At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead financial performance and drive strategic decisions in a dynamic business area.
- Company: Join M&S, a leading retailer with a commitment to diversity and teamwork.
- Benefits: Enjoy discounts, competitive holidays, bonuses, and 24/7 wellbeing support.
- Other info: Opportunity for personal growth and a supportive work environment.
- Why this job: Shape the future of fashion, home, and beauty while making a real impact.
- Qualifications: Fully qualified accountant with strong commercial finance leadership experience.
The predicted salary is between 60000 - 75000 £ per year.
Lead the commercial heartbeat of one of M&S’s most dynamic business areas!
What You’ll Do
- Own end-to-end performance for the Business Unit, leading the P&L across sales, margin, costs, profitability, and cash, ensuring performance is understood, proactively managed, and continuously improved.
- Shape strategic decisions by translating market trends, customer behaviour, and trading performance into clear, actionable financial insight.
- Drive value creation across key commercial levers including pricing, promotions, markdowns, and cost control, delivering sustainable profit and cash outcomes.
- Lead investment and working capital discipline, guiding stock management, capital allocation, and commercial investments with a sharp focus on return and risk.
- Influence and challenge senior stakeholders, embedding accountability, raising performance standards, and building a culture of commercial rigour and continuous improvement.
Who You Are
- Fully qualified accountant (CIMA, ACA or ACCA) with strong commercial finance leadership experience.
- Proven track record of influencing senior leaders and shaping outcomes in complex, fast-paced environments.
- Highly commercial, with deep understanding of margin, investment, and cash drivers.
- Confident operating with pace, ambiguity, and competing priorities.
- Credible, curious, and commercially courageous, with a strong leadership presence.
What’s in it for you?
- 20% colleague discount on all M&S products and many third-party brands for you and someone in your household, available once you’ve completed your probation.
- Competitive holiday allowance with the option to buy more.
- Discretionary bonus schemes linked to your performance and ours.
- Strong pension and life assurance to help plan for the future.
- Tailored induction and training to support your development from day one.
- Exclusive perks and savings through our M&S Choices portal.
- Market-leading family policies, including parental, adoption and neonatal leave.
- 24/7 wellbeing support, including virtual GP access and mental health services.
- One paid volunteer day a year to support a cause that matters to you.
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.
Senior Finance Manager - Fashion, Home & Beauty - Insight & Analysis employer: Marks and Spencer
Contact Detail:
Marks and Spencer Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Senior Finance Manager - Fashion, Home & Beauty - Insight & Analysis
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to your connections in the finance and retail sectors. A friendly chat can lead to insider info about job openings or even a referral, which can give you a leg up in the application process.
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for interviews by researching M&S’s latest trends in fashion, home, and beauty. Show us you’re not just a numbers person but also someone who understands the market dynamics and can provide actionable insights.
✨Tip Number 3
Practice your pitch! Be ready to explain how your experience aligns with the role of Senior Finance Manager. Highlight your commercial finance leadership and how you've influenced senior stakeholders in past 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, it shows you’re genuinely interested in joining our team at M&S.
We think you need these skills to ace Senior Finance Manager - Fashion, Home & Beauty - Insight & Analysis
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your CV: Make sure your CV speaks directly to the role of Senior Finance Manager. Highlight your experience in commercial finance and how you've influenced senior leaders in past roles. We want to see how you can bring value to our dynamic business area!
Craft a Compelling Cover Letter: Your cover letter is your chance to shine! Use it to explain why you're passionate about the fashion, home, and beauty sectors. Share specific examples of how you've driven performance and shaped strategic decisions in previous positions.
Showcase Your Qualifications: As a fully qualified accountant, make sure to prominently display your CIMA, ACA, or ACCA qualifications. We’re looking for someone with strong commercial finance leadership experience, so don’t hold back on showcasing your credentials!
Apply Through Our Website: We encourage you to apply through our website for a smooth application process. It’s the best way for us to receive your application and ensure it gets the attention it deserves. Plus, you’ll be one step closer to joining our fantastic team!
How to prepare for a job interview at Marks and Spencer
✨Know Your Numbers
As a Senior Finance Manager, you'll need to demonstrate your financial acumen. Brush up on key metrics related to P&L, margin, and cash flow. Be ready to discuss how you've influenced these areas in past roles.
✨Showcase Your Strategic Thinking
Prepare examples of how you've translated market trends and customer behaviour into actionable insights. Think about specific instances where your analysis led to significant business decisions or improvements.
✨Engage with Stakeholders
This role requires influencing senior leaders, so practice articulating your thoughts clearly and confidently. Prepare to discuss how you've built relationships and challenged stakeholders in previous positions.
✨Embrace the Ambiguity
The fast-paced environment means you’ll face competing priorities. Share experiences where you've thrived under pressure and how you prioritised tasks effectively to achieve results.