Head of Finance
Merchandising department
The Commercial Head of Finance will be reporting into the Managing Director and Trading Director and lead operators across Marketing, Merchandising, Customer Insight and Buying Controllers within FMCG, GM and Fashion.
The Role Entails Three Core Elements
* Lead process improvements across reporting, insight, performance reviewing, forecasting, budgeting and returns on investment
* Lead a team of 5 Finance Business Partners
* Supporting and challenging performance across the commercial function through improving profitability and working capital. This will incorporate Sales (£2bn+), Margin, Retros and Other Margin Items from a P&L perspective, as well as Stock and Payments terms from a working capital perspective
The Job Role is based in Birmingham
The Commercial Head of Finance will be based in Birmingham at our Customer Support Centre with occasional travel to Ireland with a hybrid working model working two to three days in the office.
You will support and challenge performance across the Commercial function, to be achieved through the following vehicles:
* Support and challenge the Leadership teams to address core issues
* Ensure consistency and challenge performance review process’
* Act as the Commercial Finance leader to ensure we are working on driving cost efficiencies
* Influence the Commercial strategy from a Finance perspective
Lead process improvements across reporting, reviewing performance, forecasting and budgeting:
Support with the objective of moving from those quarterly forecasts to a rolling monthly forecast process
* Work more closely with the Commercial Finance Controllers for Retail, Distribution, Transformation and FP&A to ensure consistency and best practice
* Introduce regular post investment appraisals for key spend on new ranges, product promotions and marketing campaigns
* Ensure we have consistency across the reporting and performance review processes
* Understand the key metrics the business uses, with a specific focus on Trading
Leading a team of 6 individuals
Coach and challenging six Finance Business Partners
* Create a challenging and fun working environment
* Develop individuals to maximise their potential and ensure they have clear, specific and manageable objectives, plus a personal development plan
* Qualified accountant. CIMA or ACCA
* Advanced Excel skills
* Well-developed business partnering skills
* Be a strong communicator with excellent written and verbal skills who can interact well with others
* Be comfortable challenging senior leaders
* Experience in a multi-site environment essential, Retail sector is preferable
* Proven success in leading and managing Commercial Finance teams