Senior Commercial Finance Manager - Marketing & Trade in Manchester

We're looking for a Senior Commercial Finance Manager to partner with our Marketing and Trade teams, with responsibility for all aspects of Commercial Finance. This will include the strategic planning process, prioritisation of investment choices, financial control environment and delivery of performance insights and challenge to drive the right actions for our customers. This role plays a key role in optimising our Trade & Marketing effectiveness and delivery of our customer plans, partnering the Trade & Marketing Director and the Senior Leadership team as we continue to grow our brands and accelerate our transformation.

You will have strong Commercial drive and acumen, a customer-first attitude, with proven finance business partnering experience in a digitally led customer environment. Championing the customer, you will develop and equip your team with the capabilities and skills to drive commercial, data driven results backed by your experience and instinct. Reporting to the Director of Retail Finance, this role is fundamental to delivering ambitious commercial objectives to accelerate Brand reach, revenue growth and increase in non-food market share.

What will you do as a Senior Commercial Finance Manager at N Brown?

• Business Partner the Trade & Marketing pillar to drive the actions and business initiatives that support delivery of the Customer strategy and the key leading indicators in line with targets.
• Influence strategic and business decision making in relation to the brand and marketing strategies across our retail and credit brands through financial insight and detailed analysis.
• Prepare and support investment business cases and choices, through our investment governance process with clear financial guardrails applied and clear outcomes agreed.
• Identify, influence and drive business initiatives to grow the business and hold the business to account to deliver on targets through quality reporting and quality conversation.
• Drive improved efficiency of marketing spend by implementing our marketing spend guardrails and determining the most effective channels to optimise our investment.
• Enhance commercial delivery by ensuring that all stakeholders understand their responsibilities for the overall financial goals of the Retail brands and the wider Group. Embed commercial mind-set and agility.
• Preparation of financial reporting for inclusion within the board pack and other ceremonies.
• Develop and evolve weekly & month end reporting and analysis to better communicate financial performance to key stakeholders.
• Lead on and guide the team, peers and stakeholders through the 5 year plan, annual budget and forecast processes, liaising closely with the wider Commercial Finance and Group Finance teams.
• Play a pivotal role, alongside Group Finance, in ensuring our financial statements (P&L, Balance Sheet, Cash Flow) are accurate and auditable relating to our trade & marketing cost base.
• Manage workloads, identify future requirements, and support the Director of Retail Finance with continuous improvement.

What skills and experience will you have?

• Qualified accountant with more than 2 years' experience in a high paced commercial environment.
• Experience of working alongside trading and marketing teams in a retail environment is helpful (although not essential).
• Strong commercial awareness and a customer first approach.
• Able to demonstrate high level commercial problem solving & analysis skills.
• Able to influence and negotiate across all levels, particularly leadership levels, based on an ability to think strategically and creatively for all parties.
• Confident, clear and concise communication skills and to then truly influence outcomes.
• Demonstrate the technical ability to quickly appraise complex situations, identify key issues and make tough, timely decisions.
• Naturally inquisitive with a desire to understand a broad range of commercial challenges.
• The desire to coach others and provide leadership within the Finance Domain.

What’s in it for you?

• Hybrid working (3 days in the office at a minimum).
• 24 days holiday (+ 8 bank holidays).
• Annual bonus scheme.
• Enhanced maternity and adoption leave.
• Company pension with up to 8% N Brown contribution.
• Mental Health support both internally and externally, including access to our wellbeing champions and counselling services.
• A range of financial wellbeing support.
• Stream - a financial wellbeing tool that helps you track your pay, access earnings early and manage your money with confidence.
• Colleague discount across all N Brown brands.
• Onsite café with subsidised rates and local restaurant discounts!
• Life Assurance and Private Medical Insurance.
• Paid volunteer time - all our colleagues can take a full day paid to volunteer for a charity of their choice.

N Brown — who we are and why work for us?

N Brown is a leading UK digital retail platform for clothing, footwear, home and technology, headquartered in Manchester and employing over 1,200 people nationwide. Through our strategic retail brands JD Williams, Jacamo and Simply Be and our unique payments offering, we exist to champion inclusivity and serve the underserved. Our customers are our passion, and we take great pride in delivering products that ensure they can look and feel amazing, without compromising on choice, value and accessibility.

We're committed to building a diverse workforce and creating an inclusive environment that values equality for all. Our vision is that by 'championing inclusion, we'll become the most loved and trusted fashion retailer'. Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Belonging are, therefore, at the heart of our culture.

In May 2024 we were delighted to be named one of The Sunday Times Best Places to Work 2024. We work hard to create a happy and inclusive culture for everyone and we're so proud to have made this list - as voted for by our very own colleagues!

Ways of Working

We offer hybrid working which varies across the business depending on the role you're in. Our Head Office is located in the Northern Quarter in Manchester City Centre. So if you are travelling by train, tram or bus we're perfectly located, plus we're surrounded by cool cafes, trendy bars and the best places to eat!

Our working hours are 36.17 per week and our core working hours are between 10am - 4pm. Given we don't have strict working hours you can find the working pattern that's right for you.

Our promise to you

We're an equal opportunity employer and value diversity. We do not discriminate based on race, religion, colour, national origin, sex, gender, gender expression, sexual orientation, age, marital status, veteran status, or disability status.

Please know your application is being reviewed by a real human being, not AI. We value your interest in joining us and appreciate you taking the time to submit your application.

What happens when you apply to a role at N Brown?

As soon as we receive your application, we'll send you an email to let you know. We always aim to come back to you as soon as possible with an update and we really appreciate you taking the time to apply for a role with us. Good luck!