Senior Commercial Finance Manager, Retail & Property

River Island; United Kingdom; On-site; GBP 70,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading retail fashion company is seeking a Senior Commercial Finance Manager to support financial performance and drive growth in their retail business. The ideal candidate will have a professional finance qualification and a minimum of 5 years experience, with advanced Excel skills and strong financial modelling capabilities. Responsibilities include financial analysis, reporting to senior management, and collaborating with cross-functional teams to optimize profitability. This role offers a dynamic working environment with various perks and growth opportunities.

Benefits

50% staff discount

Free onsite gym

Subsidised restaurant

Various social events

Flexible working hours

Generous bonus scheme

Private pension plan

25 days paid holiday

Qualifications

• Minimum of 5 years PQE in financial roles.
• Proven track record in driving business results through financial insights.
• Experience in building financial models from scratch.

Responsibilities

• Support regular reporting to senior management on financial performance.
• Own budgeting, forecasting, and financial planning processes.
• Partner with commercial teams for new initiatives and product launches.
• Lead and mentor a team, fostering collaboration and growth.

Skills

Advanced Excel skills

Financial modelling

Stakeholder management

Data analysis

Problem-solving

Education

Professional finance qualification

Tools

ERP systems (e.g., Oracle)

Job description

Senior Commercial Finance Manager, Retail & Property

Department: Commercial

Employment Type: Permanent - Full Time

Location: Head Office, Chelsea House

Description

This is an exciting opportunity for an ambitious individual to join the highly respected Commercial Finance team at River Island. The team supports all the core business areas, from Retail performance to Product management and Buying support. We help manage the cost base and guide all stakeholders to help achieve our financial and non-financial objectives.

The Retail Senior Commercial Finance Manager will play a pivotal role in supporting the financial performance driving the growth of the retail business. This position will involve providing financial analysis, insights, and strategic recommendations to improve profitability, optimize operational efficiency, and drive business decisions. The role requires a strong understanding of retail dynamics and the ability to work cross‑functionally with commercial, operations, and senior leadership teams.

Responsibilities

• Reporting & Performance Tracking:
  • Support in the regular reporting to senior management on financial performance, forecasts, and key business metrics.
  • Use financial data to provide actionable insights into operational and commercial performance, identifying areas of opportunity or concerns.
  • Own the month end review process with Area Managers and Territory leads – ensuring risk and opportunities are identified.
• Financial Planning & Analysis:
  • Own the budgeting, forecasting and financial planning processes for the retail business.
  • Provide insightful analysis of financial performance, highlighting key drivers of variance to budget and forecast.
  • Monitor and assess retail KPIs, identifying trends and offering actionable recommendations to the business, whilst challenging stakeholders across the Retail business.
• Commercial Decision Support:
  • Partner with the commercial teams to assess and evaluate potential new initiatives, product launches and promotional activities.
  • Conduct cost‑benefit analysis for retail strategies, identifying opportunities for growth and cost optimisation.
  • Support pricing and discounting strategies through financial modelling and margin analysis.
• Cross‑Functional Collaboration:
  • Build strong relationships with commercial, Retail, VM, Property and operational teams to influence business decisions and drive financial outcomes.
  • Provide financial support to key stakeholders across the business, ensuring they have the information and tools to make informed decisions.
  • Monitor the post‑implementation financial performance of new initiatives, adjusting strategies as needed.
  • Support the development of business strategies that drive sustainable growth and profitability.
• Reporting and Compliance:
  • Deliver insightful Board reporting with a focus on the story behind the numbers rather than production of pure data‑led information.
  • Maintain compliance with financial regulations and reporting standards.
• Team Leadership:
  • Lead and mentor the team, fostering a culture of collaboration, accountability and professional growth.
  • Provide guidance and support to junior staff, ensuring the delivery of high‑quality financial analysis and decision‑making.

Skills and Attributes

• Stakeholder support is a vital part of the role. Be truly commercial which will include partnering with your colleagues in finance and other functional areas.
• Support the development of business strategies that align with overall organisational goals.
• Challenge the output. Be curious about data and reporting to focus on the 'So what'?

What we are looking for

• A professional finance qualification with a minimum of 5 years PQE.
• An expert modeller〰; advanced Excel skills with experience of building accurate financial models from scratch.
• The ability to create insightful, concise and clear presentations with visuals and supporting information for the reader to understand without the need for further questions or analysis.
• Be commercially curious, draw conclusions and propose recommendations.
• Confident, approachable and with an attention to detail highlighting your problem‑solving skills.
• Proven track record in driving business results through financial insights and strategic planning.
• Ability to work under pressure and manage multiple priorities in a fast‑paced environment.
• Experience of using ERP systems (e.g., Oracle) and other financial software applications.

About Us

We're a much‑loved brand with an exciting future. Our Islanders are a diverse bunch of bright, talented people who love working together – and are proud of the work they do. Progression here can take you in all kinds of directions. This is what a career at River Island is like, and this is where yours starts.

This role is based at our Head Office in West London. Check us out here on a map.

What we can offer you

• Generous 50% staff discount so you can treat yourself to the latest products, and a bargain staff shop on site.
• Reducing Islanders everyday expenses through discounts, benefits, financial advice, wellbeing solutions and more through Reward Gateway.
• A free onsite gym, subsidised restaurant & café to fill your needs.
• Various social events to socialise throughout the year.
• Every family is unique – we support Islanders with all different family setups; enhanced maternity, paternity, adoption & fertility treatment.
• We also work closely with the Retail Trust to create dedicated support for all our Islanders.
• Flexible working is a given, on top of payday and summer early finish Fridays.
• Give‑as‑you‑earn scheme, a 'Giver Island' day each year and receive matched funding.
• Support with upskilling through on‑the‑job training and qualifications. A succession plan if you want to progress.
• A generous bonus scheme & private pension plan.
• The choice to opt in for healthcare through our provider AXA.
• An allowance supporting your commute to work.
• 25 days paid holiday, exclusive of Bank Holidays. With the added option to purchase additional holiday twice a year for whatever the need!

Keeping You Safe

At River Island we are committed to the safeguarding of all of our employees regardless of age or job role. We will fulfil our obligation under the Prevent duty which seeks to stop extremism and extremist views from materialising in our business. We promote and encourage the belief in British Values – including democracy, the rule of law, individual liberty and mutual respect and tolerance of different faiths and beliefs. To find out more, please visit www.gov.uk.

Our Island is made up of a diverse community, where we all belong and feel part of something bigger. We are committed to equality of opportunity and welcome applications from individuals, regardless of age, gender, ethnicity, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, socio‑economic background, religion and/or belief. We will consider flexible working requests for all roles unless operational requirements prevent otherwise.

To find out more about this interview process, check out our hiring process below.