An exciting opportunity for a Finance Manager to join us on a Permanent basis, based at our Watford Head Office. This is an exciting time to work for a FTSE 250 business on a growth strategy to get to 300 stores by 2030.
Role Purpose:
Owning the monthly reporting and various forecasts for TAs & rebates and marketing costs, combined with partnering with the commercial team to provide analysis of category profitability and ensure optimal commercial decisions.
What you’ll be doing:
- TAs & Rebates Ownership: Own the TAs and rebates month-end reporting process, including pre-month-end flash and post-month-end analysis, as well
- as the rebate realignment process feeding the budget and reforecast cycles. Engage, challenge, and hold stakeholders to account.
- Marketing Cost Partnering: Take full ownership of marketing costs—managing month-end and partnering directly with the CMO and their team to oversee the marketing budget and drive marketing effectiveness.
- Financial Control & Balance Sheet: Ensure monthly balance sheet reconciliations are robustly completed, communicating risks and opportunities clearly while driving continuous control improvements and ensuring Key Financial Controls and Control Self Assessments operate effectively.
- Import Process Governance: Provide rigorous financial control and accounting for the import process, collaborating closely with Procurement, Commercial, and Supply Chain teams to identify risks and opportunities early.
- Commercial Support: Support the Senior Commercial Finance Manager on key projects, including product range reviews and managing old and slower-moving stock.
- Team Development: Coach and support the development of a commercial analyst while collaborating effectively across the wider commercial finance team.
- Insight, Inflation & KPIs: Deliver insightful reporting on cost/price inflation and KPIs, continuously improving trading packs and delivering ad-hoc analysis with a key focus on net margin impacts.
- Reporting & Variance Management: Produce accurate weekly and monthly reports, ensuring variances and anomalies are thoroughly investigated and resolved alongside the Commercial teams.
What we’re looking for:
Qualifications & Experience:
- Recognised accountancy qualification (ACA, CIMA, ACCA, or equivalent).
- Broad finance background with proven experience in month-end reporting, business partnering, and driving process improvements.
Skills & Attributes:
- Technical Skills: Advanced Excel skills with the ability to manage and interpret large datasets effectively.
- Commercial Acumen & Control: Solid understanding of financial controls environments with the confidence to challenge and influence stakeholders.
- Communication & Problem Solving: Exceptional organisational and communication skills, with a proactive, problem-solving mindset.
- Personal Drive: High energy, enthusiasm, and the ability to thrive, remain flexible, and respond to competing priorities in a fast-paced retail environment.
What can we offer you?
You’ll be supported with fantastic learning and development and have the opportunity to grow and develop your career with us. We also have an early-career network to support you if you’re in your first few years of your career.
We’ll also equip you with a benefits package that includes:
- Competitive bonus
- Save-as-you-earn scheme
- Private Medical and Life Assurance
- Enhanced contributory pension scheme
- Colleague discount
- Discount platform including savings and cash back at numerous retailers, savings on gym membership, cycle to work scheme
Our widely recognised wellbeing strategy is something we’re proud of at Wickes. As part of this, we offer a range of health and wellbeing benefits and support, including an Employee Assistance Programme, financial education & loans, and access to parental, menopause and fertility support.
By giving you the support you need to do well at work, and the flexibility to make life work for you. We are giving you a career that doesn’t put your life on hold. Where you can be yourself, do your best work, and make a positive difference every day.
About Us:
Wickes is a multi-channel retailer operating in the home improvement market. With 50 years in industry, Wickes now generates revenue in excess of £1.6bn across 230 stores delivered by 8,000+ colleagues. But it is our culture that is considered our best kept secret; it’s a collaborative, down to earth, fun and inclusive environment where people feel part of a winning team. All our colleagues come from different backgrounds, but what we all have in common is a determination to succeed and a passion for being the best we can be. If that sounds like you, we’ll make you feel right at home.
We aim to create an inclusive workplace with colleagues’ wellbeing at the heart of everything we do.
