Gunn Financial Appointments
Commercial Finance Manager
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We are delighted to be retained and working in partnership with The Royal Yacht Britannia Trust as they look to appoint a Commercial Finance Manager
This newly created role will oversee a wide range of commercial finance activities across both The Royal Yacht Britannia and Fingal Hotel.
The Royal Yacht Britannia is the No. 1 tourist attraction in the World as per Tripadvisor and exclusive evening events venue in Edinburgh. Formerly the floating palace of Queen Elizabeth II, for over 40 years, Britannia travelled more than one million nautical miles around the World on 968 official State Visits, hosting Kings, Queens, Prime Ministers and Presidents. Today, Britannia is a five-star visitor experience and prestigious events venue, welcoming guests from around the world to explore the stories of life at sea for both the Royal Family and the Royal Yachtsmen who served onboard.
Fingal Hotel, Britannia’s sister ship, is a beautifully restored former Northern Lighthouse Board vessel now permanently berthed on Leith’s vibrant waterfront. Scotland’s only luxury static floating hotel, Fingal offers a unique five-star hospitality experience, combining exceptional accommodation, service, and dining in its award-winning Lighthouse Restaurant & Bar.
This is a fantastic opportunity for those coming from a commercial finance background, with the role containing a nice mix of FP&A, business partnering, performance reporting, and process improvement. Working closely with the Director of Finance & Technology, operational teams and senior leaders, you’ll play a key role in delivering high-quality financial planning, analysis and commercial insight to support decision making and drive performance across the Trust’s diverse trading and charitable activities.
Key Responsibilities
Financial Planning & Analysis (FP&A):
- Lead the annual budgeting process, regular reforecasts and long-term financial planning
- Produce monthly management accounts, including insightful variance analysis and commentary
- Develop financial models to support pricing, investment decisions and capital projects
- Provide scenario planning and forward-looking analysis to support strategic decision-making
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Commercial Business Partnering:
- Partner with teams across retail, hospitality, events, and visitor experience to drive commercial performance
- Analyse revenue, margins and key performance drivers to identify opportunities and risks
- Support pricing strategies, promotions, new commercial initiatives and partnerships
- Review and challenge business cases, ensuring robust financial evaluation and investment appraisal
- Present financial analysis and recommendations to both finance and non-finance stakeholders
- Support cross-functional projects, including system implementations and business improvement initiatives
Performance Reporting & Insight:
- Develop and enhance financial and operational reporting, leveraging technology and automation to improve visibility and support decision making
- Monitor and report on key performance indicators, providing actionable insights and recommendations
- Leverage data to identify trends, opportunities, risks and areas for improvement
- Drive continuous improvement in data quality, reporting processes and management information
Process Improvement & Governance:
- Identify and implement improvements to financial processes, systems and controls
- Drive automation and process efficiencies to improve accuracy, consistency and productivity
- Ensure the integrity, accuracy and governance of financial data
- Support audit, compliance and risk management requirements
Financial Operations:
- Support the month-end and year-end close process, ensuring accurate and timely financial reporting
- Approve weekly and ad hoc payments and maintain supplier records in the absence of the Assistant Accountant or Senior Finance Manager
The Preferred Candidate
Skills & Experience:
- Fully qualified (ACA, ACCA, or CIMA), part-qualified or Qualified by Experience
- Proven experience in FP&A, commercial finance or business partnering roles
- Strong financial modelling, budgeting, forecasting and financial analysis skills
- Commercially focused, with the ability to translate complex data into clear, actionable insights
- Experience developing management information, KPIs and performance reporting to support decision-making
- Strong stakeholder management and communication skills, with the ability to influence and challenge constructively at all levels
- Proficient in Microsoft Excel and financial reporting tools, with experience using technology and automation to improve reporting and processes
- Experience managing or mentoring team members is desirable
- Experience within hospitality, tourism, charity or other multi-revenue environments is advantageous
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Personal Attributes:
- Proactive and solutions-focused, with a willingness to take ownership and see initiatives through to completion
- Commercially curious, with a genuine interest in understanding operational performance and identifying opportunities to improve profitability and efficiency
- Personable and collaborative, with the ability to build effective relationships with colleagues across all areas of the organisation
- Confident communicator, able to influence, support and constructively challenge stakeholders at all levels
- Driven to continuously improve processes, reporting and business performance
- Adaptable and hands-on, comfortable working in a dynamic environment where priorities and processes continue to evolve
Remuneration & Benefits:
- Salary: competitive
- Generous company pension (10% employer contribution, rising up to 20% with employee contribution)
- 33 days annual leave
- Options to buy and sell annual leave
- Life assurance
- Training and development from day one
- Employee Assistance Programme
- Up to 1 week / 5 days additional long service leave
- Up to £1,000 referral bonus through our Recommend a Colleague Scheme
- Cycle to Work Scheme
- Free staff parking
- Convenient access via public transport links
- Staff discounts in the Gift Shop, Royal Deck Tea Room & The Lighthouse Bar aboard Fingal
- Complimentary tickets to Britannia
- Employee events and celebrations
All applications should be sent to Ross Gunn at Gunn Financial Appointments:
ross@gunnfinancialappointments.co.uk
All third-party applications, enquiries and direct approaches to The Royal Yacht Britannia Trust will be referred to Gunn Financial Appointments.
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