Commercial Finance Analyst
Location: Maidenhead/Hybrid
Salary: £280 day rate

Job Purpose
The Commercial Finance Analyst will support the divisional management team in preparing Financial Planning & Analysis (FP&A) outputs and presenting opportunities that positively impact value creation. Reporting to the Divisional Finance Director, you will collaborate with divisional Finance Business Partners (FBPs) on key operational and strategic initiatives. Your role will involve interpreting financial performance, supporting business planning, assessing trade-offs, identifying opportunities, and understanding the broader industry landscape, including competitors and the economic environment.

Key Responsibilities

Support the divisional FBP team in creating FP&A outputs, such as business plans, project appraisals, and investment analyses.
Investigate areas of opportunity and provide strategic recommendations for value creation.
Convert complex financial information into actionable targets, evaluating the financial implications of each action.
Assist in preparing reports for senior-level meetings across the business.
Ensure all activities adhere to accounting principles, internal controls, and regulatory requirements.
Contribute to the development and management of divisional strategic plans, budgets, and forecasts.
Conduct variance analysis on financial performance compared to the divisional plan.
Use scenario modelling and business insights to develop financial models and support commercial decision-making.
Create visually compelling presentations for executive and leadership teams.
Ensure a strong control environment within divisional finance, adhering to internal controls and regulatory standards.
Identify and recommend improvements to financial processes and methods.
Provide feedback for optimising and standardising financial processes.
Ensure all business partnering processes are documented and stored appropriately.
Skills & Experience

Prior experience in FP&A, Commercial Finance Analyst, or finance business partnering.
Professional qualification (CFA/CPA/CA/AAT/CIMA/ACCA/ACA or global equivalent)
Bachelor’s degree in finance, Accounting, Economics, or a related field.
Strong English language proficiency.
Practical experience in business analysis and managing large data sets.
Ability to simplify complex data into clear, actionable insights using Excel and reporting tools.
Advanced proficiency in MS Excel, with proven ability to interpret financial and customer data.
Knowledge of core finance systems, ERP frameworks, and related specialty functional systems.
Understanding of finance business processes, accounting policies, and statutory accounting principles.
Familiarity with financial analysis tools and modelling techniques.
Ability to work proactively in a fast-moving environment with tight deadlines while maintaining high-quality output