FP&A Manager

Cedar is partnered with a private equity-backed services business in Central London to appoint an Interim FP&A Manager. This is a 6-month contract offering a day rate of £550-650 per day. The Company This private equity-backed services business has grown rapidly through acquisition and organic expansion, with further investment planned. As it continues to scale, the finance function is investing heavily in data, automation and AI to deliver faster insight, smarter forecasting and more informed commercial decision-making. This is an opportunity to help shape a next-generation FP&A capability, embedding automation, predictive analytics and AI into the heart of finance. The Role Reporting to the CFO, the Interim FP&A Manager will sit at the intersection of Finance, Data and Technology, leading the development of advanced modelling, automated reporting and AI-enabled analytics. You'll build scalable planning models, develop executive dashboards, automate manual processes and leverage emerging AI tools to improve forecasting, reporting and commercial insight. This is a role for someone who enjoys challenging traditional FP&A and using technology to create measurable business value. Key responsibilities include: • Building sophisticated financial models supporting budgeting, forecasting, scenario planning, investment appraisal and strategic decision-making. • Developing interactive Power BI dashboards and executive reporting that deliver real-time commercial insight. • Leveraging AI tools to automate financial analysis, variance commentary, reporting packs and forecasting processes. • Identifying practical applications for Generative AI and Copilot to improve finance productivity and decision support. • Manipulating and analysing large datasets to identify trends, risks and commercial opportunities. • Automating reporting processes, reducing manual effort and improving speed, accuracy and scalability. • Developing driver-based forecasting models and predictive planning capabilities. • Creating KPI frameworks combining financial and operational performance into actionable insight. • Partnering with Finance, Commercial and Technology teams to improve data quality, reporting architecture and decision-making. • Supporting acquisition integration through planning models, reporting and performance dashboards. • Evaluating emerging AI and analytics technologies, identifying opportunities to drive efficiency and value creation. Your Profile • Proven FP&A experience within a fast-paced, commercial environment. • Advanced financial modelling and Excel skills. • Strong Power BI and dashboard development experience. • Experience manipulating large datasets using Power Query, SQL, Python or similar tools. • Track record of delivering finance automation and reporting improvements. • Practical experience with AI tools such as Microsoft Copilot, ChatGPT, Claude or Gemini. • Strong commercial acumen and the ability to communicate complex analysis clearly to senior stakeholders. • Experience within a private equity-backed, acquisitive or high-growth business is advantageous. Compensation & Working Arrangements The day rate for this Interim FP&A Manager role is £550-650 per day. The role is based in Central London with hybrid working, typically requiring office attendance 2-3 days per week. Working directly with the CFO, you'll play a key role in building a data-driven, AI-enabled finance function within a rapidly growing private equity-backed business.