Group Strategic Financial Planning & Analysis Manager

Support Office

London•Salary discussed at the interview and DOE•Full time

Aqua Restaurant Group is a premium, multi-site experiential dining group operating across the UK and internationally under brands including Aqua and Hutong, in an active period of expansion both domestically and in new markets. We are at the next stage of our growth journey and this role is critical to how we plan, measure and deliver that.


You will work directly alongside the Group CFO, shaping strategy and building the commercial picture that the owners, CFO, COO and senior management rely on to decide where the business goes next. You will support key strategic initiatives as they arise requiring precision, pace and discretion.

The role suits someone from a top-tier consulting, PE, corporate finance, or FTSE/multinational background who wants direct CFO exposure at a pivotal moment in the business.


Where are we located?

The position will be based in our Support Office located on Borough High Street, neighbouring the Shard and a stone’s throw away from the historic Borough Market. Our office is conveniently next to Borough station, and a 5-minute walk away from London Bridge station- making it well connected to Central and Greater London.


What we bring to the table:

  • Dine with us: Enjoy discounts at all Aqua venues
  • Celebrate YOU: Take your birthday off and earn additional long service leave
  • Grow with us: Ongoing training and development to support both your professional and personal development
  • Financial well-being: Manage your pay with ease through Wagestream & enhance your financial knowledge
  • Work out: Discounted gym membership
  • Lunch & Learn: Support Office perk
  • Share the Talent: Bring a friend on board and earn £500


Your day at Aqua:


Strategic Finance & Board Support

  • Support ARG’s strategic agenda with financial analysis and modelling; prepare materials for owners, the board and senior leadership that are structured, precise and clearly presented
  • Work alongside the CFO and external advisers on confidential workstreams that sit outside the day-to-day finance agenda
  • Respond to ad hoc requests from the CFO and senior leadership with rigorous, timely analysis - scenario modelling and trading analysis


Growth & Expansion

  • Identify, appraise and pursue new site opportunities across target markets, managing a live pipeline of prospective locations
  • Support commercial negotiations and due diligence on new sites, landlords and potential partners, working with property, legal and operational teams to get deals over the line
  • Research and assess new market entry options - geographies, formats, and partnership or franchise structures and bring the CFO and owners a clear recommendation on where and how ARG should expand next
  • Lead the financial appraisal of new domestic and international sites — building models covering ramp profiles, SPH targets, NPV, IRR and payback and make the case for which sites get backed, tracking actual performance against plan and feeding post-opening reviews back into future decisions
  • Drive scenario analysis that informs capital allocation decisions across the estate; maintain live capital commitment tracking against approved budgets


Corporate Finance & Special Projects

  • Appraise potential acquisition opportunities, competitor sites, complementary brands or bolt-on businesses, building the valuation and commercial case for the CFO, owners and senior management
  • Support the CFO on ad hoc corporate finance workstreams as they arise including financing, refinancing or other strategic initiatives, often under time pressure and requiring discretion
  • Build and maintain financial models and materials used in external stakeholder and advisor discussions
  • Manage and maintain confidential data sets, ensuring documentation is organised and current
  • Liaise directly with external advisers (banks, lawyers, accountants), coordinating information requests, schedules and responses


Financial Performance & Reporting

  • Lead management reporting across all our sites and geographies into a single, reliable view of Group performance
  • Own the monthly reporting pack and flash reporting against budget and prior year, with commercial variance commentary for the CFO and board to include P&L, balance sheet and cashflows
  • Maintain consolidated multi-company, multi-currency reporting across the Group, with clear visibility of FX exposure
  • Maintain Group forecasting across all time horizons including annual budget, reforecast and five-year plan, with clear narrative on assumptions and sensitivities


Commercial & Digital Metrics

  • Produce, track and interpret hospitality KPIs: SPH, covers, sessions, private dining occupancy, events revenue
  • Integrate digital marketing and reservation data (e.g. covers, conversion, acquisition cost, repeat rate) to build a dashboard linking commercial activity to financial outcomes


Where there is water, there is life & where there is life, you will find us!

Dive into a world of culinary innovation and memorable dining experiences, where your love for food and hospitality can shine.

All applicants must be eligible to live and work in the UK.

Aqua Restaurant Group welcomes individuals from all backgrounds and is committed to creating an inclusive work environment. If you require reasonable adjustments to make your experience more accessible, please let us know.


Apply today as an Group Strategic Financial Planning & Analysis Manager and be part of Aqua’s global culinary adventure!


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