At a Glance
- Tasks: Drive commercial performance and deliver financial insights for M&S Food.
- Company: Join M&S, a leading retailer transforming the food industry.
- Benefits: Enjoy discounts, competitive holidays, bonuses, and wellbeing support.
- Other info: Inclusive culture focused on collaboration and personal development.
- Why this job: Make a real impact in a high-stakes finance role with growth opportunities.
- Qualifications: Qualified accountant with experience in business partnering and financial analysis.
The predicted salary is between 60000 - 75000 £ per year.
It’s an exciting time to join M&S as we continue to transform and grow our Food business. We’re looking for a Senior Finance Manager - Business Partnering to play a critical role at the heart of Food and Sparks, partnering senior leaders to drive commercial performance, shape investment decisions and deliver meaningful financial insight.
This is a high‑impact role where you’ll combine strategic thinking with hands‑on delivery, working across Food Marketing, Sparks and the wider leadership team to influence decisions, optimise performance and support long‑term growth. 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.
What you’ll do
- Partner with Food Marketing and Sparks leadership to drive commercial performance, leading ROI analysis and influencing investment decisions.
- Act as the finance lead for Sparks, building complex financial models and supporting roadmap, business cases and senior stakeholder decision‑making.
- Lead monthly financial close and forecasting cycles, ensuring clear insight on risks, opportunities and performance against budget.
- Deliver integrated forecasts, budgets and long‑range plans that balance stretch with deliverability across the Food business.
- Own and enhance reporting (including Power BI), ensuring data integrity and delivering clear, actionable insights to ExCo and senior stakeholders.
Who you are
- A qualified accountant (ACA, ACCA, CIMA or equivalent) with significant post‑qualification experience.
- Proven experience in business partnering, FP&A or similar within a fast‑paced retail, FMCG or commercial environment.
- Strong commercial acumen with the ability to influence senior stakeholders and tell a clear, compelling financial story.
- Experience managing and developing others, with a passion for building high‑performing teams.
- Highly analytical and strategic, with strong financial modelling skills and experience using reporting tools such as Power BI.
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’re 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 Business Partnering - Food in London employer: Marks & Spencer Plc
Joining M&S as a Senior Finance Manager in the Food sector offers an exceptional opportunity to be part of a dynamic team that values collaboration and innovation. With a strong focus on employee development, competitive benefits including a generous discount, flexible holiday options, and comprehensive wellbeing support, M&S fosters a culture where every individual can thrive and contribute to meaningful change in the retail landscape. The company's commitment to inclusivity and professional growth makes it an attractive employer for those seeking a rewarding career in finance.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Senior Finance Manager Business Partnering - Food in London
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to current or former employees at M&S on LinkedIn. A friendly chat can give you insider info and maybe even a referral, which can really boost your chances.
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for the interview by understanding M&S's values and recent initiatives in the Food sector. Show us that you’re not just another candidate; you’re genuinely interested in how you can contribute to their growth.
✨Tip Number 3
Practice your financial storytelling! Be ready to discuss how your past experiences align with the role. Use specific examples to illustrate your impact on commercial performance and decision-making.
✨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 serious about joining the M&S team.
We think you need these skills to ace Senior Finance Manager Business Partnering - Food in London
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your CV:Make sure your CV speaks directly to the role of Senior Finance Manager - Business Partnering. Highlight your experience in business partnering and financial modelling, and don’t forget to showcase your commercial acumen!
Craft a Compelling Cover Letter:Your cover letter is your chance to tell us why you’re the perfect fit for this role. Share specific examples of how you've influenced senior stakeholders and driven commercial performance in previous roles.
Showcase Your Analytical Skills:Since this role requires strong analytical skills, be sure to mention any relevant tools you’ve used, like Power BI. We want to see how you’ve turned data into actionable insights in your past experiences.
Apply Through Our Website:We encourage you to apply through our website for a smoother application process. It’s the best way for us to keep track of your application and ensure it gets the attention it deserves!
How to prepare for a job interview at Marks & Spencer Plc
✨Know Your Numbers
As a Senior Finance Manager, you'll need to demonstrate your financial acumen. Brush up on key financial metrics relevant to the Food business and be ready to discuss how you've used data to influence decisions in previous roles.
✨Showcase Your Business Partnering Skills
Prepare examples of how you've successfully partnered with senior leaders in the past. Highlight specific instances where your insights led to improved commercial performance or strategic investment decisions.
✨Master Financial Modelling
Since building complex financial models is part of the role, practice explaining your modelling process clearly. Be ready to discuss tools like Power BI and how you've used them to deliver actionable insights.
✨Emphasise Team Leadership
This role involves managing and developing others, so come prepared with examples of how you've built high-performing teams. Discuss your leadership style and how you foster collaboration and creativity within your team.
