About the Team

The Direct Consumer Finance Team is led by the CFO of Consumer.
The team deliver finance business partnering to the business areas within Direct Consumer and is made up of Heads of Finance Senior Finance Managers, Finance Managers and Senior Finance Analyst.

We also work closely with our colleagues in Group Finance and the other commercial finance business partner teams.

About the Role

The Head of Commercial Finance works within our Consumer Finance team supporting across the business. Reporting to the Consumer CFO, the main responsibility or the role is leading FP&A for Consumer.

Working with the leadership team across the financials you will be responsible for pulling together all budgets and forecasts for Consumer, owning the R&O process and articulating the story behind the numbers for the Leadership team. Alongside this, working with the other HoF’s within the team, you will look to identify opportunities across the business, supporting the writing of business cases and executing their strategic deliverables.

You’ll leverage your commercial experience and knowledge to identify areas of strategic interest within Consumer and influence business decisions, whilst providing ongoing challenge and guidance to manage commercial direction.

• You’ll be part of a team of finance professionals in providing key strategic decisions and governance in all commercial activity of the specified business areas.

• You are accountable for structuring the annual financial targets and challenging the business area when performance varies against expectation.

• Review all budgets/forecasts and finance reports issued to the business areas.

• Organisation and co-ordination will be required to ensure inputs are available from the business owners in a timely manner to allow for strict planning timetables being adhered to.

• Ensure all proposed business activities and investments are supported by an appropriate financial business case.

• Assessment and challenge of commercial propositions, influencing strategies to drive margin expansion and long-term value for the business.

• Awareness of market competition and relevant promotions will be critical in allowing the business to react and flex the offerings to both maintain and grow market share.

• Collaboration and engagement across the Commercial teams will also be required to ensure the optimum balance is retained.

• Base and value management need to be at the heart of all commercial and financial decisions and a clear understanding and adoption of this technique will be required in this role including knowledge of all key influences and drivers.

• Contribute to the Commercial Board each week, including the maintenance of the Direct Consumer R&O position for Consumer relative to the most recent forecast and ensuring collective buy-in for this position.

• Ensure the MD, CFO and DLT members are briefed on R&O and prepared for weekly Exco meetings.

• Ensuring LV/Strategic Planning model is clearly communicated and in place for Consumer with supporting processes, stakeholder management and reporting in place Responsible for key elements of financial control including balance sheet reviews to be confirmed in line with Delegated Scheme of Authority.

• Help create the right culture and environment to help the finance team perform at their best.

• For your immediate reports this includes outlining goals and expectations, having regular conversations around performance & development, providing feedback

The role will require an individual who is able to demonstrate the following attributes:

• Strategic Thinker

• Commerciality - an understanding of the broader market we operate in and strategic drivers

• Successful partnering with and influencing exec-level stakeholders. The ability to challenge positively and debate confidently

• Prepared to go into the business area and challenge it.

• Excellent communication skills - able to convey complex financial detail and insight in an accessible manner

• Capable of generating new solutions and plans to solve complex problems

• Experience of managing risk and identifying and driving value creation opportunities

• Well organised, highly analytical

• Qualified Accountant

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