Senior Finance Business Partner

Robert Half Finance & Accounting are currently partnering with Mulberry, a well-known luxury fashion brand, in their recruitment of a Senior Finance Business Partner on a permanent contract.Founded in the heart of Somerset, Mulberry is an iconic British brand celebrated worldwide for its craftsmanship, creativity, and timeless design. From their roots in the South West, they have grown into a global name synonymous with quality and innovation, while staying true to their heritage. At Mulberry, every piece tells a story and every team member plays a part in shaping that narrative.In 2024, they proudly achieved B Corp Certification, reflecting their purpose-driven approach and dedication to transparency and accountability. From pioneering low-carbon leather to championing responsible sourcing and climate action, Mulberry is shaping a future where luxury and sustainability go hand in hand.So that's the business, but the role we're offering is excellent too…Reporting to an impressive Director of Commercial Finance and FP&A, this role will be strategic partner to the key stakeholders in COO team. The role is to be the SME on the end-to-end view from sales expectations, translated into manufacturing KPIs and operational planning, through to MI and Reporting. In particular, narrate how operations translate into and affects the company Stock and Gross Margin values.Embedded within the operational environment, the role acts as a vital link between operations and finance, ensuring seamless collaboration and informed decision-making across both functions.In this role, you will play a pivotal part in shaping accurate forecasts and budgets by gathering sales projections from the Buying & Merchandising team and collaborating with the Head of Responsible Sourcing and their team to translate these into actionable, measurable weekly and monthly targets.You will take ownership of reporting for both the COO and CFO, providing insights into performance against purchasing and manufacturing targets. Working closely with Finance, you'll help explain variances-whether due to sales mix forecasting errors, productivity shifts, unexpected purchasing levels, or changes in sourcing strategy-and articulate the financial implications for the group.Additionally, you will act as a key partner to the Group FC, supporting the Finance Operations team in managing stock accounting and valuation, which is significantly influenced by manufacturing outputs and processes.The salary on offer is up to £100,000 + benefits, hybrid & flexible working is supported with an expectation of 3 days per week in the Chilcompton office.Responsibilities:Partner with Commercial Finance and Buying & Merchandising to build a detailed SKU-level budget, covering sales, purchased units, and manufactured unitsReview performance weekly and monthly, assessing variances and trends to ensure accuracy and alignmentTranslate the SKU budget into a KPI-driven manufacturing and purchasing plan, collaborating closely with Purchasing and Manufacturing LeadsGather and consolidate data from UK and overseas sites to benchmark operational performance and key metricsMonitor overhead costs and spending, ensuring overhead rates remain appropriate and sustainable for the futureDeliver a weekly insights report and a comprehensive monthly reporting pack, providing actionable recommendations to address variances-whether to course-correct adverse trends or capitalise on favourable outcomesWork closely with the Finance stock team to align margin adjustments with KPI reporting, ensuring financials and operational narratives are consistent and accurateDrive continuous improvement in reporting and budgeting processes, from month-end close to weekly updates and long-term strategic planningBuild strong, collaborative relationships with Purchasing, Production, Technical, and Finance teams, as well as external manufacturing partnersIdeal Candidate:Qualified Accountant (ACCA/ACA/CIMA/CA)Prior manufacturing experience is essentialStrong commercial finance & activity based costing skillsPrior experience of inventory management accounting & KPI reporting / analysisStrong systems / data analytics skillsDemonstratable experience of partnering non financeBe willing to roll sleeves up & get stuck into challengesThis really is a unique opportunity, if you thrive on delivering value-add and want to work for a brilliant business who are on a transformation journey, then we want to hear from you. Join now to be part of the future of Mulberry.