Reporting to the Head of Commercial Finance, this pivotal role acts as Business Partner to the Operations Director, Divisional Directors and their teams. The role holder will provide leading financial decision making capability plus challenge, support and influence their senior stakeholders and teams to ensure we make the optimal commercial decisions, create accurate forecasts informed by insightful financial analysis, ensure opex and capex are invested well and costs are managed to budget. Key Responsibilities - Act as a trusted partner to the Directors providing the right balance of challenge and support around commercial decision making. - Financial ownership of labour costs and productivity across 300 garages (highlighting areas of concern and proposals for increasing profitability). Ensure senior stakeholders understand position vs. budget and be close to opportunities and risks. - Manage and develop a Finance Analyst supporting them in delivering their and the team objectives, ensuring they develop and are supported through any qualifications. - Establish monthly Performance Review process with the Directors and their teams, understanding performance and driving management action. - Provide commercial and financial support and challenge to other projects on an ad hoc basis. - Quarterly forecasting and budgeting, highlighting opportunities and risks to the Directors to ensure strategy is in line with overall Business objectives. - Participate in the 5 year plan by using insight and commercial knowledge to drive out productivity improvements. - Deputise for the Head of Commercial Finance where appropriate. Key Skills/Experience - - Excellent commercial acumen: takes the time to understand the business objectives and focus activity to yield the greatest commercial benefit. - Dynamic and results-driven individual with high levels of energy, flexibility and commitment to deliver both the business and their own operational objectives. - Absolute commitment to quality with high attention to detail, working with a 'right first time' approach. - A self-starter who is open to (and comfortable initiating) change and seeks and encourages fresh ideas to meet an ever changing environment. Able to support colleagues to adapt to change across the business. - Able to construct and manage processes to ensure that budget owners understand current and forecasted spend and keep within budget. - An effective communicator with excellent presentation skills and gravitas; articulate and persuasive; able to build strong relationships across the business at all levels. - An ability to analyse complex data to inform decision making. - Is able to draw on best practice from other organisations and adapt it to meet the needs the business. - An ability to thrive in a fast-paced and pressurised environment, proactively managing multiple work-streams. - Ability to manage, develop and lead a team. - A track record of high performance in a commercial finance business partnering, planning team or financial advisory role. - Experience of good cross-functional working. - A qualified accountant with advanced Excel skills. - MS Access experience is desirable but not a requirement.