Commercial Finance Manager - SMB Trading

Review of the Commercial Finance Manager (SMB) Opportunity

This review provides an in-depth look at the Commercial Finance Manager role within the SMB unit, designed to help prospective candidates understand the scope of the opportunity and make informed career decisions. With a focus on strategic financial partnership and profitable growth, this position offers a compelling path for ambitious finance professionals.

Why This Role Matters

The Commercial Finance Manager role is pivotal to the financial success of the SMB unit, with direct responsibility for the profitability of SMB trading activities. This isn't just about number-crunching; it's about actively shaping the financial future of a significant business segment.

• Strategic Impact: You will be at the forefront of driving profitable growth by partnering closely with Mobile and Fixed commercial teams.
• Value Creation: Your work will directly influence propositions, optimize customer lifetime value, and contribute to reducing churn, showcasing a tangible impact on the business.
• Influential Partnerships: Working with senior stakeholders, you'll have the opportunity to challenge and influence trading strategies, ensuring alignment with overarching SMB growth objectives.

What You'll Be Doing: A Deep Dive

This role offers a dynamic and multifaceted set of responsibilities, blending strategic planning with hands-on analysis. It's an excellent opportunity for a finance professional looking to expand their commercial acumen.

• Financial Business Partnering: Act as a key advisor to Trading teams, driving data-led commercial decision-making.
• Performance Optimization: Evaluate propositions, analyze performance, and mitigate risks to drive short-term trading success.
• Strategic Planning: Shape medium- and long-term customer trading strategies, including opportunity analysis and cross-sell initiatives.
• Forecasting & Budgeting: Lead critical forecasting activities, from in-quarter outlooks to annual budgets.
• Efficiency Identification: Proactively identify opportunities to improve acquisition volumes, enrichment, and churn performance.
• Value Enhancement: Evolve trading value reporting to shift focus from volume to value, enabling clear performance impact assessment.
• Offer Scrutiny: Ensure commercial offers are strategically sound, balancing margin impacts, market context, and customer needs.
• Model Development: Develop and refine evaluation models to standardize and improve decision-making processes.
• Insight Generation: Conduct in-depth analysis to understand key business drivers, diagnose performance issues, and propose actionable solutions.

Key Considerations for Candidates

This role is ideal for a qualified accountant with a strong commercial mindset and a proven track record in dynamic, fast-paced environments. Candidates should be prepared for a role that demands both analytical rigor and strong interpersonal skills.

• Qualifications: A professional accounting qualification (ACA, CIMA, ACCA) or equivalent practical experience is essential.
• Commercial Acumen: Significant experience in commercial finance and business partnering, especially within trading-focused sectors, is highly desirable.
• Analytical Prowess: Advanced financial modeling skills, particularly in Excel, are crucial for building robust analytical tools.
• Communication Skills: The ability to articulate complex financial information clearly to both financial and non-financial stakeholders is paramount.
• Forecasting Expertise: Proven capability in short, medium, and long-term forecasting, planning, and budgeting is a core requirement.
• Problem-Solving: A demonstrated ability to identify issues, understand root causes, and develop data-driven solutions in ambiguous situations is key.
• Organizational Navigation: Experience within large, matrixed organizations, coupled with resilience and the confidence to constructively challenge the status quo, will be advantageous.
• Location Flexibility: The role offers flexibility with bases in Belfast, Bristol, or London, appealing to a wider pool of talent.

Career Path Advantages

This role presents a significant opportunity for career advancement within a leading telecommunications company:

• Strategic Exposure: Gain invaluable experience partnering with senior leadership and influencing key business decisions.
• Broad Commercial Understanding: Develop a comprehensive understanding of trading dynamics, customer acquisition, and retention strategies within the SMB market.
• Skill Development: Enhance your modeling, analytical, and business partnering skills in a challenging and rewarding environment.
• Industry Leadership: Contribute to the transformation of a company at the forefront of digital infrastructure and connectivity, offering a chance to be part of a company shaping the future.

Employee Benefits

Beyond the engaging responsibilities, the company offers a comprehensive benefits package designed to support your well-being and financial security:

• Competitive on-target bonus of 10%.
• Robust BT Pension scheme with generous employer contributions.
• Industry-leading equal family leave policies.
• Enhanced women's health support.
• Generous annual leave, increasing with service.
• Convenient 24/7 private virtual GP appointments.
• Dedicated carer's leave.
• Access to world-class training and development opportunities.
• Opportunity to participate in BT Shares Saving schemes.

This Commercial Finance Manager role offers a unique blend of strategic influence, analytical challenge, and personal development within a company undergoing significant and exciting transformation. It's an opportunity to make a tangible impact and grow your career at the heart of the UK's connectivity future.