Commercial Finance Business Partner

We are currently recruiting for a number of Commercial Finance Business Partner roles across our Wholesale, Retail and Ireland divisions.

A little bit about Lindt

We are a premium chocolate manufacturer established in 1845 operating in over 86 countries around the World. Guided by our Global purpose to Enchant the World with Chocolate and UK vision of Creating Moments to Make Everyone Feel Special, we have around 400 team members in the UK across our Head Office, Retail, and Field Sales divisions. We are a Top 20 Great Place to Work and are proud of our incredible people, our unique values-led culture and our iconic market leading brands such as LINDOR & GOLD BUNNY.

We’re also proud of being one of the few 'bean to bar' chocolate makers in the world, where we control every step of our chocolate production.

How you could help us to Enchant the World with Chocolate

In this role you will be a trusted team of Finance experts in Lindt that are central to providing strategic Business Partnering insights and decision-making support to the commercial functions.

You will provide Business Partnering and financial control of key accounts in the management of their in-year net revenue and gross margin, in line with Business Objectives. This role will work closely with the Sales teams and provide decision support, key analysis and reporting that drive financial insights, as well as financial control and management of revenue and gross margin. 

Key Responsibilities include:

(70%) Sales Account Management

• Month End Reporting: Prepare insightful reporting of performance, including Customer profitability and KPI reporting by account. Prepare monthly balance sheet for account accruals to ensure adequate cover, with clear overview of risk and reserve. Support month end reporting flexibly as required
• Lead monthly account reviews to ensure all risks and reserves in the Gross to Net and GP% have been identified – YTD and FY forecast and targets
• Provide insight and development of the accounts: Support the Commercial Finance Manager in drawing insight from data, helping the account teams understand the drivers of their financial performance. Ensure that the account teams are receiving full financial support, regular challenge, insights and direct involvement in developing the account strategy
• Latest Estimate and Forecast Process: Understand sales and margin variances by specific accounts and support the team in modelling the future business performance
• Joint Business Planning: Manage scenario planning tool to provide key information to NAMs and Senior NAMs on a regular basis. Challenge and influence decisions made in customer meetings
• Ad-hoc reporting: Support the account teams with ad-hoc reporting requirements
• LLE: Work with Commercial Finance Manager to provide in-year LLE net revenue and gross margin on the accounts with clear understanding of movements and risks, and clarity on any Vulnerabilities & Opportunities to be considered. Ensure clear visibility of tracking of ORD/JBP terms and any risk/reserve
• LBP Attend Lindt Business Planning reviews for the accounts, reviewing in-year and aligning as a cross functional team the latest best estimate. For longer term planning, provide along with the Commercial Finance Manager key customer assumptions to FP&A as part of TM1 financialisation inputs. Attend the Gap Closing meeting on a rotational basis with the other CF Business Partners, sharing back to the team relevant information and actions
• Lead Tertial reviews of net revenue and gross margin with Sales and Finance Manager as a Tertial moves in the LBP cycle from the long term to the short term horizon, using the forum for a detailed review of the Tertial GTN, net revenue, gross margin by account with Head of CF, Commercial Finance Manager and Sales Controllers, escalation of off-template promotions to be reviewed, and insight and recommendations from post promotion analysis
• Work collaboratively with the other analysts and to find synergies in the management of accounts, and aligning on support needed from the Junior Analysts

(10%) Indirect Leadership of Junior Commercial Analysts/Assistants

• Management of Pricing, Promotions and Trade Terms: Facilitate accurate forecasting through overseeing the Junior Finance Analysts to ensure terms and accruals for all spends below are accurately reflected in SAP:
  • Pricing
  • Trade Investments
  • Promotional Funding
  • Residual Funding
  • Year-end Rebates

Regularly review the above with Account Managers and ensure balance sheets and accruals are accurately maintained highlighting and risks to the business.

(20%) Projects, Process improvement and control

• Highlight potential improvements: Using day to day understanding of processes to highlight to the potential improvements that could be made to the way we work. The aim being to reduce complexity, time spent to deliver outputs, or improve outputs
• Be the finance lead or representative for relevant business projects as required: This could be around Lindt’s key business objectives for the year ahead or other ad-hoc business requirements

• Budget & Latest Estimates: Assist Commercial Finance Manager and Head of Commercial Finance with the Budget and LE processes, ensuring net revenue and gross margin accuracy of numbers for relevant channels and brands
• Ad-hoc reporting: Support Commercial Finance Manager as well as Head of Commercial Finance with all ad-hoc reporting requirements

What experience you’ll bring

• Experience working as a Business Partner in a Commercial Finance function 
• Studying towards CIMA or equivalent – possessing a broad knowledge of Finance techniques and practices
• Good working knowledge of Excel, experience of accounting systems - SAP, TPM, Cognos and TM1 preferable
• Leadership – demonstrates a sense of ownership for his/her contribution to the business and proactively shares his/her perspective
• Communicates & Collaborates Effectively – communicates in an appropriate and timely way, building understanding by listening actively and asking the right questions
• Strategic Focus – works through complexity to understand root causes and is forward looking within area of responsibility
• Drive for Results – appropriately prioritises work and creates plans to deliver to tight deadlines
• Embraces Change – is open to, and generates new ideas and ways of doing things, supports change initiatives
• Customer Focus – takes ownership to resolve issues and utilises knowledge to meet customer needs

Being yourself every day

We want everyone at Lindt feel safe to be themselves, ensuring they are empowered, represented, celebrated and included in our workplace. You’ll notice this throughout the recruitment process; in our ‘dress for your day’ policy and through our proactive DE&I strategy.

Living our values everyday

At Lindt UK, our values guide us in everything we do. Being Passionately Lindt, Always Evolving, Building Real Relationships, Acting Responsibly and Making An Impact are an integral part of life here at Lindt.

What you can expect from us

In return for everything that you’ll bring, we can offer you an exciting role in a fast-growing organisation, where we’ll provide an environment where you will thrive, feel supported and fulfil your career aspirations. As well as supporting your physical and mental wellbeing, as part of our offering, you will receive a competitive compensation and benefits package including; competitive salary, bonus, pension, life cover, chocolate allowance; chocolate give-aways, chocolate discount, £100 personal incentive, birthday day off and so much more!

Where you’ll be based
This role is based in Feltham, London (Hybrid Working: in the office 60% and WFH 40%).

(Monthly travel to Dublin will be required for an Ireland Business Partner role)