Finance Manager - Tech (12 Month FTC)

Retail Human Resources plc; London; On-site; GBP 60,000 - 100,000; Full time

Job description

Selfridges is a successful luxury retailer, and is continuing on a Tech transformation journey, which includes continued investment in its digital offerings and investment in underlying applications, infrastructure and processes.

As such we need a strong finance business partner to provide support and finance challenge in several ways:

To lead the management accounting and business partnering responsibilities within the Tech functions; holding effective month end reviews, planning budgeting and forecasting meetings, and being a first point of contact for the teams.
To work closely with the Tech team, to help navigate the impact of changes to the Tech architecture and landscape on the overall Operating Model.
To support the Senior Finance Manager with Tech and other material central contracts, to support (and challenge where relevant) the Tech Procurement department on deals, financials terms, and contractual discussions.
To have financial oversight of our Investment Capital Portfolio, managing reporting within Selfridges and to the group, supporting preparation and presentation of future investment initiatives and managing project finances mainly focused on the Platform & Infrastructure, and Product & Service Operations domains (i.e. Tech investment for capacity and BAU operations).

Scope

Part of the above, in supporting the Senior Finance Manager, may involve ensuring the accurate financial accounting and recharging (inclusive of transfer pricing where relevant) of major Group or Banner Contracts and Projects, along with effective communication and education of the finance communities in Group and in other banners.

Strong communication and stakeholder management skills are needed in this role, along with an acumen for contracts understanding and interrogation (particularly IT / Software contracts), Project accounting and some Transfer Pricing exposure.

A bit about the role

As the Finance Business Partner to Tech Exec and Leadership Team, the below responsibilities will be key:

Across all Tech

Deliver to the 5YP, Budget and Forecast Process set by FP&A for the function.
Business partnering, month end management accounting processes, and monthly P&L review with the leadership team.
Complete Month End Process proactively and efficiently.
Understand Strategic Tech Roadmap for the business and impact on the overall operating model from a P&L and cash perspective. Requires close working with the wider Finance Team.
Have a solid understanding of the budgeted costs by area, and challenge for delivery when appearing off track. Help deliver a rolling forecast with proactive call out of risks and opportunities.

Specific to Capital Investments

Oversight of the projects in flight and in pipeline as part of the IT roadmap; this includes creation of the business cases for investment, monitoring of spend during the project lifecycle, and then close down of the assets with financial accounts.
Establish a baseline for benefits tracking and reporting, and work with the relevant business partner from either the digital or stores teams to provide regular reporting against targets for these.

Specific Financial Support - Contracts

To analyse the Group or Selfridges Tech Contracts being considered from a financial and risk management angle in terms of software / Tech costs, the ranges of products being considered for the group (number of licensed users, number of server environments, metrics such as revenue or costs). This is in partnership with the Commercial / Procurement contract team.
To produce the anticipated costs of the contract, and the allocation of these costs to the Banners based on their needs (from a fair accounting perspective), providing effective recharge split so AP can recharge effectively with back up.
To review the incoming costs from these suppliers to ensure they are in line with the agreed contract with the supplier, and to assist IT in ensuring the services or products have been delivered, before payments are made.
To assist with the Year End audit process in this area, enabling external and internal audit to understand the methodologies and documentation.
To regularly review and update procedures, policies and process documentation relating to this area.

Leading and managing a team

To coach and develop the two Finance Analysts who support this role.
To set and review the objectives of the team members, offering feedback on performance and agreeing actions and objectives.
To role model excellent customer service and high professional standards.
To plan own work effectively, to communicate clearly with others and provide guidance, ensuring the right information is delivered to the right people right first time.

A bit about you

Have a recognised accountancy qualification, ideally ACCA or CIMA.
Experience of organizing, managing and developing a team.
Ability to work to a high standard of accuracy with excellent attention to detail.
Highly organized and efficient, with an ability to work under pressure.
Knowledge and experience in IT Contracts and Transfer Pricing.
Ideally exposure to IT capital projects, both waterfall and agile delivery methods and an appreciation of the impact of SAAS on accounting.
Excellent communication/ interpersonal and influencing skills.
PC skills - excellent Powerpoint and Excel skills sought.
Receptive to change with a desire to continuously improve processes and outputs.
Proactive.

Wider Relationships

Exec: Tech and their leadership team.
Head of FP&A.
Financial Control team.
Other Banner IT & Finance Directors (where applicable).
Programme Managers (where applicable).
Commercial / Procurement Department.