Finance Director – Outdoors
Responsible to: CEO of Outdoors
Department: Outdoors Finance
Hours: 40 Hours
Location: Bury HQ
Role Overview
The JD Outdoors Group is the UK’s leading outdoor retail group, encompassing iconic brands including GO Outdoors, Blacks and Millets. With a focus on inspiring and equipping customers for outdoor adventure, we are committed to offering quality products, exceptional value, and expert advice. As part of the JD Group PLC family, we are poised for strategic growth, innovation, and market leadership.
We are seeking a dynamic and commercially astute Finance Director to provide strategic financial leadership, ensuring robust financial management, operational efficiency, and commercial insight aligned with the company objectives to support JD Outdoors’ growth. This role will oversee financial planning, reporting, and compliance, while acting as a key business partner to the Board and senior leadership team. Your objective will be to contribute to overall business strategy and ensure that financial practices support growth, sustainability, and long-term success.
Key Responsibilities
Strategic Leadership
• Develop and implement the organisation’s financial strategy in alignment with objectives.
• Act as a key adviser to the Outdoors CEO, Board, and senior leadership team on financial and commercial matters.
• Provide financial modelling, scenario planning, and analysis to support strategic decision-making.
Financial Planning & Analysis (FP&A)
• Lead the budgeting, forecasting, and long-term planning processes across the business.
• Deliver timely and accurate management information, financial dashboards, and performance metrics (KPIs).
• Provide in-depth analysis of revenue, margins, costs, and working capital, highlighting risks and opportunities.
• Partner with commercial, retail, supply chain, and operations teams to support data-driven decisions.
• Drive improvements in reporting tools, forecasting models, and financial systems.
Financial Management & Reporting
• Ensure the timely and accurate production of monthly, quarterly, and annual financial reports.
• Oversee statutory accounts, audit processes, and compliance with financial regulations.
• Manage treasury, cash flow, working capital, and investment strategies.
Governance, Risk & Compliance
• Ensure strong financial controls, systems, and processes are in place across the business.
• Oversee compliance with tax, legal, and regulatory requirements.
• Lead on risk management, internal audit, and corporate governance frameworks.
Commercial Insight & Business Partnering
• Provide financial analysis and insight to support commercial decision-making across the Outdoor retail estate and e-commerce business.
• Monitor key performance indicators (KPIs) and recommend actions to drive profitability and efficiency.
• Support strategic projects including new site rollouts, supply chain improvements, and potential acquisitions.
Leadership & Team Development
• Lead, develop, and mentor the finance team, ensuring high standards of performance and engagement.
• Promote a culture of accountability, integrity, and continuous improvement.
• Collaborate effectively with non-financial leaders, building strong cross-functional relationships.
Key Skills & Experience
Essential
• Qualified accountant (ACA/ACCA/CIMA or equivalent).
• Proven experience in a senior finance leadership role, ideally Finance Director, Head of Finance, or equivalent.
• Strong commercial acumen with experience in retail and consumer goods.
• Track record of delivering financial strategies that support growth and profitability.
• Excellent knowledge of financial reporting standards and regulatory compliance.
• Strong leadership, communication, and stakeholder management skills.
• Strong interpersonal skills to build strong working relationships throughout the organisation and work effectively with all levels
• Proven leadership experience and ability to provide clear business goals for teams to support and develop skills base.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite, especially Excel
Desired
• Experience with e-commerce, multi-channel retail, or international operations.
• Passion for the outdoors, sustainability, and active lifestyles is preferred.
• Current UK Driving license holder, with the willingness for some UK travel.
• Experience navigating a complex group structure or PLC environment is a plus.