Finance Manager - Full Time - London

We are Company of Cooks, and we believe brilliant food and drink starts with brilliant people. For over 25 years, we’ve been part of some of the UK’s most loved cultural destinations, from historic palaces and botanical gardens to buzzing galleries and performance spaces, running the cafés, restaurants, bars and events that bring these incredible places to life.

Our values - Craft, Creativity and Community - guide everything we do. They shape how we work together, how we support our partners, and how we make each guest feel welcome. If you care about food, people and doing things properly, you’ll feel right at home here.

Wherever we are, we do more than serve. We bring places to life through food, service and creativity and we’re looking for a Finance Manager to work with us at Royal Opera House.

Location: WC2E 9DD - on site mainly with some flexibility to work from home on occasion

Salary: £45,000 - £55,000 per annum

Working pattern: 40 hours per week - Monday - Friday

About the Role:

We are seeking an experienced Finance Manager to take ownership of the financial management of an established, high-profile Food & Beverage contract with turnover approaching £20million annually. This role will involve working closely with operational teams, ensuring accurate financial reporting, cost control, and providing commercial insight to support the ongoing success of the contract.

As a key member of the team, you will manage client-facing financial activities, ensuring transparency and fostering a strong partnership. The role will require an in-depth understanding of financial systems, processes, and reporting frameworks, as well as the ability to identify opportunities for financial and operational improvement.

Key Responsibilities:

Ongoing Financial Management & Client Engagement

• Manage the financial performance of the contract, including P&L, balance sheet, and cash flow reporting.
• Partner with operational teams to ensure financial accuracy, cost control, and efficiency improvements.
• Provide clear, transparent financial reports and insights to the client, strengthening the contract partnership.
• Monitor financial risks and ensure compliance with contractual and regulatory obligations.
• Support budgeting, forecasting, and variance analysis, ensuring alignment with financial expectations.
• Oversee effective cash flow management and debt control, resolving issues proactively.

Strategic Financial Oversight & Partnership Development

• Work alongside commercial and operational teams to identify financial opportunities that enhance the contract’s value.
• Partner with the Commercial Growth team, highlighting financial issues and seeking their support in implementing cost control improvements.
• Identify opportunities for margin improvement, owning theoretical GP calculations, understanding the impacts of sales mix changes and ensuring stock controls are in place
• Influence strategic decision-making by providing detailed financial analysis, forecasts, and performance reviews.
• Collaborate on financial modeling for contract renewals, extensions, and new opportunities.
• Continuously review and improve financial processes, controls, and reporting structures.
• Develop and maintain financial governance, ensuring alignment with company policies and best practices.
• Support the senior leadership in implementing operational changes or new initiatives that drive business growth, enhance the customer experience, and improve customer retention and loyalty.
• Present figures and performance metrics at client meetings.

The Ideal Candidate:

• Proven experience in client-facing financial reporting, with the ability to build strong financial partnerships.
• Extensive experience in finance, accounting, or commercial financial management, ideally within a contract-based or multi-site business.
• Strong analytical skills, including budgeting, forecasting, and financial planning expertise.
• Demonstrated ability to manage P&L, balance sheet, and cash flow accounting.
• Excellent commercial awareness and the ability to collaborate with operational teams to drive financial performance.
• High level of proficiency in financial systems, Excel, and reporting tools.
• Finance qualification (CIMA/ACCA/ACA) is beneficial but not essential for candidates with proven experience and ability in the key responsibilities outlined above.

What’s in it for you?

• An opportunity to work on a high-profile contract with long-term growth potential.
• A hands-on role focused on strategic and operational financial management.
• Competitive salary, benefits, and career development opportunities.
• The chance to make a significant impact by enhancing financial processes and driving success.

Working with Company of Cooks has its perks! People are at the heart of everything we do, so we've developed a range of benefits to keep you happy. 

• Personal Development and Training opportunities 
• Life assurance scheme 
• Pension scheme 
• Holiday allowance 
• Private medical eligibility 
• Eye care 
• A great wellbeing strategy – including access to our Employee Assistance Programme, salary finance 
• Family friendly support 
• Regular social events and communication with our leaders 
• A holiday purchase scheme 
• Volunteering days 
• Professional subscriptions 
• Recognition schemes and people awards  
• Long service awards