Commercial Finance Manager

Robert Walters UK; Watford; On-site; GBP 60,000 - 80,000; Full time

Job summary

A recruitment consultancy in Watford is seeking a Commercial Finance Manager to provide financial insights that guide critical business decisions. In this role, you will manage financial planning, support senior leaders, and ensure compliance with reporting standards. The ideal candidate will have extensive experience in retail finance roles and possess strong analytical and interpersonal skills. A recognised accountancy qualification is preferred.

Qualifications

• Extensive experience in commercial finance within retail or similar sectors.
• Hands-on involvement in budgeting cycles and margin management techniques.
• Exceptional ability to present complex data insights at executive level.

Responsibilities

• Lead financial planning and forecasting for the UK business unit.
• Monitor key performance metrics to assess trading effectiveness.
• Support strategic initiatives with thorough financial evaluation.

Skills

Experience in commercial finance roles

Analytical skills

Communication abilities

Mentoring junior staff

Familiarity with US GAAP and Sarbanes-Oxley

Education

Recognised accountancy qualification (ACA/ACCA/CIMA)

Tools

Advanced Excel functions

Financial modelling tools

Job description

Commercial Finance Manager to join their highly respected Finance team in Watford. This pivotal role places you at the centre of commercial decision-making, partnering with senior leaders across Merchandising, Marketing, and Digital to ensure every business move is underpinned by robust financial insight and accurate reporting. You will be instrumental in driving performance and profitability across a substantial £300m sales portfolio.

What you'll do:

As Commercial Finance Manager, you will play an integral part in supporting senior leaders across Merchandising, Marketing, and Digital functions by providing expert financial insight that informs critical business decisions. Your day‑to‑day activities will involve leading all aspects of financial planning and forecasting for the UK business unit — including sales, margin, and inventory reporting — while presenting your findings at executive‑level meetings.

Other responsibilities include monitoring key performance metrics to assess promotional effectiveness and trading activity while highlighting areas for improvement; supporting strategic initiatives such as new product launches or acquisitions with thorough financial evaluation; managing an Analyst within your team and coaching them towards success; and collaborating widely with colleagues in Birmingham. Upholding compliance standards is essential as you maintain rigorous controls over reporting accuracy. Success in this role requires not only technical expertise but also strong interpersonal skills to build trust with stakeholders at every level.

• Partner closely with Merchandising, Marketing, and Multichannel teams to provide comprehensive financial support, guidance, and challenge that drives growth and operational efficiency throughout the business.
• Lead all aspects of financial planning and forecasting for the UK division, taking ownership of sales, margin, and inventory reporting to ensure accuracy and valuable insight at every stage.
• Present detailed analysis at Executive Committee meetings and budget sessions, delivering meaningful insights that shape strategic decisions and investment priorities.
• Monitor key performance indicators such as like‑for‑like sales, average selling price, average transaction value, and margin rates to appraise promotions and trading activity while identifying opportunities for improvement.
• Support strategic initiatives by evaluating new product ranges, marketing campaigns, and potential acquisitions to ensure sound financial rationale and return on investment.
• Manage and develop talent within your team by leading, coaching, and nurturing your Analyst while fostering collaboration across the wider Finance function based in Birmingham.
• Ensure compliance with Group standards for reporting accuracy including adherence to US GAAP, Sarbanes‑Oxley controls, and internal policies to maintain high levels of integrity in all financial processes.
• Collaborate effectively with both UK‑based colleagues and Group Finance teams to drive alignment on commercial objectives and share best practices across the organisation.
• Contribute to continuous improvement initiatives within the Finance department by identifying process enhancements that increase efficiency or improve reporting quality.
• Act as a trusted advisor to senior leaders by translating complex financial data into clear recommendations that support informed decision‑making.

What you bring:

To excel as Commercial Finance Manager you will bring extensive experience from previous commercial finance positions within retail or similar sectors where you have worked collaboratively alongside senior leaders. Your background should include hands‑on involvement in budgeting cycles as well as deep knowledge of margin management techniques. The ideal candidate will possess advanced analytical capabilities combined with excellent interpersonal skills‑enabling you not only to interpret complex datasets but also communicate findings persuasively at board level. Experience mentoring junior staff members is important; your supportive approach helps foster growth within the team. Familiarity with compliance frameworks such as US GAAP or Sarbanes‑Oxley is essential given the scale of operations involved. You should be comfortable using advanced Excel functions plus other relevant software packages. A formal accountancy qualification further strengthens your profile but equally valued are qualities such as empathy, reliability, inclusivity—and a genuine passion for helping others succeed.

• Demonstrated experience in commercial finance roles within retail or consumer‑facing industries where you have partnered directly with senior stakeholders to influence decision‑making.
• Proven ability to lead financial planning processes including budgeting, forecasting, sales analysis, margin management, and inventory reporting for large‑scale operations.
• Exceptional analytical skills enabling you to translate complex data sets into actionable insights that drive business performance improvements.
• Outstanding communication abilities allowing you to present confidently at executive meetings while tailoring messages for different audiences.
• Experience managing or mentoring junior finance professionals with a collaborative approach that encourages development within the team.
• Thorough understanding of compliance requirements including US GAAP accounting standards, Sarbanes‑Oxley controls, and internal policy frameworks relevant to large organisations.
• Track record of supporting strategic projects such as new product launches or acquisitions through detailed financial appraisal and ROI analysis.
• Advanced proficiency in Excel plus familiarity with other financial modelling tools or ERP systems commonly used in retail environments.
• Ability to work effectively within cross‑functional teams—demonstrating empathy, dependability, and a commitment to shared goals across departments.
• A recognised accountancy qualification (such as ACA/ACCA/CIMA) is highly desirable along with evidence of ongoing professional development.

Robert Walters Operations Limited is an employment business and employment agency and welcomes applications from all candidates.