Head of Commercial Finance and FP and A

The Head of Commercial Finance & FP&A leads the financial planning, budgeting, and business partnering functions for a leading retailed and re-distributor. This role is responsible for transforming data into actionable insight, enabling informed decision-making, and ensuring financial performance visibility across all channels, regions, and product categories. The position partners closely with the CEO, CFO, Commercial, Operational, and Regional Heads to drive profitable growth and strategic clarity.

Key Responsibilities

Financial Planning and Analysis

• Lead the annual budgeting, quarterly reforecasting, and scenario planning processes.
  
• Prepare monthly Board and Exco packs, including executive commentary and variance analysis.
  
• Consolidate and analyse the total company cost structure, highlighting key movements and drivers.
  
• Deliver margin and profitability analysis by customer, region, channel, and product category.
  
• Conduct revenue, pricing, and promotion ROI analysis, including customer and store-level profitability.
  

Business Partnering and Strategic Insight

• Act as a strategic partner to the CEO, CFO, Operational and Commercial teams, supporting business planning, pricing decisions, and supplier negotiations.
  
• Build robust financial models to evaluate investment cases, new store openings, and business initiatives.
  
• Provide forward-looking insights on volume/mix performance, rebate impact, and gross margin optimisation.
  
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• Develop and maintain dashboard reporting for performance tracking and management visibility.
  

Process and Reporting Excellence

• Drive reporting standardisation, automation, and continuous improvement in management information.
  
• Strengthen alignment between Commercial, Operations, and Finance functions through accurate and timely insight delivery.
  
• Relieve operational teams (Pricing, Commercial, and FP&A) from routine reporting by centralising analysis and commentary.
  

Key Outcomes / Success Measures

• High-quality, timely, and insightful financial and operational reporting.
  
• Accurate and integrated budgets, forecasts, and strategic models.
  
• Improved profitability visibility and performance tracking by business dimension.
  
• Enhanced collaboration and decision support for the Executive and Commercial teams.
  

Qualifications and Experience

• CA(SA), CIMA, or equivalent financial qualification.
  
• 7–10 years of progressive experience in FP&A, commercial finance, or business partnering.
  
• Proven track record in budgeting, forecasting, and executive reporting.
  
• Strong understanding of pricing, margins, and customer profitability in FMCG, retail, or distribution sectors.
  
• Advanced Excel and financial modelling skills; experience with BI/reporting tools (e.g., Power BI) advantageous.
  
• ERP experience essential; Syspro familiarity an advantage.
  

Competencies

• Strategic and analytical thinker with commercial acumen.
  
• Strong storytelling ability — translating data into actionable insights.
  
• Excellent communication and stakeholder management skills.
  
• Results-driven, proactive, and collaborative mindset.
  
• High attention to accuracy, consistency, and financial discipline.