At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead finance initiatives and shape processes for third-party brands in a dynamic environment.
- Company: Join M&S, a forward-thinking retail leader committed to innovation and inclusivity.
- Benefits: Enjoy a 20% discount, competitive holidays, and tailored training from day one.
- Other info: Be part of a diverse team that values your unique contributions and supports your growth.
- Why this job: Make a real impact by transforming finance processes and driving change across the business.
- Qualifications: Qualified accountant with experience in retail or FMCG and strong problem-solving skills.
The predicted salary is between 55000 - 65000 £ per year.
We’re looking for a commercially curious and proactive Finance Manager. This person will play a pivotal role in crafting how we work with our Brands partners and third-party fashion suppliers selling through our platforms. Sitting at the heart of our Continuous Improvement team, you’ll own the end‑to‑end finance change roadmap for Brands, ensuring processes, data and controls are designed right first time across Finance, SAP and connected tools. This is a hands‑on role where you’ll lead finance workstreams through complex change, bring clarity to ambiguity, and coach colleagues across Finance to embed scalable, sustainable ways of working. If you enjoy turning complexity into practical solutions and influencing without authority, this is a brilliant opportunity to make a visible impact. This role can be based in either Salford Quays or London Paddington.
What you’ll do
- Lead the Finance workstream for Brands initiatives, shaping target operating models, partnering with Project, Tech, Logistics and Finance teams, and seeing change through from design to post‑implementation review.
- Design and embed robust, end‑to‑end finance processes across the SAP‑led landscape, ensuring accurate postings, reconciliations, controls and brand P&L reporting.
- Own Finance testing, readiness and deployment, including UAT, production validation, hypercare and issue resolution to ensure stable go‑lives.
- Build strong relationships across Brands Finance, Commercial Finance, SSC/BSC and the wider business, providing clear updates on risks, decisions and progress.
- Act as a Brands Finance subject‑matter expert, championing data quality, insight and continuous improvement while coaching colleagues and influencing standard process.
- Work across finance support centre teams both front and back office to ensure that new business initiatives are managed correctly from a supplier, management accounting and commercial perspective.
Who you are
- Qualified accountant (CIMA, ACCA, ACA or equivalent) with experience in retail, FMCG, apparel or third‑party/marketplace supplier models.
- Proven experience leading finance workstreams through systems and process change, ideally within an SAP ERP environment.
- Strong understanding of P&L, COGS, pricing and promotions, trade terms, returns and markdowns, with a focus on getting things right first time.
- Confident communicator and influencer who can challenge constructively, simplify complexity and bring others with them through change.
- A proactive, coaching mentality with strong problem‑solving skills and a passion for building scalable, well‑controlled ways of working.
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.
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 - Third Party Brands in City of Westminster employer: Marks & Spencer Plc
At Marks & Spencer, we pride ourselves on being an inclusive and dynamic employer that values innovation and collaboration. As a Finance Manager in either Salford Quays or London Paddington, you'll enjoy a supportive work culture that fosters professional growth through tailored training and development opportunities, alongside competitive benefits such as a generous colleague discount and comprehensive wellbeing support. Join us to make a meaningful impact in a company that is committed to doing the right thing and leading the retail industry into a more conscientious future.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Finance Manager - Third Party Brands in City of Westminster
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to people in the finance industry, especially those who work with brands or in retail. A casual chat can lead to opportunities you might not find on job boards.
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for interviews by understanding the company’s values and how they align with your experience. Be ready to discuss how you can bring clarity to ambiguity and influence change without authority.
✨Tip Number 3
Showcase your problem-solving skills! During interviews, share specific examples of how you've tackled complex finance challenges in the past, especially in SAP environments.
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets noticed and shows you’re genuinely interested in being part of our team.
We think you need these skills to ace Finance Manager - Third Party Brands in City of Westminster
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your CV:Make sure your CV reflects the skills and experiences that align with the Finance Manager role. Highlight your experience in leading finance workstreams and any relevant qualifications like CIMA or ACCA.
Craft a Compelling Cover Letter:Use your cover letter to showcase your passion for finance and how you can bring clarity to ambiguity. Mention specific examples of how you've influenced change in previous roles.
Showcase Your Problem-Solving Skills:In your application, emphasise your proactive approach and problem-solving abilities. We want to see how you've tackled complex challenges and turned them into practical solutions.
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 this exciting opportunity at M&S.
How to prepare for a job interview at Marks & Spencer Plc
✨Know Your Numbers
As a Finance Manager, you'll need to demonstrate your understanding of P&L, COGS, and other financial metrics. Brush up on these concepts and be ready to discuss how you've applied them in previous roles, especially in retail or FMCG environments.
✨Showcase Your Change Management Skills
This role involves leading finance workstreams through complex changes. Prepare examples of past experiences where you successfully managed change, particularly within an SAP ERP environment. Highlight your ability to simplify complexity and bring others along with you.
✨Build Relationships
Strong communication is key in this position. Think about how you've built relationships across teams in the past. Be ready to share specific instances where your influence helped drive a project forward or resolved a conflict.
✨Emphasise Continuous Improvement
The job description mentions a focus on continuous improvement. Prepare to discuss how you've championed data quality and insight in your previous roles. Share your proactive approach to problem-solving and how you've coached colleagues to adopt scalable processes.
