Head of Cost Management

Head of Fixed Cost Management

Location:

Uxbridge (5 days onsite) Reporting to the Director of FP&A, the Head of Fixed Cost Management will own the planning, control, benchmarking and reduction of Pilgrim's Europe's c. £1bn total fixed cost base (indirect labour, contract services, utilities, R&M, rent & lease, IT, professional fees, insurance, other overheads and depreciation & amortisation) across 40 sites in the UK and Europe. The role will:
Set and embed a cost-aware, low-cost mindset across the business, in line with "every penny is a prisoner" principle. Own and industrialise the Zero-Based Budgeting (ZBB) framework across all fixed cost groups, building on the existing site-level ZBB cadence and monthly Costs Dashboard. Identify and drive cross-site cost-reduction projects grounded in internal and external benchmarks, ensuring each site operates at the right cost level for its scale, mix and category.

Own the fixed-cost gap-up target and the tracking of delivery against it into the P&L. Responsibilities:
Lead and develop the Group-wide Zero-Based Budgeting (ZBB) framework and governance model. Own planning, forecasting and reporting for a c.£1bn fixed cost base, including depreciation and amortisation. Drive a cost-conscious culture centred on the principle that "every penny is a prisoner". Identify, prioritise and deliver cross-site cost reduction initiatives through internal and external benchmarking. Lead monthly cost reviews with senior operational and finance stakeholders.

Develop and enhance cost dashboards and reporting through Anaplan, Qlik and other BI tools. Own indirect labour cost governance, recharge mechanisms and central cost controls. Partner with Engineering and Operations to ensure CAPEX investments deliver planned savings and financial benefits. Coach and develop analytical talent whilst leading cross-functional cost improvement programmes. Requirements:
Qualified accountant (ACA / ACCA / CIMA) with 8 years post-qualification experience. Deep FMCG / food / manufacturing background, ideally multi-site and multi-entity. Proven track record building and running a ZBB or Zero-Overhead programme at scale (£500m overhead base). Strong benchmarking and project delivery experience, with a demonstrable savings track record. Advanced Excel, and fluency in Anaplan, SAP and Qlik (or equivalent BI).

Senior stakeholder management with Exec, Engineering, Supply Chain, Opex and Site GM audiences; comfortable challenging cost owners with data. Willingness to travel across UK and European sites (AVZ, France, Ireland, Northern Ireland).