At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead financial performance and strategic decisions in Fashion, Home & Beauty.
- Company: Join M&S, a dynamic leader in retail with a strong purpose.
- Benefits: Enjoy discounts, competitive holidays, bonuses, and wellbeing support.
- Other info: Inclusive culture focused on collaboration and continuous improvement.
- Why this job: Make a real impact by influencing strategy and driving performance.
- Qualifications: Fully qualified accountant with commercial finance leadership experience.
The predicted salary is between 60000 - 75000 £ per year.
Lead the commercial heartbeat of one of M&S's most dynamic business areas! We're looking for a Senior Commercial Finance Manager to step into a pivotal leadership role at the centre of our Fashion, Home & Beauty (FH&B) business. This is a high-impact opportunity to partner directly with senior leaders and shape performance across a major Business Unit. You'll go beyond traditional finance, acting as a true commercial leader, bringing insight, challenge, and clarity to decision-making in a fast-paced, ever-evolving environment. If you thrive on influencing strategy, driving performance, and unlocking value, this is your chance to make a real difference.
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
- Own end-to-end performance for the Business Unit, leading the P&L across sales, margin, costs, profitability, and cash, ensuring performance is understood, proactively managed, and continuously improved.
- Shape strategic decisions by translating market trends, customer behaviour, and trading performance into clear, actionable financial insight.
- Drive value creation across key commercial levers including pricing, promotions, markdowns, and cost control, delivering sustainable profit and cash outcomes.
- Lead investment and working capital discipline, guiding stock management, capital allocation, and commercial investments with a sharp focus on return and risk.
- Influence and challenge senior stakeholders, embedding accountability, raising performance standards, and building a culture of commercial rigour and continuous improvement.
Who you are
- Fully qualified accountant (CIMA, ACA or ACCA) with strong commercial finance leadership experience.
- Proven track record of 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?
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.
Senior Finance Manager - Fashion, Home & Beauty - Insight & Analysis in London employer: M&S
Contact Detail:
M&S Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Senior Finance Manager - Fashion, Home & Beauty - Insight & Analysis in London
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to your connections in the finance and retail sectors. A friendly chat can lead to insider info about job openings or even a referral. Remember, it’s all about who you know!
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for those interviews by researching M&S and their FH&B business. Understand their recent trends and challenges. This will help you showcase how your skills can directly impact their performance and decision-making.
✨Tip Number 3
Practice your pitch! Be ready to explain how your experience aligns with the role of Senior Finance Manager. Highlight your commercial acumen and leadership presence, and don’t shy away from discussing your past successes.
✨Tip Number 4
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 with us directly. Let’s make this happen together!
We think you need these skills to ace Senior Finance Manager - Fashion, Home & Beauty - Insight & Analysis in London
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your CV: Make sure your CV speaks directly to the role of Senior Finance Manager. Highlight your commercial finance leadership experience and any specific achievements that align with the key accountabilities mentioned in the job description.
Craft a Compelling Cover Letter: Use your cover letter to showcase your personality and passion for the Fashion, Home & Beauty sector. Explain how your skills can drive performance and influence strategy, making it clear why you're the perfect fit for this dynamic role.
Showcase Your Leadership Skills: In both your CV and cover letter, emphasise your ability to influence senior stakeholders and lead teams. Share examples of how you've shaped outcomes in fast-paced environments, as this is crucial for the position.
Apply Through Our Website: We encourage you to apply through our website for a smoother application process. This way, we can ensure your application gets the attention it deserves and you can easily track your progress!
How to prepare for a job interview at M&S
✨Know Your Numbers
As a Senior Finance Manager, you'll need to demonstrate your financial acumen. Brush up on key metrics related to P&L, margin, and cash flow. Be ready to discuss how you've influenced these areas in past roles and how you can apply that knowledge to the Fashion, Home & Beauty sector.
✨Understand the Business Landscape
Familiarise yourself with current trends in the fashion and beauty industries. Research M&S's recent performance and strategic initiatives. This will help you articulate how your insights can drive value creation and influence decision-making in a fast-paced environment.
✨Showcase Your Leadership Style
Prepare to discuss your leadership experience and how you've successfully influenced senior stakeholders. Think of specific examples where you've challenged the status quo or driven performance improvements. This will highlight your credibility and commercial courage.
✨Ask Insightful Questions
Interviews are a two-way street! Prepare thoughtful questions that show your interest in the role and the company. Ask about their approach to managing investment and working capital, or how they foster a culture of continuous improvement. This demonstrates your proactive mindset and genuine interest in contributing to their success.