Senior Commercial Finance Lead – Media Growth

We are the UK’s leading premium publisher, home to iconic and influential media brands including Good Housekeeping, Esquire, Men's & Women’s Health, Elle, Harper’s Bazaar and Prima & Red. At Hearst UK, we don’t just create content – we shape culture. Our workplace is built on collaboration, creativity, and trust. We champion bold ideas, embrace innovation, and continually evolve to meet the moment – all while celebrating the legacy that’s brought us here. We believe in each other’s potential and push boundaries together to make a meaningful impact, both in the media landscape and in people’s lives. We’re proud of our heritage – but even more excited about making history. Hearst UK operates a hybrid working model of four days per week in the office and one day working from home. Our office is based at House of Hearst, 30 Panton Street, St James’s, London, SW1Y 4AJ, where teams collaborate in person and connect across brands and functions.

About The Role

This is a high-impact and commercial Senior Commercial Finance Manager role at the centre of a fast-paced media business, with responsibility for advertising and diversified revenue streams and margin. You will lead the full reporting and planning cycle and build a high-performing team. Success in this role means combining technical excellence with sharp commercial judgement and the confidence to influence at senior levels. You will own the financial narrative, partnering senior stakeholders to drive performance, challenge decisions and unlock value. The role is suited to a commercially minded finance leader who wants to operate at pace, influence decisions and make a measurable impact on business performance.

Main Duties

• Financial Leadership & Reporting
  • Own month‑end close end‑to‑end, delivering accurate, high‑quality reporting and insight.
  • Take full accountability for balance sheet integrity and produce concise, insight‑led management accounts and forecasts, with clear drivers and actions.
  • Set the standard for reporting quality across your team and ensure deadlines are consistently met.
• Planning & Forecasting
  • Lead budget and forecasting for your business unit, delivering robust, data‑led forecasts and continuously improving accuracy.
  • Work with stakeholders to ensure forecasts are accurate and that risks and opportunities are understood and tracked.
  • Challenge assumptions and provide a clear view on performance trajectories.
• Business Partnering & Commercial Insight
  • Partner senior stakeholders to shape decisions and drive performance.
  • Own financial input into strategic and investment decisions and business cases.
  • Partner with senior leadership to shape business strategy and long‑term direction.
  • Translate financials into clear, compelling narratives that influence outcomes.
  • Identify and quantify opportunities across revenue, cost and margin.
  • Develop a deep understanding of the business model and proactively challenge to deliver better results.
• Team Leadership
  • Lead, develop and inspire a team of 3 direct reports, setting clear expectations and managing priorities.
  • Review outputs to maintain quality, build capability and foster a culture of accountability and continuous improvement.
• Process Improvement & Systems
  • Drive smarter, faster reporting through automation, AI‑enabled reporting, system enhancements and tools such as Power BI.
  • Develop deep understanding of Salesforce and AdPoint to ensure reliable reporting.
  • Lead or contribute to finance transformation initiatives.

What We Are Looking For

• Experience & Qualifications
  • Qualified accountant (ACA / ACCA / CIMA or equivalent).
  • Strong track record in a commercial finance or management accounting role.
  • Proven experience leading teams and delivering through others.
  • Prior experience in a media organization with strong exposure to revenue and margin is desirable.
• General Skills & Capabilities
  • Excellent commercial acumen with the ability to influence senior stakeholders.
  • Strong analytical capability with a focus on insight and action.
  • Clear, confident communicator able to simplify complexity.
  • High standards of accuracy, control and delivery.
• Behavioral Attributes
  • High ownership and accountability – you deliver what you commit to.
  • Proactive, decisive and solutions‑oriented.
  • Comfortable operating in a fast‑paced, evolving environment.
  • Curious and commercially driven, with a focus on impact.

Benefits

• Get adventurous with Good Housekeeping Taste and Beauty Testing Panels.
• Snag luxe beauty steals at our legendary office sample sales.
• Stay healthy with Specsavers eye care, a company‑funded Health Cash Plan, and access to mental health support.
• Get active and stress‑free with discounted gym memberships and the Cycle to Work scheme.
• Embrace flexibility with a Location Flex and Holiday Exchange to take time when you need it.
• Take time to give back with a Charity Day and access wellbeing resources whenever you need them.
• Join one of our Hearst ERG Groups.
• Plan ahead with a generous Workplace Pension, Income Protection, Life Assurance and Season Ticket Loan.
• Make smarter money moves using Salary Finance tools, Financial Wellbeing sessions, and Home Tech benefits.
• Treat yourself with major discounts across London plus everyday savings via the HAPI at Hearst app.

Hearst UK is deeply committed to using our influential brands to reflect the world we want to live in – one that respects, protects, represents and uplifts the voices and opinions of all people. We recognise the significant benefits of creativity, collaboration and innovation that come with diverse teams. This is why we’re working to build a sense of true belonging within our business and foster a culture in which everyone feels heard.