Head of FP&A - Northampton
Contract Type: Permanent, Full-Time
Hours: 40 per week, Monday – Friday
Office Based - Northampton
Are you an experienced finance leader with a passion for driving business performance? We're looking for a Head of Financial Planning & Analysis to lead Group-wide planning, forecasting and performance reporting, providing the insight, leadership and strategic direction that will help shape the future success of our business.
About the role
The Head of FP&A will lead the Group's planning, forecasting, KPI reporting and performance insight activities across all divisions. This pivotal role will drive the development of FP&A capabilities, systems transformation and the implementation of consistent, best-practice reporting across the Group. As a senior member of the Group Finance team, you will work closely with the CFO and senior leadership, helping to influence key strategic decisions through robust financial analysis and insight.
The successful candidate will also provide support to the Group Financial Controller and deputise for them as required.
Key Responsibilities
Planning, Budgeting & Forecasting
Ownership of the annual budgeting cycle and rolling forecasts.
Work with finance business partners to ensure forecast accuracy and enhancements.
Deliver long-term strategic planning and going concern modelling for the Group.
Analyse key business drivers and market trends to inform strategic decision-making and long-term planning.
KPI Reporting & Insight
Lead the development, standardisation, and delivery of financial KPI reporting across the Group.
Embed KPIs into systems and tools, supporting automated and integrated reporting.
Work with Data/IT teams to ensure consistent KPI definitions and data integrity.
Provide clear, forward‑looking insight to support strategic and operational decision‑making.
Monthly Results, Performance & Analysis
Support in the preparation of monthly reporting processes including board packs, divisional analysis, and executive commentary.
Support finance business partners in the monthly close process particularly around complex inventory accounting.
Identify performance drivers, risks, opportunities, and key trends.
Deliver ongoing improvements to the results process, including automation and systems enhancements.
Provide group‑wide analysis such as energy reporting, consolidated cost reviews, and visual comparisons.
Systems Transformation & Future of FP&A
Play a key role in shaping the future operating model for FP&A and Group Finance.
Drive system improvements and integration of KPI tools.
Maintain strong governance over financial models, assumptions, and reporting processes.
Standardised Reporting Across Divisions
Ensure alignment of divisional forecasts, KPIs, and reporting outputs.
Partner with finance business partners to embed standardised best‑practice approaches.
Seek to automate reporting where appropriate.
Support of Finance Business Partners
Provide expert review and challenge of divisional modelling and analysis.
Support Finance Business Partners with tools, insight frameworks, and modelling improvements.
Contribute to strengthening FP&A capability.
Commercial Finance
Partner with Finance Business Partners and senior leaders to provide commercial insight and challenge to support decision-making.
Support pricing, margin improvement and cost recovery initiatives through financial analysis.
Analyse product, site and customer profitability, identifying opportunities to improve financial performance.
Develop financial models and scenario analysis to support commercial decision-making and evaluate risks and opportunities.
Provide independent challenge to business cases, assumptions and financial proposals.
Value Creation & Strategic Analysis
Identify and quantify opportunities to improve profitability and cash generation across the Group.
Support strategic initiatives through financial evaluation, options appraisal and post-investment performance tracking.
Other
Support with Annual Reporting and Investor relations material for a listed company as required.
Support of the technical accounting team and finance business partners, modelling of key issues and review of complex reporting/accounting as required.
About you
We are looking for someone who has:
Experience
Extensive experience in Financial Planning & Analysis.
Strong technical accounting and financial reporting understanding.
Demonstrable experience in:
Budgeting and forecasting
Long‑term financial modelling
Board‑level reporting
Business partnering with senior leadership
Developing and improving planning processes and tools
Technical skills
Advanced Excel and modelling skills.
Strong proficiency with FP&A systems/tools.
Comfort working with large, complex data sets and BI tools (Power BI, Tableau).
Leadership and management
Ability to lead, mentor, and develop high‑performing teams.
Strategic thinker with ability to translate data into insight and influence senior decision‑makers.
Strong communication skills—capable of presenting to senior leadership.
Essential:
ACA / ACCA qualified with at least 5 years post qualified experience.
Desirable:
Practice background desirable but not essential
We don’t expect you to tick every box. If you bring the mindset, curiosity and drive to make an impact, we’d love to hear from you.