At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead finance initiatives, design processes, and ensure smooth project implementations.
- Company: Join M&S, a forward-thinking retail giant with a strong sense of purpose.
- Benefits: Enjoy a 20% discount, competitive holidays, and tailored training from day one.
- Other info: Inclusive culture with opportunities for personal growth and community support.
- Why this job: Be part of a transformative team shaping the future of retail.
- Qualifications: Qualified accountant with experience in retail or FMCG and strong communication skills.
The predicted salary is between 55000 - 65000 £ per year.
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 Salford employer: MARKS&SPENCER
Contact Detail:
MARKS&SPENCER Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Finance Manager - Third Party Brands in Salford
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to your connections in the finance world, especially those who work with brands or in retail. A friendly chat can lead to insider info about job openings that aren't even advertised yet.
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for interviews by diving deep into the company’s values and recent projects. Show them you’re not just another candidate; you’re genuinely interested in how you can contribute to their finance initiatives and help shape their future.
✨Tip Number 3
Practice your storytelling skills! Be ready to share specific examples of how you've led finance workstreams or tackled challenges in previous roles. This will help you stand out as a confident communicator and problem solver.
✨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 take the initiative to engage directly with us.
We think you need these skills to ace Finance Manager - Third Party Brands in Salford
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your CV: Make sure your CV speaks directly to the Finance Manager role. Highlight your experience with SAP and any relevant finance workstreams you've led. We want to see how your skills align with what we're looking for!
Craft a Compelling Cover Letter: Your cover letter is your chance to shine! Use it to tell us why you're passionate about this role and how you can contribute to our team. Be sure to mention your coaching mentality and problem-solving skills.
Showcase Your Communication Skills: As a confident communicator, it's important to demonstrate this in your application. Use clear and concise language, and don’t shy away from sharing examples of how you've influenced change in previous roles.
Apply Through Our Website: We encourage you to apply through our website for a smoother process. It’s the best way for us to receive your application and ensure it gets the attention it deserves. Plus, it shows you're keen on joining our team!
How to prepare for a job interview at MARKS&SPENCER
✨Know Your Numbers
As a Finance Manager, you'll need to demonstrate a strong grasp of P&L, COGS, and pricing strategies. Brush up on these concepts and be ready to discuss how you've applied them in previous roles. Use specific examples to show your expertise.
✨Showcase Your Change Management Skills
This role involves leading finance workstreams through systems and process changes. Prepare to share experiences where you've successfully managed change, particularly in an SAP environment. Highlight your problem-solving skills and how you’ve influenced others during transitions.
✨Build Relationships
Strong communication is key! Think about how you've built relationships across teams in the past. Be prepared to discuss how you can partner with Project, Tech, and Logistics teams to ensure smooth operations and effective updates on risks and progress.
✨Emphasise Continuous Improvement
Marks & Spencer values innovation and improvement. Come equipped with ideas on how to enhance finance processes and data quality. Share examples of how you've coached colleagues or implemented improvements in previous roles to show your proactive mentality.