Commercial FP&A Manager

A leading multi-site retailer is seeking a Commercial Financial Planning and Analysis Manager to join their dynamic finance team in Amersham. This role offers you the opportunity to make a significant impact by delivering actionable financial insights that directly influence strategic and trading decisions, driving margin and profitability improvements across various channels and categories.

What you'll do:

As a Commercial Financial Planning and Analysis Manager based in Amersham, you will play a pivotal role in shaping the financial strategy of a thriving multi-site retailer. Your day-to-day activities will involve preparing insightful trading reports that guide commercial decisions, leading complex budgeting cycles with cross-functional teams, monitoring critical KPIs to identify areas for improvement, and collaborating on the development of advanced reporting tools. You will act as a bridge between finance and commercial functions—translating data into actionable recommendations that drive both growth and profitability. By supporting supplier negotiations with robust analysis, developing interactive dashboards for stakeholders, providing ad hoc analytical support for promotions or projects, and mentoring junior analysts, you will ensure that every aspect of financial planning is executed with precision. Success in this role requires not only technical expertise but also an ability to foster strong relationships across departments while maintaining an unwavering commitment to accuracy and detail.

• Prepare and review weekly and monthly trading reports that provide clear visibility into performance across channels and categories.
• Lead budgeting, reforecasting, and financial planning cycles in close partnership with buying and merchandising teams to ensure alignment with business objectives.
• Monitor key performance indicators such as intake margin, markdowns, cover, and sell-through rates to drive continuous improvement in profitability.
• Collaborate with buying and merchandising teams to enhance reporting capabilities and develop data tools that support strategic decision-making.
• Provide effective challenge and support to senior leaders including the Chief Product Officer and Trading Director by highlighting risks and identifying new opportunities for growth.
• Deliver detailed variance analysis on sales, margin, stock, and intake to inform commercial strategies and optimise trading outcomes.
• Support supplier negotiations by conducting thorough supplier analysis aimed at improving profitability across product ranges.
• Develop Power BI dashboards that deliver meaningful analysis for stakeholders throughout the business.
• Provide ad hoc analysis or model propositions for promotions, projects, or other business requests as needed by commercial teams.
• Mentor and support Finance Analysts within the team while contributing to their development through coaching and guidance.

What you bring:

To excel as a Commercial Financial Planning and Analysis Manager in this respected retailer’s finance team, you will bring proven experience from previous roles focused on commercial finance or FP&A—ideally within multi-site retail or consumer goods settings. Your background should include hands-on exposure to partnering with buying and merchandising teams where you have demonstrated your ability to interpret trading decisions’ impact on sales performance. Your technical expertise in financial modelling using Excel will be complemented by strong numerical skills that underpin accurate forecasting processes. Effective communication is vital; your ability to present complex insights clearly ensures successful collaboration across departments. You will have developed sound business acumen through direct involvement in merchandising activities while building positive relationships with senior leaders by translating data into actionable recommendations. Experience using Power BI is highly valued as it supports advanced analytics delivery for stakeholders. A proactive approach allows you to thrive when managing competing priorities—always maintaining high standards of accuracy even under pressure. Professional qualifications such as CIMA/ACCA/ACA further reinforce your suitability for this influential position.

• Proven experience in a Commercial Finance or FP&A role within retail or consumer goods environments is essential for understanding trading impacts on sales, margin, and stock.
• Exceptional financial modelling skills combined with advanced proficiency in Excel enable you to build accurate forecasts and analyse performance effectively.
• Strong numerical acumen paired with attention to detail ensures reliable reporting of financial results across multiple channels.
• Excellent communication skills allow you to influence non-finance stakeholders while providing clear explanations of complex financial insights.
• Demonstrated business acumen with an understanding of merchandising processes supports effective collaboration with buying teams.
• Experience partnering senior business leaders by reporting on financial results helps you translate data into commercial recommendations.
• Familiarity with Power BI dashboard development is desirable for enhancing stakeholder access to meaningful analytics.
• A proactive mindset enables you to manage multiple priorities efficiently within a fast-paced retail environment.
• Minimum 1-3 years’ experience in similar roles ideally gained within retail or sales-focused businesses provides valuable context for decision-making.
• Professional qualification such as CIMA/ACCA/ACA demonstrates your commitment to excellence in finance.

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