A leading multi-site retailer is seeking a Commercial FP&A Manager to join their dynamic finance team in Chesham. This is an exceptional opportunity for you to play a pivotal role in shaping strategic decisions, driving profitability, and supporting business growth across multiple channels and categories. You will be at the heart of commercial decision-making, providing actionable financial insights that influence trading, pricing, promotions, and supplier negotiations.
What you'll do:
As a Commercial Financial Planning and Analysis Manager based in Amersham, you will immerse yourself in the day-to-day operations of a thriving retail finance function. Your role will centre on delivering insightful analysis that underpins strategic decisions across buying, merchandising, pricing, promotions, stock planning, and supplier negotiations. You will work collaboratively with cross-functional teams to ensure financial plans are robustly developed and executed. By leveraging your analytical skills to monitor KPIs such as margin rates and sell-through performance, you will help drive continuous improvement throughout the business. Your ability to communicate complex financial information clearly will enable you to bridge finance with commercial teams effectively. Success in this position means proactively identifying risks or opportunities while supporting colleagues’ development through knowledge sharing. You’ll also have the chance to shape reporting tools using Power BI dashboards—making your mark on how data drives decision-making throughout the organisation.
* Prepare and review weekly and monthly trading reports to provide timely insights into sales performance, margin trends, and stock levels.
* Lead budgeting, reforecasting, and financial planning cycles for relevant channels and categories in close partnership with buying and merchandising teams.
* Monitor key performance indicators such as intake margin, markdowns, cover, and sell-through rates to identify areas for improvement and drive overall business performance.
* Collaborate with buying and merchandising teams to enhance reporting capabilities and develop data tools that align outputs with the wider business strategy.
* Provide effective challenge and support to senior stakeholders including the Chief Product Officer and Trading Director by highlighting risks, opportunities, and actionable recommendations.
* Deliver detailed variance analysis on sales, margin, stock, and intake to inform trading decisions and optimise profitability.
* Support supplier analysis to aid negotiations and improve profitability for the business.
* Develop Power BI dashboards that deliver meaningful analysis to stakeholders across the organisation.
* Provide ad hoc analysis or model propositions for promotions, projects, or other business requests as required by senior management.
* Support the development of Finance Analysts through coaching, mentoring, and sharing best practices.
What you bring:
Your background as a Commercial Financial Planning & Analysis Manager equips you with the proven experience necessary to excel in this multifaceted role. You bring not only technical proficiency in financial modelling but also an empathetic approach when collaborating with colleagues from diverse departments. Your interpersonal skills foster trust among stakeholders as you translate complex data into actionable recommendations. Having worked within retail or consumer-focused environments before gives you unique insight into how trading decisions impact sales outcomes. You are known for your dependability when managing competing priorities under tight deadlines—always maintaining accuracy without sacrificing quality. Your commitment extends beyond numbers; you actively nurture others’ growth through coaching or mentoring junior analysts. With recognised qualifications underpinning your expertise—and perhaps additional experience using Power BI—you are ready to make an immediate positive impact on both team culture and business results.
* Proven experience in a Commercial Finance or Financial Planning & Analysis role within retail or consumer goods environments is essential for success in this position.
* Exceptional financial modelling abilities combined with advanced Excel skills are required to deliver accurate forecasts and insightful analysis.
* Strong numerical acumen paired with attention to detail enables you to interpret complex data sets effectively.
* Excellent communication skills are vital for influencing non-finance stakeholders while providing both challenge and support where needed.
* A deep understanding of merchandising processes alongside buying functions allows you to partner effectively with commercial teams.
* Demonstrated experience partnering senior business leaders by reporting results clearly and explaining financial insights is highly desirable.
* Experience using Power BI for dashboard creation is advantageous but not mandatory; willingness to learn new tools is appreciated.
* A proactive mindset coupled with an ability to manage multiple priorities ensures you thrive in a fast-paced environment.
* Holding a recognised accountancy qualification (CIMA/ACCA/ACA) demonstrates your technical competence in finance roles.
* Previous exposure to hospitality or multi-site retail businesses further strengthens your suitability for this opportunity.
Robert Walters Operations Limited is an employment business and employment agency and welcomes applications from all candidates
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