Commercial Finance Partner - The Works - Finance

Job Description

Commercial Finance Partner / Finance Business PartnerReporting to the Senior Commercial Finance Manager, this role willsit within an existing commercial team of four. In this key role you will developa good understanding of the key drivers of the business to enable you toeffectively deliver insight, challenge, add value and influence strategic businessdecisions. You will be responsible for buildingstrong relationships and business partnering with senior managers and theirteams, providing financial insight to support their commercial decision making.Key Responsibilities

• Ownership of monthly management accounts for areas ofresponsibility and reporting to the board including participation in the monthend activity, preparation of journals, variance analysis and reconciliations
• Delivering analysis and insight thatlinks financial reports to business strategies includingsales/margin, benchmarking of our store portfolio, post investment appraisals,operational labour models
• Improving the impact, andunderstanding, of financial reporting on business performance; providingoptions and scenarios for business decisions
• Providing effective commercial support to ensure key operational, commercial andfinancial targets are delivered
• Building partnerships and strongrelationships with all senior managers and their teams and providing financialsupport to commercial decision making
• Key leadership role in supporting the annual budgeting and rollingforecast process including co-ordinating those responsible for providing inputsand ensuring all are aware of improvement targets, challenges and messaging,along with responsibility for reviewing and challenging budget-holders.
• Assisting with the development of new MI reporting, systems andprocesses
• Providing ad-hoc analysis and reporting to the business

RequirementsThe successful candidate will be personable and a confidentcommunicator who possesses first class analytical skills. A fully qualified ACA/CIMA/ACCAor QBE with strong retail experience, you will be able to demonstrate thefollowing skills:Essential:

• Experienceof budgeting and forecasting processes including reviewing, challenging commercialtargets with budget-holders and departmental leads
• Abilityto interpret numbers into meaningful MI and communicate this succinctly
• Self-motivated and self-sufficient, usinginitiative to get stuck in and resolve issues
• Commerciallyastute with a strong desire to understand the key levers in the business
• Abilityto professionally challenge the business to make improvements tooperational and financial performance
• Highlymotivated, having a pro-active and collaborative approach with excellentcommunication and interpersonal skills to be able to liaise and influencecolleagues at all levels
• StrongExcel skills (pivot tables and lookups a minimum requirement)
• Stronganalytical skills and attention to detail, able to work quickly and accurately under timepressure
• Confidenceto initiate process improvements and the tenacity to see them through to completion
• Strong organisational skills, flexibleand able to adapt quickly to deliver a fast turnaround on ad-hoc tasks
• Naturally inquisitive and confidentto challenge processes, procedures and ways of working

Desirable:

• Experience in a retail environment or similar fast pacedorganisation is a clear advantage
• Experience in using MI tools such as Cognos, TM1, Aptos

What we will give to you!

• 25% discount off our products in store!
• 33 days holiday (inclusive of Bank Holidays).
• Holiday Purchase Scheme to increase your annual leave entitlement.
• Company pension contribution.
• Cycle to Work Scheme.
• Employee Assistance Programme.
• Life Assurance.
• Healthcare Cash Plan.
• Free Car Parking.
• Charity Giving - Pennies from Heaven and Give as you Earn.

Finally, the bit "About The Works"We are people whodo!Here at The Works, we are building a working environment thats fun, friendly, and supportive - all at the same time. Its somewhere thats designed for people who love getting busy, whether thats helping customers, meeting new challenges, or building arewarding career.Its a place for people who know how to roll their sleeves up, get creative, and put their passion and imagination to workPeople whodo!We are the UKs leading family friendly retailer of value gifts, arts, crafts, toys, books and stationery. With over 500 stores nationwide together with a brilliant online store, were here to offer our customers a unique and enjoyable shopping experience,built on our core principles of value, variety and quality.You will find our stores in a huge and diverse range of locations; on high streets, in shopping centres, on retail parks, and as concessions (usually in garden centres). We are also one of the fewvalue retailers with a full featured online store that helps our customers to shop how they want, when they want, 7 days a week.Oh....and we are super proudto be a Sunday Times 2020 Top 25 Best Big Companies to work for.It all means that we have built the kind of working environment that is the perfect place for people who love our products to build a career. It is somewhere you can put your proud and passionate, inclusive and accessible, confident and honest, fun and creative,and nimble and driven approach to work.And if you can roll up your sleeves, get on with any job, and meet any challenge, its also somewhere you can thrive.