Job Title: Finance Manager
Department: External Reporting
Location: Bury
Reporting To: Head of External Reporting
Contract Type: Permanent
Closing Date: 15 December 2025
Internal/External: External
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About JD Group
Founded in 1981 with a single store in the Northwest of England, JD Group has grown into a leading global omni-channel retailer in Sports Fashion, Outdoors, and Gyms. Our diverse and dedicated teams operate across a portfolio of renowned retail brands in multiple international markets.
Listed on the London Stock Exchange since 1996 and a proud member of the FTSE100 since 2019, the JD Group continues to expand both in the UK and globally driven by a commitment to innovation, excellence, and possibility.
Our vision is to become the world’s most trusted and dynamic omni-channel retailer in the sports and outdoor industry. We welcome individuals from all backgrounds to join us in shaping this future. If you're passionate about contributing to an inclusive, people-first, and customer-centric organisation motivated by continuous growth and operational excellence we’d love to hear from you.
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Role Overview
The Finance Manager – External Reporting is responsible for leading the preparation, accuracy, and timely delivery of key parts of the Group’s external financial reporting. The Finance Manager acts as a subject matter expert on IFRS and regulatory requirements, supporting senior leadership in delivering transparent and reliable financial information.
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Key Responsibilities
* Leadership and Oversight
* Own the end to end statutory reporting process for the Group and subsidiaries.
* Act as the primary point of contact for external auditors and manage audit timelines and deliverables.
* Statutory Reporting
* Prepare consolidated and entity level statutory accounts in line with applicable accounting standards.
* Review and approve disclosures, notes, and supporting schedules for annual and interim reports.
* Support the external audit process by preparing working papers, liaising with auditors, and resolving queries.
* Technical Accounting
* Provide technical accounting advice and analysis to senior stakeholders.
* Assist in preparing materials for the Board, Audit Committee, and regulators as required.
* Lead impact assessments for new accounting standards and regulatory changes.
* Controls, Governance & Process Improvement
* Strengthen internal controls over financial reporting and ensure compliance with SOX or equivalent frameworks.
* Monitor and implement best practices in external reporting.
* Maintain strong internal controls over financial reporting.
* Ensure reconciliations, accounting entries, and disclosures are complete, accurate, and properly reviewed.
* Stakeholder management
* Collaborate with Group Finance, Tax, Treasury, and Investor Relations to ensure consistency and quality of financial information.
Skills & Experience Required
* Qualified accountant (ACA/ACCA/CIMA or equivalent) with strong technical IFRS expertise
* Minimum 4 years post qualification experience, including leadership responsibilities
* Proven experience in statutory and external reporting within a PLC or large corporate environment.
* Strong stakeholder management and communication skills.
* Advanced Excel and familiarity with reporting tools (, Workiva).
* Ability to manage multiple priorities under tight deadlines.
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What We Offer
We are proud to be an equal opportunity employer, committed to creating a workplace where every colleague is valued, respected, and empowered. We celebrate the diversity of our teams and strive to ensure that all colleagues regardless of background, identity, or lived experience can thrive and contribute meaningfully.
As a part of our successful and continually evolving company, you’ll be encouraged to embrace and uphold our strategic priorities: putting people first, at the forefront of digital innovation, staying deeply attuned to our customers, and pursuing operational excellence. We are always exploring new avenues for growth, and we welcome individuals who are passionate about making a positive impact every day.
We know our employees work tirelessly to make JD Sports the success it is today and in turn, we offer them some amazing benefits:
* Incremental Holiday Allowance
* Staff Discount on qualifying purchases across Group retail stores and online
* Exclusive Colleague Bike Discount scheme
* Discounted Gym membership
* Personal development opportunities to learn and develop at work
* Access to Apprenticeships and accredited qualifications
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