At a Glance
- Tasks: Drive financial strategy and performance in the dynamic Fashion, Home & Beauty sector.
- Company: Join M&S, a leader in retail innovation and customer experience.
- Benefits: Enjoy a 20% discount, competitive holidays, and wellness support.
- Why this job: Be a key player in shaping commercial decisions and driving growth.
- Qualifications: Qualified accountant with strong analytical and communication skills.
- Other info: Collaborative environment with a focus on diversity and inclusion.
The predicted salary is between 55000 - 65000 ÂŁ per year.
Fashion, Home & Beauty is one of the most exciting, fast‑moving and customer‑led areas of M&S, and our Commercial Finance team sits at the very heart of it. Partnering closely with creative, commercial and digital teams, we play a pivotal role in shaping strategy, driving performance and turning insight into action. From influencing pricing and proposition decisions to supporting major investments and day‑to‑day trading, this is a high‑impact environment where finance has a genuine voice and commercial insight really matters.
We’re looking for an experienced Finance Manager - Commercial Finance to partner one of our businesses, one of the most strategically important and high‑profile areas within M&S. This role plays a critical part in shaping commercial and strategic decisions, combining strong financial insight with a deep understanding of customer, product and trading performance. You’ll act as a trusted business partner to senior stakeholders, helping to drive profitable growth through robust planning, forecasting, and data‑driven insight. This is a hands‑on commercial finance role, supporting both long‑term strategy and fast‑paced day‑to‑day trading. 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 P&L, partnering with senior leaders to deliver sales, profit, stock and cash targets, and analysing key drivers of sales, margin and profitability to provide proactive trading insight and inform decisions across pricing, product mix, promotions and new initiatives.
- Lead forecasting, budgeting and strategic planning for the Lingerie business, providing clear visibility on assumptions, risks and opportunities, embedding key initiatives into plans, and owning a robust rolling Risks & Opportunities process against Budget and latest forecast.
- Drive stock and working capital performance, optimising return on stock investment and ensuring stock levels and commitments align with customer demand, forward plans and commercial strategies.
- Deliver strategic insight and decision support by identifying trends, shaping forward decision‑making, and producing ad‑hoc analysis including scenario modelling, pricing evaluation, initiative appraisal and promotional effectiveness.
- Act as a strong cross‑functional business partner, working closely with Merchandising, Buying, Online, Marketing, Finance Ops and Customer Insight teams to lead commercial conversations, improve performance visibility, and enhance the efficiency, accuracy and scalability of Commercial Finance processes.
Your skills and experience will include:
- Qualified accountant (ACA, ACCA or CIMA) with relevant commercial finance experience.
- Strong FP&A capability, with experience in forecasting, budgeting and performance analysis.
- Highly analytical and curious, with great attention to detail and a passion for turning data into insight.
- Confident communicator, able to influence, challenge and build credibility with senior stakeholders.
- Commercially minded, with a strong understanding of how retail businesses operate.
- Advanced Excel skills; PowerPoint experience beneficial but not essential.
What’s in it for you?
Working at M&S means being part of something bigger - helping to deliver quality, value and service to millions of customers every day. We’re inclusive, fast‑moving and always evolving, with a strong sense of purpose and a focus on doing the right thing. Here are just a few of the benefits that make working here even more rewarding:
- 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 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.
Commercial Finance Manager - Fashion, Home & Beauty in City of Westminster employer: Marks & Spencer Plc
Contact Detail:
Marks & Spencer Plc Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Commercial Finance Manager - Fashion, Home & Beauty in City of Westminster
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to people in the industry, attend events, and connect with potential colleagues on LinkedIn. You never know who might have the inside scoop on job openings or can put in a good word for you.
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for interviews by researching the company and its culture. Understand their values and how they align with your own. This will help you tailor your responses and show that you're genuinely interested in being part of the team.
✨Tip Number 3
Practice your pitch! Be ready to explain how your skills and experiences make you the perfect fit for the role. Keep it concise but impactful, highlighting your commercial finance expertise and how you can drive performance.
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets noticed. Plus, we love seeing candidates who are proactive about joining our team!
We think you need these skills to ace Commercial Finance Manager - Fashion, Home & Beauty in City of Westminster
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your Application: Make sure to customise your CV and cover letter for the Commercial Finance Manager role. Highlight your relevant experience in finance, especially in retail, and showcase how your skills align with the job description.
Showcase Your Analytical Skills: Since this role requires strong analytical capabilities, include examples of how you've turned data into actionable insights in your previous roles. We want to see your ability to influence decisions through financial analysis.
Be Authentic: Let your personality shine through in your application. We value confident communicators who can build credibility with senior stakeholders, so don’t be afraid to show us who you are and how you can contribute to our team.
Apply Through Our Website: For the best chance of success, make sure to apply directly through our website. This way, we can easily track your application and ensure it reaches the right people in our team.
How to prepare for a job interview at Marks & Spencer Plc
✨Know Your Numbers
As a Commercial Finance Manager, you'll need to demonstrate your financial acumen. Brush up on key financial metrics relevant to the fashion, home, and beauty sectors. Be ready to discuss how you've used data to influence decisions in previous roles.
✨Understand the Business
Familiarise yourself with M&S's current strategies and challenges in the retail market. Show that you understand how commercial finance impacts overall business performance, especially in areas like pricing and product mix.
✨Prepare for Scenario Questions
Expect questions that require you to think on your feet. Prepare examples of how you've handled forecasting, budgeting, or strategic planning in the past. Use the STAR method (Situation, Task, Action, Result) to structure your responses.
✨Build Rapport with Stakeholders
Since this role involves partnering with senior leaders, practice your communication skills. Think about how you can convey complex financial insights in a way that's relatable and actionable for non-financial stakeholders.