Finance Assistant- Ecommerce

Vivienne Westwood is one of the most iconic British fashion brands, renowned for its heritage, innovative design, and commitment to culture and activism. We care deeply about our people and the environment, and our core values — Gaia, Quality not Quantity, Activism, Culture & Heritage — guide us daily. If you share our passion for creativity, sustainability, and innovation, we’d love to hear from you.

ABOUT THE ROLE

We are excited to offer an opportunity for a Finance Assistant- Ecommerce to join our Finance team on a full-time basis. This role will be based in our UK Head Office. The Finance Assistant will be responsible for supporting the financial operations of our Japanese ecommerce market, ensuring accurate and compliant accounting, reconciliation, and reporting activities. This role is crucial in maintaining the integrity of our financial processes and supporting wider business objectives. This is a 12-month fixed-term contract.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

• Oversee the daily financial operations related to ecommerce activity in the Japanese market, ensuring all tasks are carried out accurately and within specified timeframes.
• Manage end-to-end accounting processes in line with Japanese statutory, tax and audit requirements, including invoice processing, returns reconciliation, and revenue recognition.
• Support the Merchant of Record (MoR) framework within the Japanese market, ensuring transaction flows are accurately processed and reported.
• Ensure full compliance with local Japanese financial regulations, ecommerce legislation and global company standards.
• Reconcile balance sheet accounts, ensuring deposits, payments and third-party settlements are recorded and matched correctly.
• Provide timely and accurate monthly financial reports and analysis to stakeholders, extracting data from ERP and ecommerce platforms and supporting informed decision-making.
• Collaborate with internal finance teams, tax advisors, external auditors and local ecommerce partners to ensure alignment of all financial processes and reporting.
• Assist in continuous improvement initiatives within the finance team to optimise efficiency and maintain internal controls.
• Any other ad hoc tasks required.

(Please note this is not an exhaustive list of duties and you may be required to perform additional duties to fulfil the requirements of the role)

PROFILE & KEY SKILLS

• Previous experience working within a finance function (2 years), ideally supporting international or ecommerce markets.
• Good understanding of financial regulations and accounting standards, particularly with reference to international business.
• Proficient in Microsoft Excel and ERP systems; SAP experience highly desirable.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills with a high level of attention to detail.
• Ability to manage deadlines and prioritise effectively in a fast-paced environment.
• Collaborative team player with good communication and organisational skills.
• Japanese language skills are an advantage but not essential.

BENEFITS

• Staff discounts
• Health & Wellbeing support (includes Private Medical Health Insurance, EAP, Gym Discounts, Access to Financial Planning Service, etc.)
• Perkbox Discounts and Wellness Hub
• Cycle to work scheme
• Generous annual leave allowance
• Pension Scheme
• Training and hands-on experience
• Opportunities to build new skills and gain valuable industry knowledge

Applications are reviewed on an ongoing basis, so we recommend applying early to avoid missing out. Vivienne Westwood is an equal opportunity employer that is committed to diversity and inclusion in the workplace. We prohibit discrimination and harassment of any kind based on race, colour, sex, religion, sexual orientation, national origin, disability, genetic information, pregnancy, or any other protected characteristic as outlined by local government laws.