At a Glance
- Tasks: Drive commercial performance and partner with teams to identify growth opportunities.
- Company: Join The Fold, a luxury womenswear brand with a mission to empower professional women.
- Benefits: Enjoy 33 days holiday, financial wellbeing support, and a generous employee discount.
- Other info: Collaborative culture with high ownership and autonomy in a dynamic environment.
- Why this job: Be part of a growing brand and influence its international expansion and strategy.
- Qualifications: Qualified accountant with strong commercial finance experience in retail or ecommerce.
The predicted salary is between 66150 - 80850 £ per year.
Reporting to: Chief Operating & Finance Officer
Contract type
Permanent, 40 hours per week
Location
The Fold's Head office in Bermondsey .
Hybrid working- 4 days per week in the office
About the Fold
The Fold London is an award-winning British luxury womenswear brand built on a singular, powerful idea: that the women who run boardrooms, lead teams and shape the world deserve clothes as ambitious as they are.
Founded with a clear mission to dress professional women with intention, The Fold has built a loyal global community of customers who value craft, quality, and considered design over fast fashion.
With a multi-channel presence - led by ecommerce and supported by our two London stores in Chelsea and the City – The Fold has built a loyal and growing customer base across the UK, US and internationally.
As we enter the next stage of growth, we are investing heavily in our international expansion, commercial capability, systems, customer insight and operational infrastructure.
This role is a key part of that journey.
You can explore our world at and find us on Instagram, Linked In, and Facebook as @thefoldlondon.
Role Overview
We are looking for a highly commercial, analytically minded Head of Commercial Finance to help drive performance across the business.
Ideally, this person will combine strong technical finance foundations with genuinely commercial business partnering capability - for example someone who trained in a Big 4 or leading advisory environment before moving into a fast-paced consumer, retail, ecommerce or fashion business.
We are looking for someone who can bring both analytical rigour and commercial instinct into the role.
This is not a traditional reporting or controllership role.
We have an established finance foundation in place.
What we are looking for is someone who can sit at the intersection of finance, trading, merchandising, digital, customer and operations - helping teams make better, faster and more commercially informed decisions.
You will work closely with the COFO and leadership team to
- support strategic growth initiatives,
- develop robust business modelling,
- and create stronger cross-functional alignment across the business.
This role will suit someone who is naturally curious, commercially sharp and highly analytical - someone who enjoys getting into the detail whilst also helping shape bigger-picture business strategy.
Key Responsibilities
- Commercial Performance & Business Partnering
- Partner closely with teams across ecommerce, trading, merchandising, marketing, retail and operations to analyse performance and identify opportunities for growth and efficiency
- Support leadership teams with actionable commercial insight, challenge and recommendations
- Develop a strong understanding of channel economics, customer behaviour, product performance and margin drivers
- Drive greater visibility and accountability around key commercial KPIs
- Support weekly and monthly trade discussions with meaningful financial and operational insight
- Work cross-functionally to improve alignment between merchandising, digital, trading and finance
- Identify risks and opportunities proactively and support teams in developing mitigation or growth plans
- Build robust financial models to support strategic decision-making across the business
- Develop scenario analysis and sensitivity modelling for key commercial initiatives
• Support business cases including
- customer acquisition initiatives,
- pricing and promotional activity,
- fulfilment and operational projects,
- systems investments,
- new stores or channels,
- and strategic partnerships
- Support long-range planning and strategic forecasting initiatives
- Provide deep-dive analysis into performance trends, profitability and operational efficiency
- Ecommerce, Customer & Channel Analytics
• Analyse digital and ecommerce performance including
- traffic,
- conversion,
- customer acquisition,
- and contribution by channel
- Work with digital and marketing teams to evaluate campaign performance and return on investment
- Develop reporting and dashboards that improve visibility of commercial performance across the business
- Support development of more sophisticated customer, cohort and behavioural analysis
- Help improve decision-making around pricing, promotions and markdown activity
- FP&A & Reporting Support
- Support budgeting, forecasting and reforecasting processes alongside the Head of Finance and COFO
- Help improve forecast accuracy and visibility across the business
- Develop more commercially focused reporting and insight
- Support development of KPI dashboards, business reporting packs and board materials
- Assist with development of longer-term planning and investment analysis
- Help embed stronger data quality, reporting consistency and commercial visibility across teams
- Cross-Functional Projects & Transformation
- Support strategic projects across the business including systems, fulfilment, international growth and operational transformation initiatives
- Act as a connector across teams to improve communication, alignment and commercial decision-making
- Bring a continuous improvement mindset to reporting, analysis and planning processes
- Help create more scalable commercial planning capability as the business grows
About You
Experience
- Fully qualified accountant (ACA / ACCA / CIMA)
- Strong commercial finance, FP&A or business partnering experience within a consumer, retail, ecommerce or fashion business
- Ideally trained within a Big 4, transaction services, deals, consulting or high-calibre commercial finance environment before moving into industry
- Experience working in fast-paced, entrepreneurial or high-growth environments
- Strong understanding of retail and ecommerce commercial drivers
- Proven experience building financial models and commercial business cases
- Experience partnering with non-finance stakeholders across multiple functions
- Strong analytical and data interpretation capability
Skills & Attributes
- Highly commercial thinker with strong business curiosity
- Strong technical finance grounding combined with commercial business partnering capability
- Advanced Excel and financial modelling capability
- Strong communication and stakeholder management skills
- Comfortable influencing and constructively challenging stakeholders at all levels
- Able to move comfortably between detail and strategic thinking
- Naturally proactive and solutions-oriented
- Strong organisational and prioritisation skills
- Comfortable operating in ambiguity and helping shape structure as the business evolves
- Collaborative, low-ego and hands-on approach
- Confident presenting insight and recommendations clearly and concisely
We believe great work happens when people feel supported, valued, and inspired- here's how we make that happen:
• 33 days holiday (25 days + bank holidays) + option to buy more!
- Salary sacrifice options (pension & childcare)
- Financial wellbeing platform to support your goals
- £1,250 annual The Fold gift voucher
- Bike to work scheme to save on bikes & equipment
- Employee Assistance Programme (confidential wellbeing support when you need it)
- Eye care support
- Enhanced maternity pay
- Friends & family discount - enjoy 50% off full retail price
- Summer Fridays for that early start to the weekend
- Fully stocked snack cupboards, fresh fruit, plus great coffee & tea
- Opportunities to give back through volunteering with our charity partner, Smart Works
- Why The Fold
- A brand with a clear point of view and a fiercely loyal customer base
- Opportunity to play a highly visible role in a growing premium fashion brand
- Direct exposure to the leadership team and key strategic initiatives
- Broad and genuinely commercial remit with real influence on business performance
- Opportunity to help shape the next stage of international and operational growth
- Entrepreneurial environment with high levels of ownership and autonomy
- Collaborative culture with ambitious plans for the future
- Recent investment from a new owner. The brand is at a new chapter of growth across both existing and new channels, and operates internationally.
- Diversity and Inclusion
We promote a diverse and inclusive workplace which harnesses the benefits of the diversity of our team and strives to represent the communities in which we live and work.
Our vision is to establish an environment that attracts individuals from a wide range of backgrounds and talents, empowering them to contribute their best and authentic selves.
We welcome and encourage applications from those who share our commitment to fostering this inclusive and authentic work culture.
#J-18808-Ljbffr
Head of Commercial Finance in London employer: The Fold London
The Fold London is an exceptional employer that champions a supportive and inspiring work environment, offering 33 days of holiday, flexible hybrid working, and a range of employee benefits including financial wellbeing support and generous discounts. With a strong focus on professional growth, employees have the opportunity to play a pivotal role in shaping the future of a premium fashion brand while collaborating closely with leadership on strategic initiatives. Located in vibrant Bermondsey, The Fold fosters a culture of diversity and inclusion, making it an ideal place for ambitious individuals looking to make a meaningful impact.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Head of Commercial Finance 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 The Fold London. 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 The Fold London.
✨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 The Fold London. 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 Head of Commercial Finance 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 The Fold London 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 The Fold London how you can be a team player!
How to prepare for a job interview at The Fold London
✨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 The Fold London.
✨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 The Fold London'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!
