Role Overview
Financial controller -Retail
CA
- Position Title:Head of Finance / Finance Director (Retail)
- Reports To:Chief Financial Officer (CFO) or Managing Director
- Department:Finance and Accounts
- Industry Focus:Retail, E-commerce, or Consumer Goods
Key Responsibilities
Retail Financial Planning & Analysis (FP&A)
- Lead annual budgeting, long-term strategic plans, and rolling forecasts tailored to seasonal retail cycles.
- Track Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) including Gross Margin Return on Investment (GMROI), same-store sales growth, inventory turnover, and shrink rates.
- Evaluate store-level profitability, regional performance, and omnichannel (online vs. in-store) revenue streams.
Inventory & Working Capital Management
- Partner with merchandising and supply chain teams to optimize inventory levels and reduce holding costs.
- Monitor cash flow cycles, supplier payment terms, and working capital requirements.
- Assess markdowns, promotional pricing effectiveness, and margin impacts.
Accounting, Compliance & Risk Management
- Oversee daily accounting, general ledgers, accounts payable/receivable, and payroll.
- Ensure compliance with local tax regulations, GST/VAT, and financial reporting standards.
- Manage internal controls to prevent fraud, asset loss, and inventory shrinkage.
Leadership & Strategic Advisory
- Manage and mentor the finance and accounting team.
- Provide data-driven insights to senior leadership for real estate decisions (e.g., opening new retail outlets or closing underperforming stores).
- Lead the vendor relationship management for external audits, banking, and legal tax advisors.
Qualifications & Requirements
- Education:Bachelor’s degree in Finance, Accounting, or Economics; MBA or professional certification (CA, CPA, or ACCA) is strongly preferred.
- Experience:8 to 12+ years of progressive financial management experience, with at least 3 to 5 years in a multi-unit retail, fast-moving consumer goods (FMCG), or e-commerce environment.
- Technical Skills:Advanced proficiency in financial modeling, ERP systems (e.g., SAP, Oracle, NetSuite), and retail POS data integration.
- Soft Skills:Strong commercial awareness, cross-functional leadership, and clear communication skills to present complex data to non-financial executives.