At a Glance
- Tasks: Drive financial insight and performance management, shaping budgeting and forecasting.
- Company: Join Sainsbury's Argos, a leading FTSE business with a fast-paced environment.
- Benefits: Enjoy work-life balance, competitive salary, and opportunities for professional growth.
- Other info: Collaborative culture where your ideas are valued and learning is continuous.
- Why this job: Make a real impact on strategic decisions and enhance financial visibility.
- Qualifications: Professional accounting qualification and strong FP&A experience required.
The predicted salary is between 60000 - 75000 £ per year.
Location: London, Coventry or Manchester Store Support Centre & Home. Colleagues go into the office 1-2 days per week on average.
Why Join us
Joining the Finance team at Sainsbury's Argos offers a unique opportunity to become a key player in driving financial insight, strategic decision-making and performance management across the business. As an FP&A Finance Manager, you will work closely with senior leadership to shape budgeting, forecasting and performance reporting, while playing an increasingly important role in strengthening the business's focus on cash flow and capital investment performance.
This role provides the opportunity to influence key business decisions, improve planning processes and enhance financial visibility across sales, profit, cash and capital expenditure. You will help translate complex financial data into actionable recommendations, ensuring strong financial discipline while supporting the delivery of both short-term performance and long-term strategic objectives.
What You'll Do
You will play a pivotal role in driving financial insight and performance management across the business. You will lead key elements of the planning cycle, providing insightful analysis of business performance, partnering with senior leadership to support strategic decision-making and ensuring accurate and timely financial reporting.
Alongside your core FP&A responsibilities, you will help drive the business's approach to cash flow and capital expenditure planning, working closely with wider Finance teams to improve forecasting accuracy, reporting, governance and decision support. You will provide analysis and insight into working capital trends, cash performance and investment plans, helping stakeholders understand financial impacts, risks and opportunities.
Your responsibilities will include developing and maintaining financial models, driving process improvements, supporting profitability, cash and investment analysis, and ensuring strong financial governance and compliance. You will also be accountable for preparing high-quality presentations and commentary for key stakeholders, translating complex data into clear recommendations and influencing senior leaders to drive improved business performance.
Who You Are
You are a professionally qualified accountant with strong FP&A experience and a passion for turning financial data into meaningful business insight. You combine excellent financial modelling and analytical capability with a commercial mindset and a proactive approach to solving problems.
You are comfortable operating across a broad FP&A remit while bringing curiosity and interest in cash flow, working capital and capital investment performance. Your collaborative and influential approach, coupled with excellent communication skills, enables you to engage senior stakeholders, challenge constructively and support better decision-making across the business.
Essential Criteria
- Professional accounting qualification (ACCA, ACA or CIMA)
- Financial modelling, data analysis and systems capability; demonstrable experience building and analysing financial models and working with large data sets using tools such as Excel, Power BI, Alteryx or comparable platforms; experience with financial systems (e.g. OneStream) is advantageous
- Management reporting, budgeting and forecasting expertise; proven delivery of budgeting, forecasting and management reporting processes, with clear application of accounting principles and financial controls
- Experience analysing cash flow, working capital and/or capital expenditure performance, with the ability to translate complex data into actionable insights and recommendations
- Insight generation and decision support; evidence of interpreting complex financial and operational data to support commercial and strategic decision making
- Stakeholder engagement and communication; demonstrable ability to work as a business partner, communicating financial information clearly to non-finance stakeholders, influencing decisions and constructively challenging where appropriate
Responsibilities
We’d all like amazing work to do, and real work-life balance. That’s waiting for you here at Sainsbury’s. For a FTSE business, we move incredibly fast. When we’re not leading projects, we’re supporting teams across the wider group to achieve their goals. And here, you can see the impact of your work as soon as you walk into a store, giving you a real sense of purpose and responsibility. Better still, the team around you will listen to your ideas and opinions, and you’ll have every chance to try something new. The scale and complexity of our business mean there’s always something new to learn, and we’ll support you every step of the way. We’re trusted to get on with it. So get ready to make things happen.
Finance Manager - Argos FP&A (12M FTC) in London employer: Sainsbury's
Sainsbury's is an excellent employer for those passionate about fashion and design, offering a vibrant work culture that fosters creativity and collaboration. With opportunities for professional growth and mentorship within a dynamic team, employees can thrive while contributing to innovative womenswear collections that resonate with customers. Located in a supportive environment, Sainsbury's prioritises employee well-being and development, making it a rewarding place to build a career in the fashion industry.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Finance Manager - Argos FP&A (12M FTC) in London
✨Join Financial Networking Events
Jump into local finance meetups and conferences — they’re a goldmine for temporary roles in banking and financial services. You can chat with industry professionals and even get leads on upcoming opportunities that might not be posted online yet.
✨Utilise Temp Agencies Specialised in Finance
Reach out to temp agencies that focus on the banking sector. They often have strong ties with various firms and can help you secure short-term gigs that can help beef up your CV and get your foot in the door at firms like Sainsbury's.
✨Connect with Alumni from Your Uni
Don't underestimate the power of your university’s alumni network. Many former students are working in banking and can help you find temporary roles or even offer mentorship. Reach out directly or attend alumni events to broaden your circle.
✨Stay Active on Job Boards and Company Websites
Keep your eyes peeled on job boards specifically for finance roles. Companies like Sainsbury's might post temporary positions directly on their sites, so make sure to apply there too. Set alerts to catch those roles the moment they go live!
We think you need these skills to ace Finance Manager - Argos FP&A (12M FTC) in London
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Off Your Academic Achievements:In banking and financial services, your academic record can really make you stand out. List relevant grades, certifications, or coursework on your CV, especially if you've taken finance-related modules. This is particularly important for a temporary role where qualifications can help you shine even brighter!
Highlight Relevant Experience:If you’ve done any internships, part-time roles, or even coursework that aligns with banking or finance, make sure you include those! Showcase specific tasks where you used quantitative skills or analytical thinking, as this is what the hiring managers at Sainsbury's will be keen to see in your application.
Tailor Your Cover Letter Purposefully:When writing your cover letter, focus on why you’re interested in a temporary position at Sainsbury's. Let them know how you can quickly adapt to the team's needs and how eager you are to learn the ropes of the banking sector during this short stint. Your motivation and enthusiasm could really set you apart!
Be Prepared with References:For temporary roles, references can play a crucial role in your application. Make sure you’ve got a couple of references lined up who can vouch for your skills and work ethic. This helps to give Sainsbury's confidence in your short-term commitment to the role.
How to prepare for a job interview at Sainsbury's
✨Brush Up on Financial Regulations
Since this is a role in banking and financial services, be ready to discuss key regulations like MiFID, Basel III, or GDPR. These are hot topics, and your awareness of how they impact daily operations can give you a significant edge during your interview with Sainsbury's.
✨Showcase Your Analytical Skills
Prepare for interview questions that assess your analytical abilities. You might need to tackle hypothetical scenarios involving risk assessment or financial forecasting. Bringing examples of relevant projects or coursework can emphasise your practical understanding of these concepts.
✨Highlight Flexibility and Adaptability
For a temporary role, showing that you can quickly pick up new processes and tools is crucial. Be ready to discuss previous experiences where you had to adapt to changing requirements or tight deadlines, as this will reassure Sainsbury's that you’re a reliable team player.
✨Demonstrate a Willingness to Learn
In a temporary position, leaning into your eagerness to learn can really set you apart. Be prepared to share how you’re staying updated on industry trends or any additional training you've pursued. Employers appreciate candidates who are proactive about their development—even for short-term roles.
