Commercial Finance Manager
Leading Retail Brand
£65,000 - £70,000 + bonus & great benefits
West London offices - hybrid 3 days pw office / 2wfh
Key Responsibilities:
Retail & Property Finance Partnership
* Act as the main finance contact for the Retail Director, Regional Business Managers, and Property team—ensuring strong alignment between operational strategy and financial planning.
* Deliver regular insights on retail performance, identifying risks and opportunities while supporting sales and profitability growth.
* Attend and contribute to weekly property board meetings and preparatory sessions, evaluating new store proposals and offering commercial challenge and support to ensure investment decisions are sound and well-substantiated.
Planning, Forecasting & Scenario Analysis
* Lead forecasting and budgeting for UK Retail and Property cost areas, including collaboration on key assumptions (e.g., national wage rates, utility costs).
* Develop and maintain scenario models to assess financial sensitivity across different trading and property conditions.
* Own the production of monthly cash flow forecasts and balance sheet projections related to property and store costs.
Performance Monitoring & Reporting
* Oversee monthly review routines, ensuring timely and accurate reporting on store-level expenses, retail overheads, and property-related costs.
* Support the creation of board-level financial reports, providing analysis and commentary that guide strategic decisions.
* Collaborate with the Retail Analyst on monthly close processes, financial reconciliations, and performance tracking across all retail channels.
Commercial Analysis & Decision Support
* Partner with cross-functional teams to assess business cases, conduct cost-benefit evaluations, and support broader commercial initiatives.
* Analyse store incentive schemes and deliver regular reporting on sales performance, margin trends, and stock efficiency.
* Engage in ad hoc financial analysis to support evolving business priorities and leadership requests.
Team Leadership & Development
* Directly manage and mentor the Retail Finance Analyst, supporting their growth and development.
* Contribute to broader team development initiatives in partnership with the Head of Commercial Finance.
What You’ll Bring:
* Professional accounting qualification (CIMA, ACCA, ACA) with experience in commercial finance roles.
* Experience in a retail or consumer-facing business is preferred.
* Strong communication skills, with the ability to explain complex financial information clearly and persuasively to both finance and non-finance stakeholders.
* Analytical mindset with high attention to detail and proficiency in working with large datasets and advanced modelling.
* Proactive and adaptable, with a problem-solving approach and the confidence to challenge the status quo.
* Advanced Excel skills and comfort working with financial systems.
* Experience in a retail or consumer-facing business is preferred.