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Commercial Finance Manager
Leading Retail Brand
£65,000 - £70,000 + bonus & great benefits
West London offices - hybrid 3 days pw office / 2 wfh
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.
