FP&A Lead, Wholesale EMEA FTC

Ralph Lauren Corporation; Watford; On-site; GBP 60,000 - 80,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading fashion company is seeking an FP&A Lead for a 9-month maternity cover in Watford, UK. This role involves overseeing financial operations for the Wholesale channel in EMEA, leading forecasting and budgeting processes, and ensuring accurate month-end close activities. The ideal candidate will possess strong finance knowledge, leadership skills, and proficiency in Excel. Experience in a retail setting is advantageous.

Qualifications

• Proven experience leading teams in Finance/Accounting, ideally within FP&A.
• Strong communication and presentation skills with various management levels.
• Ability to manage multiple tasks in a fast-paced environment.

Responsibilities

• Lead forecasting, budgeting, and reporting across the full P&L.
• Strategically partner with divisional leads to develop budgets.
• Oversee month-end close processes and variance analyses.

Skills

Financial analysis

Communication skills

Team leadership

Strategic thinking

Attention to detail

Excel proficiency

Tools

SAP

BI

Hyperion Essbase

Job description

Ralph Lauren Corporation (NYSE:RL) is a global leader in the design, marketing and distribution of premium lifestyle products in five categories: apparel, accessories, home, fragrances, and hospitality. For more than 50 years, Ralph Lauren's reputation and distinctive image have been consistently developed across an expanding number of products, brands and international markets.

The Company's brand names, which include Ralph Lauren, Ralph Lauren Collection, Ralph Lauren Purple Label, Polo Ralph Lauren, Double RL, Lauren Ralph Lauren, Polo Ralph Lauren Children, Chaps, among others, constitute one of the world's most widely recognized families of consumer brands.

At Ralph Lauren, we unite and inspire the communities within our company as well as those in which we serve by amplifying voices and perspectives to create a culture of belonging, ensuring inclusion, and fairness for all. We foster a culture of inclusion through: Talent, Education & Communication, Employee Groups and Celebration.

Position Overview

This is a Fixed Term Contract maternity cover for 9 months, located in Watford, UK. As a member of the Ralph Lauren FP&A team, the FP&A Lead is responsible for end-to-end financial support for the Wholesale channel in EMEA. This position reports directly to the Head of Wholesale FP&A, EMEA and will work together with key business partners and Senior Management to support the group’s baseline financial operations including responsibility for divisional budgeting, forecasting, and month end close activities.

The ideal candidate will be a proactive and innovative financial professional with the ability to multi-task with a high degree of analytical proficiency and integrity. Position requires strong foundational knowledge and experience in finance/accounting and a firm understanding of Retail concepts.

Responsibilities

• Lead the overall forecasting, budgeting, and reporting processes across the full P&L including net revenue, gross profit and operating expenses across all functional areas
• Strategically partner with divisional leads across Sales, Business analytics, Customer service, Wholesale operations, People & development, Logistics, and other cross functional accounting and FP&A teams to develop budgets, identify strategic actions, and navigate risks & opportunities
• Oversee all month-end close processes and variance analyses; ensure accuracy of financial statements and communicate results to management in a clear and timely manner
• Track performance metrics and proactively analyze and assess business risks and opportunities to drive operational and financial performance and deliver against targets
• Support decision making and provide guidance for new business initiatives and key investments for growth
• Establish and maintain strong business partnerships across departments to promote teamwork and organizational alignment
• Anticipate needs of business partners and prioritize efforts to deliver results
• Support and prepare ad hoc analyses and special projects for Corporate and Senior leadership
• Lead and/or support ad hoc projects and technology evolution including automation and reporting tools
• Mentor and train junior members of the team, providing support and guidance where necessary

Experience, Skills & Knowledge

• Proven experience leading teams or extensive background in Finance/Accounting, ideally within FP&A at a multinational or retail organization. Wholesale industry experience is a strong advantage
• Strong communication and presentation skills (oral, written, and formal) with the ability to develop effective partnerships with financial and non-financial partners across varying levels of management
• Proven ability to manage multiple tasks and adapt to a changing, fast paced environment; detail oriented with strong organization skills
• Strong analytical and strategic thinking skills; high degree of accuracy with a strong attention to detail
• Self-motivated/pro-active, follow through with responsibilities and be accountable for results
• Mandatory: Advanced competency in Excel and other Microsoft applications
• Preferred: SAP, BI, and Hyperion Essbase