Financial Controller

Creed; London; On-site; GBP 50,000 - 80,000; Full time

Job summary

Creed is looking for a proactive Financial Controller to join their Global Finance team in London. This newly created role involves supporting senior stakeholders with business plans and budgets, monitoring costs, and providing strategic financial insights. The candidate will play a key role in influencing decisions and driving company performance while fostering collaborative relationships across departments.

Qualifications

• Post qualified experience of at least 3+ years in financial controlling.
• Experience in Retail, FMCG, or Luxury Goods.
• Ability to influence decisions at various levels.

Responsibilities

• Develop and maintain strong relationships with senior managers across departments.
• Build and maintain comprehensive cost trackers for all Global functions.
• Prepare monthly reporting packages and dashboards for Creed Global functions.

Skills

Communication

Analytical skills

Interpersonal skills

Attention to detail

Education

Bachelor's or Master's degree in Finance, Accounting, or related field

Qualified accountant (ACA, ACCA, CPA, CIMA)

Tools

Microsoft Excel

PowerPoint

Power BI

ERP systems (SAP, D365)

Job description

Financial Controller, Global Functions

You will report directly to the Global Director of Financial and Business Control. In this dynamic and collaborative environment, you will have the opportunity to take the lead in both operational activities and cross-functional projects with key global departments.

About the Role:

We are seeking a proactive and experienced Financial Controller to join our Global Finance team in this newly created position, to support senior stakeholders in creating and managing business plans and budgets, with forecasting for growth and making informed decisions that improve company performance.

This role will be responsible for monitoring and analyzing the costs and investments of key Global functions including Global Marketing, Digital, Retail Education and Visual Merchandising, as well as Corporate departments (HR, IT, Legal, Finance). You will be expected to build excellent working relationships to be able to influence, challenge and drive decision making.

You will do this by building robust cost tracking tools, providing insightful commentary and analysis, and by supporting stakeholders through regular reporting, strategic reviews and scenario planning.

The successful candidate will be a key contributor to our financial success and will have the opportunity to make a significant impact on our growth as a Brand and our profitability.

Responsibilities:

Business Partnering:

• Develop and maintain strong relationships with senior managers and their teams across departments to understand their needs and challenges.
• Act as a trusted advisor, providing financial insights and strategic advice to challenge assumptions and to inform decision-making.
• Empower Creed Global functions with cost control, financial visibility and transparency in order for them to become more data-centric and financially aware of the impact of their decisions.
• Support Creed Global functions with project business case analysis and management.

Cost Tracking and Analysis:

• Build and maintain comprehensive cost trackers for all Creed Global functions.
• Monitor actual spend versus budget across departments, identifying variances and providing detailed analysis and commentary to budget holders.
• Ensure the accuracy, completeness, and consistency of financial data and reporting.
• Track progress and budget of key projects and initiatives across functions, providing input into different scenarios for future growth and cost efficiencies.
• Identify trends, discrepancies and opportunities for profit optimisation.

Forecasting and Budgeting:

• Support the preparation and consolidation of budgets and forecasts for Global Marketing, Digital, Retail Education and Visual Merchandising, and Corporate departments (HR, IT, Legal).
• Partner closely with functional leaders to understand their business priorities, opportunities and challenges, their financial needs and planning assumptions.
• Monitor budget execution and contribute to regular forecast updates.
• Assist with presentations and production of formal budget and forecast packs.

Financial Reporting and Review:

• Prepare monthly reporting packages and dashboards for Creed Global functions.
• Organize and lead monthly cost review meetings with department leads and their team members when appropriate.
• Provide actionable insights and follow-up on agreed actions.
• Contribute to Monthly Business Reviews by providing key updates, risks, and opportunities on functional cost performance.
• Ensure compliance with internal policies and external regulations. Prepare reports for internal and external stakeholders as required.

Process Improvement:

• Propose and implement improvements to cost monitoring tools and reporting processes.
• Ensure financial processes and policies are adhered to across global functions.
• Identify automation or simplification opportunities to streamline reporting.
• Get involved with other projects and adhoc work requested by senior management to enhance efficiency, accuracy and the overall effectiveness of financial operations.

Qualifications & Skills:

• Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Finance, Accounting, or a related field. Be a qualified accountant (ACA, ACCA, CPA, CIMA) with post qualified experience of at least 3+ years.
• Experience in financial controlling, FP&A, or cost controlling roles ideally from within a Retail, FMCG or Luxury Goods company. Experience of international wholesale (B2B) and marketing business models preferable.
• Experience in building and maintaining strong relationships at various levels and across departments, with a proven ability to influence decisions and business outcomes.
• Solid communication and interpersonal skills with the ability to challenge decision-making and present insights and results in a clear and impactful way.
• Strong analytical mindset with attention to detail and focus on accuracy as well as efficiency in managing financial data.
• Proficient in Microsoft Excel and PowerPoint; experience with ERP systems (e.g., SAP, D365 is a plus). Proficiency in Power BI is desirable.
• Highly organized with the ability to manage multiple priorities and meet deadlines.
• Self-motivated and capable of working independently in a fast-paced, diverse working environment.

Why work with us?

Do you want to be part of a dynamic and agile finance team, where you can have a tangible impact and contribute to shaping financial excellence across global functions? Join us and take part in a journey where your skills and insights truly matter!

Kering Beauté is committed to building a diverse workforce. We believe diversity in all its forms – gender, age, nationality, culture, religious beliefs and sexual orientation – enriches the workplace. It opens up opportunities for people to express their talent, both individually and collectively and it helps foster our ability to adapt to a changing world.

As an Equal Opportunity Employer, we welcome and consider applications from all qualified candidates, regardless of their background.