Job Description

This business partnering role will lead the commercial finance team responsible for combining financial and market data to create better insight in to business performance and its potential opportunities.

The Commercial Finance Director will work closely with the Managing Director and the rest of the Region North Leadership Team to develop strategies to grow the business and to increase the profitability year on year. This is a role that plays a key part in the direction and drive of our future business. In addition, this role will play a true leadership role responsible for working with the VP Finance in developing and evolving the Finance departmental vision and plans and bringing it to life through actions and behaviors each day.

Responsibilities include:

• Oversight over the full Region North P&L, including Retail, Wholesale and Company Overheads.
• Providing the financial lead to the strategic planning process, including the preparation and interpretation of annual budgets, financial models, risk analysis and periodic forecasts.
• Weekly trade calls with the Managing Director, reporting on sales and trade performance for the week.
• Monthly reporting to the Leadership Team on all financial matters, including the overall Region North Monthly Financial Summary.
• Initiating and managing the 5 year strategy discussions, documentation and follow up, then managing the teams to prepare and review 5 year strategic plans, challenging the business on these plans.
• Anticipates or identifies key marketplace trends and develops recommendations to enhance the organization’s position.
• Continual review of the reporting landscape and developing/driving improvements in financial information and more efficient methods of reporting, including automation and standardization across the Region.
• To lead on the financial aspects of any strategic projects aimed at achieving growth of the organization, critically assessing and challenging the business on areas for growth in top line revenue and efficiencies in cost base.
• To have an overview, on the activities and budgets for all departments, closely monitoring, reporting, and taking action where required, to ensure that appropriate financial and operational controls are in place to support business growth in a cost effective and sustainable way.
• Leading a team of Senior Commercial Finance Managers and Analysts, setting team strategy and objectives, monitoring performance, developing individuals and succession planning.
• Leading the team to drive and deliver:
  • Advice on financial implications of business decisions by running scenario analysis and concluding/advising on best moves forward for best commercial success.
  • Identification of, and actions on, opportunities for profitability improvement, including detailed analysis of sales mix, cost of goods/margin, opex spend in both Retail Stores and Head Office.
  • Leading the partnership between finance and other functional areas by providing timely and accurate review of budgets, actual performance vs. budget and identification financial trends.
  • Partnering with the Wholesale Directors and Sales Managers to identify opportunities/gaps in key account businesses and developing strategies to maximize revenue from these opportunities.
  • Partnering with Wholesale Operations to manage and forecast forward order book and direct sales to provide most accurate pipeline, but also analyzing and benchmarking revenue streams across key accounts to identify potential risks to and opportunities for revenue growth.
  • Ensuring staying up to date with the wider retail market, and reporting on performance against key competitor landscape and benchmarking against best practice performers.

Required Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• You'll be ACA, ACCA or CIMA qualified with extensive experience in financial analysis, financial/strategic planning and budgeting and investment analysis. Preferably in an international apparel and fashion environment.
• You'll be an established people leader, with a minimum of 7 years proven people management experience ideally across multiple geographical locations
• You’ll Inspire Trust in others and Take Ownership of delivery, helping you build great relationships with ease.
• You’ll Connect to Consumer, use this and market insight to Think Big and Make Informed Decisions
• You’ll Act with Purpose always, know your why and use this to tell a compelling commercial story with your stakeholders, peers and team
• You’ll be a strong leader with an ability to manage, motivate and coach a number of different personalities, always being authentic in your leadership style and Cultivate Belonging and ensuring the team can Learn Together
• You’ll Adapt Fast to change, being able to work fast and with pace
• You’ll Stay Curious always asking why and looking beyond the known to Make Informed Decisions
• You’ll have excellent PowerPoint & Excel skills