Commercial Finance Business Partner - George Trading
Job Title: Commercial Finance Business Partner - George Trading
Location: George House
Employment Type: Full time
Contract Type: Permanent
Hours Per Week: 37.5
Salary: Competitive salary plus benefits
Category: Financial Planning and Analysis
Closing Date: 21 August 2025
Are you looking for a challenging opportunity, collaborating with senior leadership, influencing decision making, and driving business growth?
This is a perfect opportunity for an inquisitive Finance Business Partner aspiring to be the Finance Trading Lead within the clothing division, responsible for adding value to a business with a significant growth agenda.
This vacancy is part of the wider Commercial Finance Team and partners with the Clothing leadership team up to VP level. It offers significant exposure to the Trading functions at George and the chance to influence at all levels of the business. The primary objective is to influence and challenge business decisions to maximize sales, gross profit, and cash flow by providing commercial insight, financial reporting, and accurate forecasting. You will deliver regular trading insights and identify profit improvement and cash opportunities.
Key Responsibilities include:
* Understand key trading drivers (market factors, promotional and markdown activity, ranging, and investment) and support decision-making to meet trading targets.
* Provide robust and timely weekly trading updates focusing on sales, trading margin, and stock, with considered recommendations for improvement.
* Engage with FP&A teams to provide regular forecasts supporting the consolidation of total profit. Act as a critical partner to stakeholders to contribute towards The Asda Ambition.
* Drive consistency and rigor in forecasting processes, ensuring accountability for accuracy from the Merchandising team, and fostering a "no-surprises" culture.
* Lead monthly performance reviews with the Director and Senior Merch Managers to understand trading performance, highlight risks and opportunities, and ensure forecast ownership and accuracy.
* Support the 3-year plan cycle to develop the Clothing strategy and lead the 1-year plan process to align seasonal product plans with business strategy.
* Monitor and review stock management, including intake, dispatch, and terminal position, liaising with the Merchandise Director to highlight cash concerns to the CFO.
* Participate actively with Merchandising and Buying in open-to-buy and margin target processes.
* Drive commercial insight by leveraging the Central Merchandising Planning team and promoting the "so what" and "now what" approach.
* Collaborate across functions to understand product lifecycle and buying processes to improve working capital.
About You:
* Qualified accountant (ACA, ACCA, or CIMA) with an interest in retail finance.
* Experience in commercial finance within trading finance, confident in setting strategic agendas.
* Inquisitive mindset with a desire to understand interconnected processes.
* Growth mindset with a focus on technical and personal development.
* Exceptional relationship-building skills.
* Proactive, with the ability to challenge and influence senior stakeholders.
* Strong analytical and communication skills.
* Ability to operate within a broader leadership team.
Everything you'll love:
Asda offers a hybrid working model with a minimum of 3 days in the office, additional requirements may vary by area. Benefits include:
* Discretionary bonus
* Company pension (up to 7% matched)
* Company car allowance (£5,700)
* 15% colleague discount
* Wellbeing services (Wagestream, virtual GP, counselling, health plans, helpline)
* Inclusion networks and support for diversity
* Excellent parental leave policies
We encourage colleagues to bring their authentic selves to work and be proud of their identity.
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