At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead commercial performance and shape strategic decisions in a dynamic fashion environment.
- Company: Join Marks & Spencer, a forward-thinking leader in retail.
- 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 a key player in transforming the retail industry while making a real impact.
- Qualifications: Qualified accountant with strong commercial finance leadership experience.
The predicted salary is between 60000 - 80000 ÂŁ per year.
As a Senior Commercial Finance Manager for the Fashion, Home & Beauty team, you'll step into a pivotal leadership role at the heart of one of the most dynamic and fast‑paced areas of the business. This is a high‑impact opportunity to join a dynamic, fast‑paced commercial environment at the heart of Fashion, Home & Beauty. As part of a forward‑thinking finance team, you'll play a critical role in shaping business performance, strengthening decision‑making, and raising the bar for commercial excellence across a major Business Unit.
Sitting at the centre of the BU leadership team, you'll provide end‑to‑end stewardship across profitability, investment, and cash, working closely with senior stakeholders to influence strategy and unlock value. This is more than a finance role; it's a chance to operate as a true commercial leader, bringing insight, challenge, and enterprise thinking to a highly visible and ever‑evolving part of the business.
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:
- Lead end‑to‑end commercial performance for the Business Unit, taking full ownership of the P&L (sales, margin, costs, profitability, and cash), ensuring performance is proactively managed, clearly understood, and consistently improved.
- Shape strategic and operational decision‑making by translating market trends, customer behaviour, and trading performance into clear financial insights, enabling leadership to make faster, better‑informed decisions.
- Drive value creation across key levers, including margin optimisation, pricing, promotions, markdowns, and cost control—ensuring all activity is aligned to sustainable profit and cash delivery rather than short‑term gains.
- Own working capital and investment discipline, providing clear direction on stock management, commercial investments, and capital allocation—balancing growth, risk, and return while embedding robust appraisal and post‑investment evaluation.
- Act as a senior commercial leader and trusted challenger, influencing and constructively challenging stakeholders across the BU to raise performance, strengthen accountability, and embed a culture of commercial rigour and continuous improvement.
Who you are:
- A fully qualified accountant (CIMA, ACA or ACCA) with strong commercial finance leadership experience.
- Proven in 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 Commercial Finance Manager - Menswear employer: MARKS&SPENCER
Contact Detail:
MARKS&SPENCER Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Senior Commercial Finance Manager - Menswear
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to people in the industry, especially those already working at M&S. A friendly chat can open doors and give you insider info that could make your application stand out.
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for interviews by diving deep into M&S's values and recent news. Show us you’re not just another candidate; demonstrate how your skills align with our mission and how you can contribute to our dynamic team.
✨Tip Number 3
Practice your pitch! Be ready to articulate your experience and how it relates to the Senior Commercial Finance Manager role. We want to hear how you can drive value creation and influence strategy.
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets the attention it deserves. Plus, we love seeing candidates who are proactive about joining our team.
We think you need these skills to ace Senior Commercial Finance Manager - Menswear
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your CV: Make sure your CV reflects the skills and experiences that align with the Senior Commercial Finance Manager role. Highlight your commercial finance leadership experience and any relevant achievements that showcase your ability to influence senior leaders.
Craft a Compelling Cover Letter: Use your cover letter to tell us why you're the perfect fit for this dynamic role. Share specific examples of how you've driven value creation and shaped strategic decisions in previous positions, making it clear how you can bring that expertise to our team.
Showcase Your Commercial Acumen: In your application, demonstrate your understanding of margin, investment, and cash drivers. We want to see how you've navigated complex financial landscapes and made impactful decisions that align with sustainable profit and cash delivery.
Apply Through Our Website: We encourage you to apply directly through our website. This ensures your application is seen by the right people and gives you the best chance to shine. Plus, it’s super easy and straightforward!
How to prepare for a job interview at MARKS&SPENCER
✨Know Your Numbers
As a Senior Commercial Finance Manager, you'll need to demonstrate a strong grasp of financial metrics. Brush up on your P&L statements, margin optimisation strategies, and cash flow management. Be ready to discuss how you've influenced financial outcomes in previous roles.
✨Showcase Your Strategic Thinking
Prepare to share examples of how you've translated market trends and customer behaviour into actionable financial insights. Think about specific instances where your insights led to improved decision-making or performance. This will highlight your ability to operate as a commercial leader.
✨Engage with Stakeholders
Since this role involves influencing senior leaders, practice articulating your thoughts clearly and confidently. Prepare to discuss how you've constructively challenged stakeholders in the past to drive performance and accountability. This shows you're not just a number-cruncher but a strategic partner.
✨Embrace the Company Culture
Familiarise yourself with Marks & Spencer's values and culture. They emphasise collaboration and inclusivity, so be prepared to discuss how you can contribute to a positive team environment. Showing that you align with their ethos can set you apart from other candidates.