At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead financial strategy and drive performance in a fast-growing retail business.
- Company: Join a dynamic Manchester-based retail company with entrepreneurial spirit.
- Benefits: Part-time role with competitive pay and opportunities for professional growth.
- Other info: Collaborative environment with a focus on innovation and strategic initiatives.
- Why this job: Shape the future of finance in a high-impact leadership position.
- Qualifications: Qualified accountant with experience in finance leadership and P&L ownership.
The predicted salary is between 45000 - 55000 £ per year.
Sowena Group are delighted to be exclusively partnering with a leading, entrepreneurial Manchester-based retail business to appoint a Head of Finance. This is a high-impact leadership role within a fast-growing organisation, offering the opportunity to shape financial strategy and build the infrastructure required to support continued scale and operational complexity.
Reporting to the Finance Director, the Head of Finance will be a key member of the leadership team, providing commercial insight, strengthening financial governance, and ensuring the business is well positioned to deliver on its ambitious growth agenda.
The role carries full ownership of the P&L and Balance Sheet, with responsibility for driving financial performance through robust analysis, commercial challenge, and strategic partnership with senior stakeholders across the organisation. The successful candidate will also play a critical role in delivering a range of divisional and group-wide strategic initiatives, helping to support the next phase of growth and transformation.
- Lead commercial insights and analysis, challenging all aspects of the P&L to drive profitability.
- Act as a business partner across all areas of the business to ensure investments drive sustainable, profitable growth.
- Lead, motivate, and develop a multi-disciplinary finance team.
- Oversee day-to-day finance operations, ensuring an efficient, well-controlled, and high-performing finance function.
Inspirational finance leader with the ability to motivate and develop a high-performing team, driving accountability and alignment with the wider business strategy. Commercially focused with strong ownership of P&L performance, proactively identifying risks and opportunities and taking decisive action to optimise performance across the short, medium, and long term.
Confident and credible communicator, able to influence and challenge a broad range of non-financial stakeholders while managing complex or difficult conversations constructively. Strong financial discipline, ensuring rigorous control of costs, challenging investment decisions, and maintaining a consistently well-managed balance sheet.
Collaborative partner across the wider finance function, working closely with Group Finance, Tax, Treasury, Commercial Finance and Shared Services.
Qualified accountant (ACA, ACCA or CIMA) with finance leadership experience within a complex, international organisation. Proven experience with full ownership of both P&L and Balance Sheet, ensuring strong financial performance, robust controls, and disciplined balance sheet management.
Strong background in commercial finance, with a demonstrable track record in profit improvement, cost management, working capital optimisation, and the delivery of robust budgeting and forecasting processes.
A credible and influential strategic partner, confident in challenging and supporting non-financial stakeholders at all levels to drive informed decision-making and business performance. Experience supporting major strategic initiatives, such as international expansion, transformation programmes, business restructures, or separations.
Proven people leader, with experience building, managing, and developing large, multi-disciplinary finance teams in fast-paced environments.
Finance Manager, Financial Accounting (part time) in Manchester employer: Sowena Group
Contact Detail:
Sowena Group Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Finance Manager, Financial Accounting (part time) in Manchester
✨Network Like a Pro
Get out there and connect with people in the finance industry! Attend events, join online forums, and don’t be shy about reaching out to professionals on LinkedIn. We all know that sometimes it’s not just what you know, but who you know that can land you that dream job.
✨Ace the Interview
Prepare for your interviews by researching the company and its financial strategies. Think about how your experience aligns with their goals, especially around P&L ownership and commercial insights. We want you to walk in confident and ready to showcase how you can drive profitability and support their growth agenda!
✨Showcase Your Leadership Skills
As a potential Head of Finance, it’s crucial to demonstrate your ability to lead and develop teams. Share examples of how you’ve motivated finance teams in the past and how you’ve tackled complex challenges. We’re looking for those inspiring stories that show you can be a credible partner across the business.
✨Apply Through Our Website
Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets noticed. Plus, we love seeing candidates who take the initiative to engage directly with us. Let’s make this happen together!
We think you need these skills to ace Finance Manager, Financial Accounting (part time) in Manchester
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your CV: Make sure your CV speaks directly to the job description. Highlight your experience in financial leadership, P&L ownership, and team management. We want to see how you can bring your unique skills to our fast-growing organisation!
Craft a Compelling Cover Letter: Your cover letter is your chance to shine! Use it to explain why you're the perfect fit for the Head of Finance role. Share specific examples of how you've driven profitability and supported strategic initiatives in previous roles.
Showcase Your Communication Skills: As a finance leader, you'll need to influence and challenge stakeholders. In your application, give us a taste of your communication style. Maybe include a brief example of a complex conversation you've navigated successfully.
Apply Through Our Website: We encourage you to apply through our website for a smoother process. It helps us keep track of applications and ensures you don’t miss out on any important updates. Plus, we love seeing applications come in directly!
How to prepare for a job interview at Sowena Group
✨Know Your Numbers
Make sure you’re well-versed in the financial metrics relevant to the role. Brush up on your P&L and Balance Sheet knowledge, and be ready to discuss how you've driven profitability in past roles. This will show that you can hit the ground running.
✨Showcase Your Leadership Style
Prepare examples of how you've led and developed finance teams in the past. Think about specific instances where you motivated your team or improved performance. This will demonstrate your ability to inspire and align with the wider business strategy.
✨Be a Strategic Partner
Think about how you can act as a business partner across various departments. Prepare to discuss how you've collaborated with non-financial stakeholders to drive informed decision-making. This will highlight your ability to influence and challenge effectively.
✨Prepare for Complex Conversations
Anticipate questions around managing difficult conversations or complex financial scenarios. Have a few examples ready that showcase your communication skills and how you’ve navigated challenging discussions while maintaining strong relationships.