At a Glance
- Tasks: Drive financial excellence in a fast-paced retail environment, supporting key business decisions.
- Company: Join Sainsbury's Finance team and shape the future of a leading retail business.
- Benefits: Enjoy discounts, flexible working, private healthcare, and performance-related bonuses.
- Other info: Opportunities for growth and learning in a collaborative team culture.
- Why this job: Make a real impact while developing your skills in a dynamic and supportive environment.
- Qualifications: Qualified accountant with strong Excel skills and experience in commercial finance.
The predicted salary is between 55000 - 65000 £ per year.
Location: London Store Support Centre & Home. Colleagues go into the office 2 days per week on average.
Joining Sainsbury's Finance team as a Finance Manager for Meat, Fish & Poultry offers a unique opportunity to work in a fast-paced and dynamic environment, shaping the direction of a leading retail business. With a focus on delivering best-in-class financial support, you will collaborate closely with stakeholders at all levels, contributing to strategic decision-making and driving business growth. As part of a team dedicated to challenging the status quo and driving transformation, you will have the chance to make a significant impact, enhance your stakeholder management skills, and play a key role in maximising sales, profit, and cash flow.
As the Finance Manager for Meat, Fish & Poultry at Sainsbury's, you will play a pivotal role in providing support to a fast-paced business unit by partnering with the Category Director and buyers to drive category planning, financial appraisals, and various analyses essential for informed decision-making. Your responsibilities will include:
- Delivering sound financial appraisals
- Conducting ad hoc analyses on promotional strategies and profitability
- Advising on performance
- Ensuring financial compliance
- Actively engaging with stakeholders to drive improved insights, meet targets, and streamline reporting processes
Your role will require a high level of financial rigour, accuracy in managing Category Balance Sheets, and the ability to communicate effectively with senior stakeholders, demonstrating enthusiasm and a proactive approach to delivering excellence in financial management.
You are a qualified accountant with a proven track record of providing financial support and analysis in a fast-paced commercial environment. Your advanced Excel and PowerPoint skills, coupled with your ability to effectively communicate with senior stakeholders and work independently, enable you to drive strategic decision-making and deliver financial excellence within the business unit. With a keen eye for detail, strong networking abilities, and a self-motivated approach, you excel in managing financial appraisals, supporting category planning, and ensuring compliance to financial standards while driving process improvements and delivering targeted results.
Essential Criteria
- Qualified accountant (ACA, ACCA or CIMA) with commercial business partnering experience, ideally within a retail or FMCG environment
- Advanced Excel and PowerPoint capability, including practical use of pivot tables, lookups and Power Pivot to analyse, interpret and present financial information
- Demonstrable experience communicating financial information to a range of stakeholders, including presenting complex concepts in a clear manner to non-finance audiences
- Proven ability to build effective working relationships and influence decisions through collaboration with stakeholders across different functions and levels of seniority
- Evidence of independently managing workload and priorities, including planning activities, meeting deadlines and delivering accurate outputs in a fast-paced environment
We are committed to being a truly inclusive retailer so you’ll be welcomed whoever you are and wherever you work. Around here, there’s always the chance to try something new — whether that’s as part of an evolving team or somewhere else across the business - and we take development seriously and promise to support you. We also recognise and celebrate colleagues when they go the extra mile and, where possible, offer flexible working.
When you join our team, we’ll also offer you an amazing range of benefits. Here are some of them:
- Starting off with colleague discount, you'll be able to save 10% on your shopping online and instore at Sainsbury's, Argos, TU and Habitat, and we regularly increase the discount to 15% at points during the year.
- Pensions scheme and life cover.
- Performance-related bonus of up to 20% of salary, depending on how we perform.
- Annual holiday allowance, with the option to buy up to an additional week's holiday.
- Private healthcare.
- Season ticket loans, interest free car loan of up to £10k, cycle to work scheme, health cash plans, salary advance (where you can access some of your pay before payday).
- Access to a great range of discounts from hundreds of other retailers.
- Employee Assistance Programme.
- Up to 26 weeks’ pay for maternity or adoption leave and up to 4 weeks’ pay for paternity leave.
Please see www.sainsburys.jobs for a range of our benefits (note, length of service and eligibility criteria may apply).
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Commercial Finance Manager - Meat, Fish & Poultry in London
✨Tap into Campus Networks
If you're still in uni, don’t forget to engage with your campus's career services and attend finance-related events. Banks often do presentations and recruitment drives on campus, so put yourself out there and make use of these opportunities to show off your passion for the field.
✨Get Certified
Consider pursuing relevant certifications like the CFA or ACCA while you’re job hunting. They not only beef up your CV but also connect you with professional bodies which can lead to networking opportunities and even job openings in banking and financial services.
✨Connect on Professional Platforms
Join finance-focused groups on platforms like LinkedIn and engage in discussions. This can really help you stand out from the crowd, allowing potential employers to see your knowledge and interest in industry trends. Plus, you might stumble upon job postings shared exclusively within the group.
✨Apply Directly and Be Proactive
Don’t shy away from reaching out directly to firms like Sainsbury's. Use their websites and apply through them, but also consider following up with a polite email to express your enthusiasm. Being proactive can make a huge difference in getting noticed in the competitive financial services sector.
We think you need these skills to ace Commercial Finance Manager - Meat, Fish & Poultry in London
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Off Your Numbers!:In the banking and financial services world, quantifiable achievements are key. Make sure your CV highlights your grades in relevant subjects, any financial certifications you hold, and specific projects where you've delivered measurable results. Employers love to see how your skills translate into real-world success.
Tailor Your Cover Letter to the Role:When applying for a full-time position, your cover letter should make a direct connection between your experience and the job description. Don't just state your enthusiasm for finance—dive into how your background in banking or financial analysis sets you apart. Let your passion shine through while being specific about what you can bring to Sainsbury's.
Include Relevant Financial Software Experience:If you've worked with financial modelling tools or software like Excel, SAP, or specific analytical tools during your studies or internships, bring that up! Highlighting your proficiency can really make your application pop and show you're ready to hit the ground running in a full-time role.
Research and Reflect:Before hitting that 'apply' button on Sainsbury's's website, do a little digging. Look up their recent projects, values, and culture. Reflecting their ethos in your application can make a huge difference and show you’re genuinely interested in being part of the team!
How to prepare for a job interview at Sainsbury's
✨Brush Up on Financial Analysis Skills
Make sure you're well-versed in financial concepts and analytical techniques relevant to banking and financial services. Get comfortable with tools like Excel for modelling or financial forecasting, as technical questions in this area are common during interviews with Sainsbury's.
✨Prepare for Case Studies
Expect to tackle case studies that demonstrate your problem-solving skills in real-world banking scenarios. Familiarise yourself with the types of problems you might face—think risk assessments or investment evaluations—and be ready to articulate your thought process clearly.
✨Show Your Passion for Finance
Since this is a full-time position, employers at Sainsbury's will be keen to see your genuine interest in finance. Be prepared to discuss recent industry trends or news articles that excite you, showcasing your enthusiasm and engagement with the field.
✨Network with Industry Professionals
Before your interview, reach out to current or former Sainsbury's employees on platforms like LinkedIn. They'll offer unique insights into the company's culture and the interview process, which can give us a delightful edge in showcasing a good fit for the team.