Rutherford Cross is delighted to be working in partnership with a hugely successful, Glasgow based drinks business to recruit a Commercial Business Partner.

The purpose of the role is to provide a timely and accurate business partnering role to the Sales & Marketing functions within the business. This includes planning, budgeting/forecasting, reporting, analysis and general commercial and financial support.  The post holder will add value to the wider business through strong analytical skills and commercial insight.

Key duties include:

Month/Year End process and Regular Reporting

• Ensure integrity of the P&L for own area of responsibility from the revenue (and Sales volume) line through to brand contribution
• Ensure the completeness and accuracy of accruals made for promotional activity and selling costs, strategic Marketing activity, pricing issues and over-riders, commissions and retro discounts
• Prepare and review detail variance analyses at month-end to ensure any movements versus plan and prior year are fully understood across Finance, Sales & Marketing functions
• Provide Sales and Marketing with appropriate monthly, weekly and daily reports to enable them to effectively measure performance of customers and brands
• Support on ad hoc data and analysis requests from Head of Commercial Finance, Sales and Marketing
• Timely completion of balance sheet reconciliations covering Commercial Finance balance sheet accounts
• Review accruals for area of responsibility, highlighting balances available to release back to the P&L

Brand Health

• Finance responsibility for one of the ‘flag ship’ brands
• Preparation of monthly/quarterly detailed variance analysis
• Lead presentation and facilitate discussion at monthly & quarterly brand review meetings
• Ad hoc support on finance matters relating to the brand (e.g. NPI)

Forecasting/Budgeting

• Facilitate the budgeting and monthly forecasting processes along with full ownership for area of responsibility
• Challenge the Sales and Marketing team inputs as appropriate to drive accurate a realistic forecasting at all times
• Ensuring all known pricing and cost changes are incorporated into each forecasting cycle
• Provide detailed variance analyses to explain impact of movements in volume, price and cost on the P&L versus plan & prior year

Pricing

• Support Sales on new pricing proposals clearly illustrating the impact on both the business and the customer
• Work with Pricing Administrator to ensure Tropos contains up to date pricing information at all times
• Ensure appropriate action is taken where a customer’s price is incorrect, ensuring credits or adjustment invoices raised and any necessary accruals put in place

Data modelling and Commercial Support for Sales

• Support Sales and Marketing teams in customer negotiations, new product proposals, analysis of promotional mechanics, and ongoing customer data requirements
• Develop customer, channel & competitor knowledge to drive challenge and facilitate educated recommendations to Sales and Marketing

Invoice and Debit Note Processing

• Work with Pricing Administrator to facilitate the process of ensuring invoices for promotional or strategic activity, over-riders, selling costs, pricing disputes, are handled effectively making sure that appropriate approval is received in a timely manner, coding is accurate and that appropriate action is taken regarding any accrual adjustments or customer challenge required
• Liaise with customers & Sales team to minimise the financial impact of any proposed customer audit claims relating to promotional or strategic activity

Process Improvement and System Administration

• Continually review processes in the department to ensure they are at their most efficient within Finance and Sales and Marketing
• Ensure Tropos reflects the reporting needs of the business, matching Sales structure and/or any brand categorisation
• Lead and take part in project initiatives across the business from a Finance perspective

On offer:

Salary £40,000-£44,000 depending on experience

Benefits package

10% bonus

Private healthcare

Pension: contributions employee 5%, employer 10%

Product allowance

Travel would be 3 or 4 trips to London per year

1:30 finish on a Friday