James Dunn

I'm a highly analytical and commercially driven Finance Business Partner with extensive experience operating in complex, multi‑site environments. Expert in breaking down P&L mechanics, identifying core financial drivers, and linking them to operational realities through robust forecasting models, insights, and KPIs. Leveraging my CGMA designation and MSc Finance (Distinction), I specialise in financial modelling, MI reporting, and strengthening financial controls, ensuring decision‑makers have timely, accurate, and actionable information.

I am known for translating complex data into clear narratives that influence senior stakeholders and align financial and operational outcomes. Drives system-led process automation and control enhancements to deliver measurable operational efficiencies and strategic decision support.

Operations Finance Business Partner at Reed In Partnerships (2026-07 – Present)

Finance Business Partner supporting multiple contracts, reporting directly to the Lead Finance Business Partner with a dotted line to the Finance Director. Responsible for the financial performance, forecasting, and control of distinct programmes, with a primary focus on DVSA, Environment contracts, and a newly acquired training academy. The role combined complex financial modelling, quarterly forecasting, and strong financial governance, working closely with Management Accounts and operational stakeholders to ensure accurate, timely financial information.

Managed £20m+ budgets and ensured teams stayed on target. Acted as a trusted business partner to senior stakeholders, translating financial performance into operational insight and ensuring financial and operational objectives were aligned.

• Supported month-end close processes in partnership with Management Accounts and Operations, ensuring P&L accuracy, completeness, and alignment to operational reality.
• Designed and embedded stronger audit trails, improved cost-tagging discipline, and advised on more reflective accrual approaches, particularly for staff costs.
• Actively advised on the structure of the Chart of Accounts, increasing cost granularity to ensure management accounts were more effective for decision‑making, and supported on implementation of new journal inputs and logic.
• Led the preparation of financial returns for commissioners, ensuring information was accurate, consistent, and aligned with programme reporting requirements.
• Designed and owned complex, flexible forecasting models capable of rapidly producing full P&L forecasts using driver-based inputs.
• Consolidated forecasts across dozens of cost centres and 100+ locations, ensuring accuracy at both network and site level.
• Built models incorporating complex volume and revenue outputs, staffing requirement modelling, run-rate analysis, and scenario testing.
• Partnered for external joint venture where I designed and managed a full end-to-end forecast model incorporating headcount, granular driver-based inputs for revenue and cost.
• Engineered an integrated cash flow forecasting framework to underpin a corporate recovery plan, providing leadership with the liquidity visibility needed to execute an operational turnaround.
• Developed automated output templates linking detailed forecast models directly into the ERP (Workday), significantly improving efficiency, speed, and accuracy of forecasting uploads.
• Collaborated with the Finance Systems Lead to improve ERP design through automation of calculations and enhanced data granularity.
• Supported with design and implementation of forecasting rules in Adaptive Planning; driver-based modelling, allocation modelling.
• Took active ownership of Systems in absence of Finance Systems Lead.
• Partnered closely with operational teams and programme stakeholders to ensure forecasts reflected realistic assumptions and operational constraints.
• Challenged assumptions and site performance.
• Presented financial performance and forecasts to Programme Directors, clearly explaining variances, risks, and drivers.
• Designed and implemented KPIs that bridge financial performance with operational levers, enabling Operations teams to actively manage cost, productivity, and performance.
• Supported staff planning and cashflow analysis, translating financial insight into practical recommendations.
• Built robust, user-friendly dashboards leveraging complex datasets to provide clear visibility of performance, cost drivers, and trends across sites and programmes using Excel and Adaptive Planning.

Finance Business Partner at Sofology (DFS Group) (2023-07 – 2026-06)

An extension of the duties outlined in the Commercial Finance Analyst Role but with a greater emphasis on direct communication with Senior Management and supporting and developing our Junior Finance Analyst. Larger projects undertaken during this role include leading the Trade Budget, supporting the development of bonus and incentive schemes, supporting a movement from excel-based to Power-BI based reporting, and group cannibalisation analysis to support the long-term growth plan, and establishing new framework to determine staffing requirements for each store. Key to this role was the design and maintenance of a variety of KPI Dashboards with a focus on top-line trade, store performance, and colleague performance.

Commercial Finance Analyst at Sofology (DFS Group) (2021-12 – 2023-07)

A varied role supporting the senior finance business partner in various analytical and reporting duties. Time split between engaging with a variety of stakeholders and building, maintaining, and planning reporting processes. Key areas of analysis included retail performance, digital, and product, with active involvement in the establishment, measurement, and reporting-integration of various KPIs.

A key achievement was rebuilding and maintaining the Trading and Commercial reporting processes across the entire Sofology division.

• Supported the Senior Finance Business Partner and Head of Finance with a variety of projects including budgeting and forecasting.
• Provided real-time analysis and recommendations to inform key strategic decisions (E.g Promotional/ Pricing/ Spend).
• Supported the creation of Trade Targets and calculating bonus payments across the Retail Trading Estate (500+ colleagues).
• Produced, analysed, and offered insight into store P&Ls.
• Built, improved, and maintained insight reports used across retail, buying, and operational departments.

Msc in Finance

BA