At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead a dynamic finance team and drive strategic financial decisions for Soho House.
- Company: Join the innovative Soho House, a leader in hospitality and lifestyle.
- Benefits: Enjoy competitive pay, health perks, and exclusive discounts.
- Other info: Be part of a vibrant culture with fun team events and continuous training.
- Why this job: Make a real impact in a transformative role with growth opportunities.
- Qualifications: Extensive experience in commercial finance and strong leadership skills required.
The predicted salary is between 99000 - 121000 £ per year.
The Role..
The Group Commercial Finance Director is a new senior leadership role created as part of Soho House's Commercial Finance transformation, leading a dedicated commercial finance team covering the Group's commercial and strategic finance arrangements.
The role owns debt and banking relationships, property, leases, insurance and commercial agreements, new site feasibility, and capital planning governance and reporting, together with finance business partnering to Soho Works, IHDB, Partnerships, Residences and the Group's other businesses.
Working closely with Development, Legal, IHDB and Works, the Director plays a central role in Development, Capex and Ops Transformation forums, and will champion the use of AI-enabled analytics and automation to strengthen capital planning, feasibility and commercial decision-making, in line with the Group's wider ERP and AI transformation ambitions.
Key Responsibilities..
- Treasury, Debt & Banking Relationships
- Own Group debt management, monitoring facilities and supporting refinancing initiatives as required.
- Manage banking facilities and relationships to support the Group's liquidity and funding needs.
- Property, Leases & Commercial Agreements
- Own commercial and financial oversight of the Group's Leases across the portfolio.
- Lead Property Management from a commercial finance perspective, ensuring costs, income and performance are effectively managed.
- Own JV & HMA (Joint Venture & House/Hotel Management Agreement) agreements, ensuring commercial terms are understood, managed and optimised.
- Own Key Contracts, providing financial oversight and commercial input into major agreements.
- Insurance
- Own the Group's insurance programmes, working closely with the business to ensure appropriate coverage is in place across all risk areas.
- Lead claims handling, ensuring claims are managed efficiently and effectively from notification through to resolution.
- Own Business Interruption (BI) and Contingent Business Interruption (CBI) claims, ensuring careful planning and preparation to support timely and accurate recovery.
- Provide ongoing, day-to-day support to Operations on any claims and coverage matters, acting as a trusted point of contact for the business.
- Regularly review insurance programmes and coverage with the business to ensure they remain appropriate and adequate as the business evolves.
- New Site Feasibility
- Own New Site Review & Feasibility, leading financial appraisal and underwriting of new site opportunities to support the Group's expansion decisions.
- Critically review feasibility models, challenging inputs and assumptions (including revenue, cost, capex and return assumptions) to ensure recommendations are robust and well-evidenced.
- Ensure a clear understanding of the technical accounting impacts of new site decisions under GAAP (e. g., lease accounting, capitalisation and impairment considerations), working closely with technical accounting and reporting teams.
- Present feasibility and underwriting recommendations to senior stakeholders, balancing commercial ambition with financial and accounting rigour.
- Capital Planning & Governance
- Own Capital Planning governance across the Group, setting and maintaining policy to ensure consistent, disciplined investment decision-making.
- Lead day-to-day management, review and reporting of Capital Planning, checking submissions and spend against Group policy and requirements.
- Business Partnering
- Act as lead finance business partner to Soho Works.
- Act as lead finance business partner to IHDB.
- Provide commercial finance business partnering to Partnerships, Residences and Other Businesses (Line Group).
- AI-Enabled Commercial Finance
- Champion the use of AI-enabled analytics and automation to strengthen capital planning, new site feasibility and underwriting analysis, reducing manual and transactional effort within the commercial finance function.
- Leverage ERP and AI-enabled data to improve decision-making on debt, capital allocation and commercial agreements, focusing capacity on forward-looking analysis and value creation.
- Act as key business partner to Development, Legal, IHDB and Works, representing Commercial Finance in Development, Capex and Ops Transformation forums.
- Lead and develop a dedicated commercial finance team, building specialist capability across capital planning, new site feasibility, business partnering and insurance/risk management.
- Key Skills & Experience
- Extensive experience in senior commercial finance leadership roles within complex, multi-site or property-related businesses.
- Proven track record managing debt, banking relationships and treasury-adjacent commercial finance matters.
- Deep expertise in property, leases, JV/HMA agreements and capital planning within a multinational, multi-brand environment.
- Experience managing corporate insurance programmes and claims, including Business Interruption (BI) and Contingent Business Interruption (CBI), with a track record of careful claims planning and ongoing operational support.
- Experience leading new site review, feasibility studies and underwriting to support expansion and investment decisions, including hands-on review of financial models and critical challenge of inputs and assumptions.
- Strong technical accounting knowledge under GAAP, with an understanding of how new site decisions (e. g., leases, capitalisation, impairment) impact the Group's accounts.
- Experience embedding capital planning governance, policy and reporting frameworks, with a track record of day-to-day review against requirements.
- Experience business partnering diversified or newer business lines (e. g., co-working, membership residences, licensing).
- Experience leveraging AI-enabled analytics and automation to strengthen capital planning, feasibility and investment decision-making.
- Commercially astute, with the ability to negotiate and manage complex commercial agreements and translate them into clear financial and strategic insight.
- Qualified Accountant (e. g., ACA, ACCA, CIMA or equivalent), with strong technical grounding and leadership presence.
Key Competencies..
Strategic Leadership
Ability to shape and execute a commercial finance strategy that supports growth, resilience and value creation.
Global Perspective
Strong understanding of property, JV and commercial agreements across multiple jurisdictions.
Technical & Analytical Rigour
Confident reviewing financial models and challenging inputs and assumptions, with strong technical accounting (GAAP) knowledge.
Data & AI Fluency
Confident using AI-enabled analytics and automation to strengthen capital planning and commercial decision-making.
Governance & Control
Rigorous in applying capital planning policy, governance and reporting standards, with strong attention to day-to-day review and compliance.
Stakeholder Influence
Exceptional communication and negotiation skills across senior leadership, Development, Legal and operational teams.
Risk Management
Proactive in identifying and mitigating financial and commercial risk across debt, property, insurance and commercial agreements.
Change Management
Experience leading transformation initiatives and embedding best practice across commercial finance functions.
Benefits…
Soho House offers competitive compensation packages that feature global benefits and perks.
Whether you’re seeking entry-level employment or a new opportunity to expand your profession, we offer training to develop the technical and managerial skills necessary to grow your career.
- Soho Friends Membership
- 50% off Food & Drink, 7 days a week
- Staff Room Rates
- Private Health and Dental Care
- Weekly Pay
- Life Assurance
- Up to 50% Staff Discount on Cowshed & Soho Home
- In Office Dog Policy on Fridays
- Season Ticket Loan
- Christmas Office Closure
- In conjunction with Soho Impact, take 2 days paid a year to support a charity of your choice.
- Free Counselling Sessions
- Cookhouse & House Tonic: Our Cookhouse & House Tonic programmes offer unique food and drink trainings, events and opportunities to inspire and educate.
- Continuous training to develop yourself personally and professionally
- Exclusive access to our benefits platform with hundreds of discounts on shopping, gym memberships, holidays, insurance and much more
- Team Events: From fitness sessions to cinema screenings and art classes, each month we hold a series of fun events which you can sign up to.
Group Commercial Finance Director in London employer: Soho House
Soho House is an exceptional employer that prioritises the wellbeing and development of its team members, offering a vibrant work culture where creativity and collaboration thrive. As a Teeny Assistant at Soho Farmhouse, you will enjoy competitive pay, comprehensive benefits including health plans and discounts, and unique opportunities for personal and professional growth through continuous training and engaging team events. With a focus on creating a fun and safe environment for children, you'll be part of a dedicated team that values your contributions and supports your career journey.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Group Commercial Finance Director in London
✨Tip Number 1: Tap Into Professional Networks
The finance world loves a good connection, so jump into industry-specific groups on platforms like LinkedIn where you can find discussions on financial controlling. Engaging in these communities can expose you to hidden job leads that aren't openly advertised!
✨Tip Number 2: Attend Finance Events and Conferences
Make it a mission to attend finance-related events and conferences, even virtual ones! This is a golden opportunity to network face-to-face with people from companies like Soho House. You never know who might be your next boss or a crucial contact!
✨Tip Number 3: Showcase Your Expertise
Consider writing articles or sharing insights related to financial controlling or industry trends. Publish these on platforms like LinkedIn to establish yourself as a knowledgeable player in the field. This not only increases your visibility but also catches the attention of recruiters from Soho House.
✨Tip Number 4: Apply Directly on Company Websites
Since you're going for a full-time gig, don't forget to keep an eye on the careers page of companies you're interested in, like Soho House. Many companies prefer candidates who apply through their website as it shows genuine interest and makes your application stand out!
We think you need these skills to ace Group Commercial Finance Director in London
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Off Your Numbers Game:In financial controlling, detail is everything! Make sure your CV showcases your proficiency with numbers—highlight any relevant experience in budgeting, forecasting, or working with financial software. Quantifying your past achievements will make you stand out, so don’t be shy about flaunting those impressive percentages or cost savings you've implemented.
Tailored Cover Letter is Key:Your cover letter is a chance to shine, especially for a full-time role. Use it to express your genuine interest in Soho House and the specific impact you hope to make in financial controlling. Mention any relevant qualifications or experiences that align with the company’s goals, and don’t forget to show that you're ready for a long-term commitment!
Certifications Matter:List relevant certifications such as ACCA or CIMA on your CV. These qualifications not only showcase your dedication to the field but also your technical competence in financial principles. If you have any ongoing training or courses, make sure to mention those as well to demonstrate your commitment to continual learning in financial controlling.
Don’t Overlook Soft Skills:While numbers are crucial, so are those soft skills! Financial controllers need strong communication and analytical reasoning abilities. We recommend embedding examples of these skills in your CV and cover letter, like how you’ve successfully delivered financial reports to stakeholders or collaborated with teams to improve processes. Let’s show Soho House how you can be a team player!
How to prepare for a job interview at Soho House
✨Brush Up on Technical Skills
Make sure you're comfortable with key financial concepts, especially around forecasting, budgeting, and variance analysis. Sometimes, interviewers may throw in technical questions or case studies, so practicing these types of scenarios will help you shine!
✨Showcase Your Financial Acumen
If you've had experience with specific financial software like SAP or Oracle, make it known! Be ready to discuss how you used these tools to improve processes or reporting, as this hands-on knowledge can really set you apart in a full-time role with Soho House.
✨Know Your Numbers
In full-time interviews, especially in financial controlling, be prepared for numerical reasoning tests or questions. Brush up on your mental maths and understand how to interpret and analyse financial statements on the spot, as this may come up during the assessment.
✨Connect with Company Goals
Familiarise yourself with Soho House's financial objectives and any recent developments. During the interview, try to weave your understanding of their business model and challenges into your answers—this shows your genuine interest and alignment with their goals!
