At a Glance
- Tasks: Drive commercial decisions and support strategic planning in a dynamic retail environment.
- Company: Join a well-established fashion and lifestyle brand in London.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, career growth, and the chance to influence key business decisions.
- Why this job: Be at the heart of finance in a fast-paced, multi-channel retail business.
- Qualifications: Qualified accountant with strong commercial finance experience and advanced Excel skills.
- Other info: Work closely with senior stakeholders and manage one direct report.
The predicted salary is between 43200 - 72000 ÂŁ per year.
Do you enjoy being at the centre of commercial decision-making in a fast-paced, multi-channel retail business? We’re partnering with a well-established fashion and lifestyle brand to appoint a Commercial Finance Manager into its London head office team. This is a highly visible business partnering role, working closely with senior stakeholders across retail, ecommerce, property, and operations to drive performance, challenge thinking, and support strategic decision-making.
Reporting into the Head of Commercial Finance and managing one direct report, you’ll play a key role in trade reporting, budgeting, forecasting, and board‑level analysis, while acting as a trusted finance partner to non‑finance leaders across the business.
What will you be doing?
- Partnering with head office departments to review, forecast, and control overhead spend
- Leading monthly budget reviews with senior stakeholders and agreeing clear action plans
- Delivering insightful analysis to support and challenge commercial and operational decisions
- Overseeing weekly trade reporting across sales, margin, and stock, with detailed variance analysis
- Supporting property decisions including new store proposals, rent reviews, and Capex spend
- Owning commercial input into month‑end P&L and balance sheet reviews
- Producing channel, store, territory, and KPI reporting with clear commentary
- Supporting the preparation of the monthly Board pack
- Taking ownership of budgeting, forecasting, and longer‑term planning cycles
- Managing and developing one direct report
What would we love to see from you?
- Qualified accountant (CIMA / ACA / ACCA / CA)
- Strong commercial finance and business partnering experience
- Experience working in a multi‑site or multi‑channel environment
- Confidence working with senior stakeholders and influencing decision‑making
- Solid experience across budgeting, forecasting, and management accounts
- Advanced Excel skills with strong analytical capability
- Background in retail, fashion, or consumer‑led businesses
- Exposure to trade reporting, store economics, or property decisions
- Experience operating within a larger group structure
Location: Central London (3 days in office)
Seniority level: Mid‑Senior level
Employment type: Full‑time
Job function: Finance, Analyst, and Accounting/Auditing
Industries: Retail, Retail Apparel and Fashion, and Retail Luxury Goods and Jewelry
Commercial Finance Manager employer: Agora Talent
Contact Detail:
Agora Talent Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Commercial Finance Manager
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to your connections in the finance and retail sectors. We all know that sometimes it’s not just what you know, but who you know. Attend industry events or webinars to meet potential employers and get your name out there.
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for those interviews! Research the company and its financial performance. We want you to be able to discuss how your skills can directly impact their bottom line. Practise common interview questions and have your own questions ready to show your interest.
✨Tip Number 3
Showcase your analytical skills! Bring examples of your past work, especially any trade reporting or budgeting projects. We want to see how you’ve used data to drive decisions and improve performance in previous roles.
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets seen by the right people. Plus, we love seeing candidates who take the initiative to engage with us directly.
We think you need these skills to ace Commercial Finance Manager
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your CV: Make sure your CV is tailored to the Commercial Finance Manager role. Highlight your experience in budgeting, forecasting, and business partnering, as these are key aspects of the job. We want to see how your skills align with what we're looking for!
Craft a Compelling Cover Letter: Your cover letter is your chance to shine! Use it to explain why you're passionate about the role and how your background in retail or consumer-led businesses makes you a perfect fit. Let us know how you can contribute to our team!
Showcase Your Analytical Skills: Since this role involves a lot of analysis, make sure to showcase your advanced Excel skills and any relevant analytical projects you've worked on. We love seeing how you can turn data into insights that drive decision-making!
Apply Through Our Website: Don't forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way for us to receive your application and ensures you’re considered for the role. Plus, it shows us you’re keen and ready to join our team!
How to prepare for a job interview at Agora Talent
✨Know Your Numbers
As a Commercial Finance Manager, you'll need to demonstrate your analytical skills. Brush up on key financial metrics relevant to the retail and fashion sectors. Be ready to discuss how you've used data to influence decisions in previous roles.
✨Showcase Your Business Partnering Skills
This role involves working closely with non-finance leaders. Prepare examples of how you've successfully collaborated with different departments. Highlight your ability to communicate complex financial concepts in a way that’s easy for others to understand.
✨Prepare for Scenario Questions
Expect questions that assess your problem-solving abilities. Think about past challenges you've faced in budgeting or forecasting and how you overcame them. Use the STAR method (Situation, Task, Action, Result) to structure your responses.
✨Demonstrate Your Stakeholder Management Experience
You'll be interacting with senior stakeholders regularly. Prepare to discuss how you've influenced decision-making in the past. Share specific instances where your insights led to significant business outcomes, especially in a multi-channel environment.