Sowena Group are partnered with an established logistics business to assist in the hire of a Finance Business Partner.
The role is suitable for a highly commercial accountant, amenable to being hands-on and add real value with the provision of actionable analysis.
Key Responsibilities
Business Partnering
- Act as a trusted advisor to operational leaders across multiple depots and warehouse sites
- Provide clear financial insight to support day-to-day decision-making and long-term strategy
- Challenge and influence stakeholders to improve cost efficiency, productivity, and profitability
- Translate complex financial data into actionable recommendations for non-finance teams
Budgeting & Forecasting
- Lead the annual budgeting process across operational cost centres
- Own and continuously improve rolling forecasts, ensuring accuracy and visibility of risks/opportunities
- Partner with site leaders to build realistic and stretch performance targets
- Deliver scenario analysis to support strategic planning and investment decisions
Cost & Margin Management
- Monitor and analyse site-level costs including labour, transport, and overheads
- Identify opportunities for cost optimisation and operational efficiency
- Drive margin improvement through detailed revenue and cost analysis
- Support pricing decisions and contract evaluations with commercial insight
Performance Reporting & Analysis
- Produce and present monthly performance packs with clear commentary on variances
- Track KPIs across depots and warehouses, highlighting trends and risks
- Develop dashboards and reporting tools to enhance visibility and decision-making
- Ensure financial data integrity and consistency across systems
Process Improvement
- Continuously improve financial processes, controls, and reporting capabilities
- Support implementation of systems and tools to enhance data quality and efficiency
- Promote a culture of accountability and financial discipline across operations
Key Requirements
- Qualified accountant (ACA, ACCA, CIMA or equivalent)
- Significant experience in a business partnering role, ideally within logistics, supply chain, or a multi-site environment
- Strong commercial acumen with the ability to influence senior stakeholders
- Proven experience in budgeting, forecasting, and financial analysis
- Advanced Excel and data analysis skills; experience with BI tools is advantageous
- Excellent communication skills with the ability to simplify complex financial information
- Proactive, results-driven, and comfortable working in a fast-paced environment