At a Glance
- Tasks: Manage financial performance for Sports at M&S, driving growth and accurate reporting.
- Company: M&S is a leading retailer focused on quality, value, and sustainability in fashion and home products.
- Benefits: Enjoy 20% discount, competitive holidays, bonuses, and wellbeing support.
- Other info: M&S values inclusivity and offers support throughout the recruitment process.
- Why this job: Join a dynamic team reshaping retail with innovation and a customer-first approach.
- Qualifications: Qualified accountant with retail finance experience and strong analytical skills required.
The predicted salary is between 28800 - 48000 € per year.
Are you a commercially minded finance professional with a passion for retail and e-commerce? Join M&S as a Brands Finance Manager, where you’ll take ownership of the financial performance of Sports at M&S, including The Sports Edit and Goodmove. This is a high-impact role where you’ll work closely with senior stakeholders to drive profitable growth, deliver accurate reporting, and champion financial best practices across our third-party brands.
At M&S, our Fashion, Home & Beauty business is all about delivering style, quality, and value that our customers trust. From everyday essentials to standout pieces, we’re reshaping our ranges to reflect modern lifestyles and evolving tastes. We’re also growing our appeal through a curated selection of third-party brands, making our offer more relevant and inspiring. With a focus on innovation, sustainability, and customer-first thinking, we’re building a confident, future-ready business.
To stay close to customers, our support teams are in the office three days a week as we believe that skills are developed through collaboration, and that spending time together makes us more creative and connected.
Your key accountabilities will include:
- Own the end-to-end P&L for Sports at M&S, supporting leadership to hit sales, profit, stock, and cash targets.
- Develop customer economics models to inform strategic decisions (e.g. acquisition costs, retention).
- Lead on forecasting, budgeting, and strategic planning for the category.
- Collaborate with Buying, Merchandising, and Planning to streamline operations and reduce complexity.
- Drive continuous improvement and support the transition of operational finance to our Business Service Centre.
- Ensure strong financial controls and identify risks and opportunities across the business.
Your skills and experience will include:
- Qualified accountant (CIMA, ACA, or ACCA)
- Experience in finance, ideally within retail or e-commerce
- Strong analytical and problem-solving skills
- High attention to detail and a proactive mindset
- Excellent communication and collaboration abilities
What’s in it for you:
Being a part of M&S is exactly that – playing your part to bring the magic of M&S to our customers every day. We’re an inclusive, dynamic, exciting, and ever-evolving business built on doing the right thing and bringing exceptional quality, value, service to every customer, whenever, wherever and however they want to shop with us.
Here are some of the benefits we offer that make working for M&S just that little bit more special:
- After completing your probationary period, you’ll receive 20% colleague discount across all M&S products and many of our third-party brands for you and a member of your household.
- Competitive holiday entitlement with the potential to buy extra holiday days!
- Discretionary bonus schemes awarded based on how you achieve your personal objectives and our performance as a business.
- A generous Defined Contribution Pension Scheme and Life Assurance.
- A dedicated welcome to our teams with a tailored induction and a wide range of training programmes to develop your skills.
- Amazing perks and discounts via our M&S Choices portal to maximise your financial and personal wellbeing.
- Industry-leading parental, adoption and neonatal policies, providing support and flexibility for your family.
- Access to a fantastic range of wellbeing support for all colleagues including access to our 24/7 Virtual GP and PAM Assist to support you and your family.
- A charity volunteer day to support a charity or cause you’re passionate about through a dedicated day away from work.
Everyone’s welcome. We are ambitious about the future of retail. We’re disrupting, innovating and leading the industry into a more conscientious, inspiring digital era. We’re transforming how we work together and offering our most exciting opportunities yet. Marks & Spencer strives to be an inclusive organisation, trusted and admired by our colleagues, customers and suppliers. Join us and make change happen. We are committed to building diverse and representative teams, where everyone can bring their whole selves to work and be at their best. We support each other and work together to win together. If you feel you’d benefit from any support or reasonable adjustments during any stage of the recruitment process, please don’t hesitate to let us know when completing your application. This information will be picked up by our team, so we can try and put steps in place to help you be at your best through this process.
Finance Manager - Sports Brands in Slough employer: Marks and Spencer
At M&S, we pride ourselves on being an inclusive and dynamic employer that values collaboration and innovation. As a Finance Manager in our Sports Brands division, you'll enjoy a supportive work culture that fosters personal and professional growth, alongside competitive benefits such as a generous discount scheme, flexible holiday options, and comprehensive wellbeing support. Join us in reshaping the retail landscape while making a meaningful impact in a role that champions financial excellence and customer-first thinking.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Finance Manager - Sports Brands in Slough
✨Tip Number 1
Familiarise yourself with M&S's current financial performance and strategies, especially in the Sports category. Understanding their recent initiatives and how they align with your skills will help you engage in meaningful conversations during interviews.
✨Tip Number 2
Network with professionals in the retail and e-commerce finance sectors. Attend industry events or join relevant online forums to connect with individuals who may have insights into M&S's culture and expectations for the Finance Manager role.
✨Tip Number 3
Prepare to discuss specific examples of how you've driven financial performance in previous roles. Highlight your experience with P&L management, forecasting, and collaboration with cross-functional teams, as these are key aspects of the job.
✨Tip Number 4
Showcase your analytical skills by being ready to discuss how you've used data to inform strategic decisions in the past. M&S values a proactive mindset, so demonstrating your ability to identify risks and opportunities will set you apart.
We think you need these skills to ace Finance Manager - Sports Brands in Slough
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your CV:Make sure your CV highlights relevant experience in finance, particularly within retail or e-commerce. Emphasise your qualifications (CIMA, ACA, or ACCA) and any specific achievements that demonstrate your analytical and problem-solving skills.
Craft a Compelling Cover Letter:In your cover letter, express your passion for the role and the company. Discuss how your skills align with the key accountabilities mentioned in the job description, such as owning P&L and developing customer economics models.
Showcase Collaboration Skills:Since the role involves working closely with senior stakeholders and various teams, provide examples of past experiences where you successfully collaborated with others to achieve financial goals or streamline operations.
Highlight Continuous Improvement Initiatives:Mention any previous experiences where you drove continuous improvement in financial processes or controls. This will demonstrate your proactive mindset and ability to identify risks and opportunities, which is crucial for this role.
How to prepare for a job interview at Marks and Spencer
✨Understand the Role
Make sure you thoroughly understand the responsibilities of a Finance Manager in the retail and e-commerce sectors. Familiarise yourself with key terms like P&L, forecasting, and customer economics models, as these will likely come up during your interview.
✨Showcase Your Analytical Skills
Prepare to discuss specific examples where you've used your analytical skills to solve problems or improve financial performance. M&S values strong analytical abilities, so be ready to demonstrate how you've applied these in previous roles.
✨Communicate Effectively
Since the role involves collaboration with senior stakeholders, practice articulating your thoughts clearly and confidently. Be prepared to explain complex financial concepts in simple terms, showcasing your excellent communication skills.
✨Research M&S and Its Brands
Familiarise yourself with M&S's current offerings, especially in the Sports category. Understanding their approach to innovation, sustainability, and customer-first thinking will help you align your answers with their business goals during the interview.
