Established in 1981 with a single store in the Northwest of England, the JD Group is a leading omni-channel retailer of Sports Fashion, Outdoors and Gyms with our colleagues working in stores across several retail fascias in many markets around the world. JD Sports Fashion Plc was listed on the London Stock Exchange in 1996 and has been a FTSE100 publicly quoted company since 2019 and continues to grow in the UK and internationally. We want to be the leading global omnichannel retailer in the sports and outdoor industry. To be a part of this successful company and help us to achieve this you will have the desire to ingrain our strategic goals of being a people-led, innovative and customer-focused organisation which provides operational excellence whilst identifying new areas of growth as part of our day to day objectives. Senior Commercial Finance Manager – JD Europe & Joint Ventures Responsible to: Head of Commercial Finance – Europe Department: Finance Location: JD Group Head Office, Bury, Greater Manchester, BL9 8RR Role Overview: As the Senior Commercial Finance Manager for JD Europe and its Joint Ventures, you will provide guidance, support, and coordination to the European Commercial Finance team, helping deliver on the Commercial Financial Director's objectives. You will also be responsible for offering best-practice and strategic support to the Group's Joint Venture businesses across Europe. You will work closely with senior stakeholders, providing insight and guidance to support decision-making and recommend optimal outcomes. This will be achieved by building a strong network across the group, engaging with multiple departments to problem-solve collaboratively and distil expert perspectives into clear, concise communication. You will lead a small team to deliver these objectives, while supporting their continuous development. You will play a key role within the European finance team, delivering budgets and forecasts in line with group deadlines. This will be achieved through effective planning with both operational and finance teams, leveraging team strengths, and continuously improving and simplifying the overall approach. This role involves critical financial analysis, strategic thinking, and effective leadership to drive successful outcomes within the European business segment. Due to the nature of the role, there will be occasional ad hoc travel required into the markets you support.
Responsibilities:
* Co-ordinate and ensure execution of European-wide initiatives and deliverables
* Co-ordinate activities of the Commercial Finance Managers in JD Europe to deliver European level objectives & align on Group requirements
* Manage and oversee the Joint Ventures Commercial Finance Team:
* Lead and supervise the Commercial Finance team responsible for Joint Ventures.
* Support Financial Planning and Analysis for European Businesses, including supporting the Joint Venture businesses in Europe:
* Oversee all aspects of financial planning and analysis to align with the Group's requirements and policies.
* You will be the primary commercial finance contact and provide support to the Joint Venture businesses during their integration and alignment into Group-wide initiatives.
* You will provide best practice advice and guidance in ensuing joint ventures align to the group
* Financial Modelling and Decision Support:
* Support financial modelling from initiation to business-as-usual (BAU) for new business initiatives.
* Collaboration and Strategic Guidance:
* Collaborate with other commercial and operational departments and Centres of Excellence (CoE's) by producing financial models, conducting scenario analyses, and assessing risks to inform decision-making and business growth.
* Comfortable challanging senior stakeholders by using robust analysis offering solutions
* Leadership and Team Development:
* Lead by example, fostering a team culture aligned with the Group's and Finance team's core values.
* Support ongoing development and growth within your team of 2.
* Reporting and Analysis:
* Prepare and present weekly, monthly, and quarterly commercial reports and analyses. This role requires a blend of financial expertise, leadership, and effective communication to drive successful outcomes Essential
Skills and Experience:
- Qualified Accountant (ACA, ACCA, CIMA, or Equivalent):
- Possess a recognized accounting qualification with a minimum of 3 years of post-qualification experience in a commercial finance role.
- Industry Expertise (Retail or Fashion):
- Ideally, have experience in the retail or fashion industry.
- Global Business Partnership:
- Demonstrated experience working with business partners across Europe and globally is essential.
- Financial Acumen:
- Strong knowledge of accounting principles, standards, and practices.
- Proficiency in using financial software, systems, and tools.
- Analytical and Communication Skills:
- Confident and clear communication skills
- Ability to work with colleagues across all levels and geographies
- Excellent analytical, problem-solving, and decision-making abilities.
- Attention to detail and effective communication skills.
- Comfortable in challanging senior stakeholders by using robust analysis offering other solutions
- Leadership and Team Development:
- Ability to lead, motivate, and develop a high-performing finance team
- Time Management and Resilience:
- Comfortable working under pressure, meeting tight deadlines, and managing multiple projects and priorities.
- Passion for Sports Fashion:
- Enthusiasm for the sports fashion industry and awareness of its trends.
- Positive Attitude and Drive:
- Exhibit positivity, enthusiasm, resilience, and a proactive approach to challenges. This comprehensive skill set will contribute to success in the role and drive impactful outcomes. We know our colleagues work tirelessly to make JD Sports the success it is today and in turn, we offer them some amazing benefits including staff Discount On JD Group and other brands within the organisation and personal development opportunities to learn and develop at work. Thank you for your time #JD