Commercial Finance Analyst

We have an exciting opportunity for a Commercial Finance Analyst – Retail to join our Finance team! The Commercial Finance Analyst is responsible for providing detailed financial analysis, insights, and support to the Retail area of the business. This role focuses on evaluating financial performance, identifying opportunities for improvement, and helping guide key business decisions by working closely with both the finance and non‑finance teams.

Financial Analysis and Reporting:

• Own and continuously improve daily, weekly and monthly commercial reporting packs, ensuring timely and actionable insight.
• Support with monthly reporting variance analysis to understand the drivers behind business performance.
• Responsible for month end retail journals, including Retail month end accruals.

Commercial Decision Support:

• Provide decision‑making support to key commercial teams for trade decisions.
• Analyse sales and profitability trends and support in producing forward‑looking view.
• Ad‑hoc analysis to provide stakeholders with additional insight and inform decision making.

Forecasting & Budgeting:

• Support with completing accurate and timely financial forecasts and budgets.
• Monitor and track business performance against financial forecasts and take corrective actions when necessary.
• Supporting in providing insights into cost‑saving opportunities and efficiency improvements within the retail P&L.

Stakeholder Engagement:

• Ownership of monthly cost reviews with Area managers.
• Partner closely with Retail Operations, Trading and wider Commercial teams to influence performance and support strategic initiatives.
• Support in monthly presentations to both financial and non‑financial stakeholders.

Qualifications and Experience

• Previous experience within Retail/FMCG desirable.
• ACA / ACCA / CIMA qualified (or finalist considered).
• Strong commercial acumen with the ability to turn data into actionable insight.
• Excellent analytical, communication, and stakeholder management skills.
• Advanced Excel skills with strong attention to detail and accuracy.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities and strong time management.
• A proactive and inquisitive mindset with a strong focus on continuous improvement.
• A collaborative approach and ability to build strong working relationships across the business.

What we can offer you:

• Generous staff discount of 50%.
• Competitive staff shop on site.
• Support for everyday expenses through discounts, benefits, financial advice, wellbeing solutions and more through the Retail Trust.
• Free onsite gym, subsidised restaurant & café.
• Various social events throughout the year.
• Support for different family setups with enhanced maternity, paternity, adoption & fertility treatment.
• Flexible working, on top of payday and summer early finish Fridays.
• Give as you earn scheme, a Giver Island day each year and receive matched funding.
• Support for upskilling through on the job training and qualifications, with a succession plan for progress.
• A generous bonus scheme and private pension plan.
• 25 days paid holiday, exclusive of Bank Holidays.
• Option to purchase additional holiday twice a year.

Keeping You Safe

At River Island we are committed to the safeguarding of all of our employees regardless of age or job role. We will fulfil our obligation under the Prevent duty which seeks to stop extremism and extremist views from materialising in our business. We promote and encourage the belief in British values - including democracy, the rule of law, individual liberty and mutual respect and tolerance of different faiths and beliefs. Our Island is made up of a diverse community, where we all belong and feel part of something bigger. We are committed to equality of opportunity and welcome applications from individuals, regardless of age, gender, ethnicity, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, socio-economic background, religion and/or belief. We will consider flexible working requests for all roles unless operational requirements prevent otherwise.