance Business Partner, FP&A professional or commercially focused finance analyst who enjoys getting beneath the numbers and understanding what is actually happening within an operation.

It is not simply a reporting role. You will be expected to use data to challenge, influence and help improve business performance, working closely with senior operational management and the Finance Director.

In the first instance forward your CV across for consideration