Head of Financial Planning & Analysis (FP&A)
Location: London
Department: Finance
Reports to: Finance Director
Purpose of the Role
The Head of FP&A is responsible for leading the Financial Planning & Analysis function, delivering high-quality financial insights and management information to the Executive Leadership Team, Board, senior business leaders and other key stakeholders to support strategic decision-making and sustainable business growth.
The role leads the organisation's forecasting, budgeting and long-term planning processes, working collaboratively with Finance and business leaders to design, capture and report both financial and operational performance information. A key focus is driving continuous improvement in business analytics, management reporting and the effective use of data to deliver forward-looking commercial insights.
The successful candidate will play a pivotal role in developing business intelligence capabilities and maximising the use of data across the organisation, while providing financial leadership to support business growth initiatives, pricing strategies, customer retention and strategic investment decisions.
Key Responsibilities
- Build strong relationships across Finance and the wider business to encourage effective collaboration and a two-way flow of financial and commercial information.
- Lead, develop and mentor the FP&A team, ensuring resources are effectively utilised while supporting individual development and succession planning.
- Drive improvements in data management and business intelligence capabilities across the organisation.
- Develop insightful reporting that provides greater visibility of financial performance across key business drivers, identifying trends, risks and opportunities.
- Lead the production and presentation of high-quality management information for the Executive Leadership Team, Board and senior management.
- Develop, monitor and enhance key performance indicators (KPIs) that support business performance management and improve forecasting accuracy.
- Own and continuously improve the rolling forecast process, annual budgeting cycle and long-term strategic planning process.
- Deliver robust financial modelling, commercial analysis and recommendations to support business development initiatives, operational improvements and strategic investment decisions.
- Partner closely with the Finance Director, CFO and senior finance leadership team on strategic initiatives, business cases and ad hoc financial analysis.
Authority
As defined within the organisation's Delegation of Authority framework.
Essential Skills, Experience & Qualifications
- Professionally qualified accountant (ACA, ACCA, CIMA or equivalent).
- Strong commercial acumen gained within large, complex organisations.
- Excellent presentation, communication and stakeholder management skills.
- Highly analytical, with extensive experience working with large datasets and translating complex information into meaningful business insights.
- Demonstrated experience leading FP&A, budgeting, forecasting and financial planning within a complex, multi-entity organisation.
- Proven experience developing and leading high-performing finance teams.
- Advanced Microsoft Excel skills, together with experience using finance systems, planning tools and business intelligence/reporting platforms.