Job Opportunities API

Title: Head of Commercial Financial Planning & Control Location: Central London (Hybrid) Salary: £80,000 - £100,000 (DOE) + Benefits Benefits include 25 days holiday, 6% employer pension contribution, private medical insurance, life assurance, employee assistance programme and additional wellbeing benefits. Company: Stanton House is partnering with a private equity-backed international consulting business to appoint a senior commercial finance leader into its UK operation. The organisation delivers large-scale transformation, technology, digital and advisory services across both public and private sector clients. Following a period of restructuring, leadership change and operational reset, the UK business has returned to profitability and is entering the next phase of growth. This is a business that is rebuilding, not maintaining. Significant investment is being made in commercial performance, forecasting accuracy, operational controls and management information to support future expansion. Role: Reporting directly to the UK CFO, this is the number two finance position within the UK business. The successful candidate will lead a medium-sized finance team and take ownership of commercial finance, financial planning, forecasting, project profitability and financial performance across a consulting operation generating more than £20m in revenue. This is a highly visible leadership role that combines commercial finance leadership with operational finance responsibility. It requires someone capable of influencing senior stakeholders while remaining hands-on in improving reporting, controls, forecasting processes and management information. The position offers a genuine opportunity to shape the future finance function and build the foundations for future progression into a Director-level role. Responsibilities: • Act as the lead commercial finance partner to the UK CFO and senior leadership team. • Lead budgeting, forecasting and financial planning processes across the business. • Improve forecasting accuracy, revenue visibility and commercial decision-making. • Provide insight into project profitability, utilisation, resource deployment and margin performance. • Strengthen management information, reporting capability and financial controls. • Build and enhance commercial reporting processes and reporting infrastructure. • Lead operational finance activities across a project-based consulting environment. • Challenge and support senior stakeholders on financial performance and business decisions. • Oversee revenue recognition, project accounting and engagement profitability analysis. • Manage and develop a medium-sized finance team. • Drive process improvement, automation opportunities and operational efficiency initiatives. • Support the business through its ongoing transformation and growth programme. • Partner with the wider international finance organisation to improve consistency and reporting standards. Requirements Essential • Qualified accountant (ACA, ACCA, CIMA or equivalent). • Commercial finance, FP&A or finance leadership experience within consulting, professional services, technology services or project-based environments. • Strong forecasting, budgeting and financial planning experience. • Experience managing and developing finance teams. • Ability to influence senior stakeholders and challenge commercial decision-making. • Strong understanding of project profitability, utilisation and revenue drivers. • Track record of improving processes, controls and management reporting. • Comfortable operating in a hands-on environment where finance processes are still developing. • Advanced Excel and financial modelling capability. • Strong communication and business partnering skills. Desired • ACA qualification and audit training background. • Experience within a £20m-£150m professional services or consulting business. • Exposure to private equity-backed environments. • Experience supporting business turnaround, restructuring or transformation programmes. • Knowledge of project accounting, resource planning and consulting business economics. • Experience building finance processes and reporting frameworks from the ground up. • Ambition to progress into a future Finance Director or Director-level role. If you are looking for a commercially focused leadership position where you can have a direct impact on business performance, strategy execution and finance transformation, we would welcome your application.