Finance Business Partner

Job Description

Finance Business Partner

Impact Food Group

At Impact Food Group, weandrsquo;re more than just a school caterer. Weandrsquo;re on a mission to create a positive food culture and help more students enjoy healthier, better-quality food. Making a positive social impact is at the heart of everything we do. Weandrsquo;re constantly learning, evolving, and improving andmdash; every way, every day.

We one of Englandandrsquo;s fastest-growing school food providers, serving around one million students every dayandnbsp;across more than 1,500 schools. We are dedicated to delivering high-quality, nutritious meals that support student wellbeing and enjoyment.

Our brands includeandnbsp;Innovate, Cucina, Chapter One (Independent Schools), Hutchison, and Dolce,andnbsp;reflecting our breadth of experience and reach across the school catering sector.

Guided by our values, integrity, bold, impactful, humble and community; you will help us shape a workplace and culture we can all be proud of.

The Role

The Finance Business Partner (FBP) acts as the primary financial co-pilot and strategic advisor to key operational and commercial stakeholders. Rather than just reporting on past performance, the FBP is an embedded partner who seeks to understand the andquot;whyandquot; behind the numbers, providing clarity on the past, insight for the present, and foresight for the future.andnbsp;

The ultimate goal of this role is to turn robust financial data into actionable commercial insight, enabling operational teams to drive growth, protect margins, and deliver measurable financial improvements.andnbsp;

What youandrsquo;ll be Doing

Role Responsibilities

Strategic Partnering andamp; Influenceandnbsp;

• Commercial Advisory: Act as the dedicated point of contact for financial advice to non-finance operational directors and managers, translating complex data into clear, actionable business recommendations.andnbsp;

• Challenge andamp; Collaboration: Build strong, collaborative relationships across departments while maintaining the commercial diplomacy to constructively challenge operational assumptions and plans when necessary.andnbsp;

andnbsp;Budgeting, Forecasting andamp; Foresightandnbsp;

• Agile Planning: Lead the annual budgeting and rolling reforecasting processes for assigned operational divisions, ensuring alignment with overall corporate strategy.andnbsp;

• Scenario Modelling: Build and maintain flexible, multi-tab financial models to stress-test business variables (such as volume shifts, supply chain changes, and macroeconomic cost pressures).andnbsp;

Commercial Performance andamp; Benchmarkingandnbsp;

• Post-Mobilisation Reviews: Conduct andquot;Actual vs. Business Caseandquot; performance reviews on recently launched contracts or initiatives to measure financial success and feed lessons learned back into future models.andnbsp;

• KPI Development: Design and track forward-looking operational benchmarks (e.g., gross profit percentages, labour efficiency ratios, and volume uptakes) to guide teams toward maximum profitability.andnbsp;

Systems, Data andamp; Process Excellenceandnbsp;

• Data Leverage: Work closely with systems specialists to fully exploit core financial platforms, automating routine reporting to maximize time spent on high-value analysis.andnbsp;

• Consistency of Output: Adhere to and help refine standardised operational procedures to ensure absolute consistency and quality of commercial finance outputs across the team.andnbsp;

What We Are Looking For

Technical andamp; Professional Credentialsandnbsp;

• Finance Background: Newly qualified or part-qualified accountant (CIMA / ACCA / ACA) with strong foundational knowledge of Pandamp;L mechanics, margin analysis, and cost allocation.andnbsp;

• Proven Experience: 2andndash;4 years of experience in a highly commercial pricing, FPandamp;A, or business partnering role. Ideally within a fast-paced, multi-site, or contract-led industry.andnbsp;

• Advanced Financial Modelling: Superb Excel skills with a proven track record of building robust, clean, and easily navigable commercial models.andnbsp;

Whatandrsquo;s in It for You?

• The opportunity to build a career you can be proud ofandnbsp;in a growing business.
• Access to a wide range of free training, qualifications, and development opportunities
• 25 days annual leave plus bank holidays
• Staff discount schemeandnbsp;across 850+ retailers
• Pension schemeandnbsp;and other great company benefits
• Monthly incentives and recognition for top performers

#Join Our Team #makeanimpact

If youandrsquo;re looking for your next step and want to be part of an organisation that genuinely makes a difference, weandrsquo;d love to hear from you.

IFG are committed to the safeguarding of children, and our employees share this commitment. Successful candidates are requiredandnbsp;toandnbsp;undergo an enhancedandnbsp;DBS check, which IFG will pay for.

We areandnbsp;a committed equal opportunities employer - if you require any assistance for the interview process, please detail withinandnbsp;yourandnbsp;application. Allandnbsp;information is kept confidential and in compliance with GDPR requirements.