Financial Controller

Job Description
Exciting Head of Finance Opportunity in Luxury Retail
Central London based - hybrid working 2 days in the office
Excellent collaborative dynamic culture
Managing a team of 3, reporting to the FD
Circa 85k
A sought after British Luxury brand is on the lookout for a FC, this compelling role has large exposure to internal stakeholders across the business and allows for the right candidate to make positive commercial impact by showcasing strong accounting skills, ability to manage forecast and planning and people-management.
JOB PURPOSE
Support the Finance Director in the achievement of Finance Department goals
Support and develop the business decision making process with proactive financial and commercial due diligence
Manage the monthly management accounts cycle
Manage year end processes including statutory accounting requirements
Manage year end audit with external auditors for all entities
Own the coordination and preparation of annual budgets and re-forecasts
Prepare financials for the 3/5 year plan
Key responsibilities:
Manage team to prepare monthly management accounts with commentary on a timely basis enabling department managers to make and review commercial decisions taken
Investigate all material variances, proactively highlighting the impact these have on the business
Work with sales channel owners to deliver value added analysis, insight into business performance and improvement to support in driving the group’s profitability
Work with merchandising to ensure stock is controlled and reported correctly.
Produce analytical commentary on monthly accounts for the Board of Directors
Business partnering and support in order to assist in understanding of monthly management accounts and to increase accuracy
Ensure key reconciliations are completed on a monthly basis (sales, margin, balance sheet, cash, etc.)
Review all reconciliations performed by the team and lead investigations into any areas of uncertainty
Work with retail operations to manage the year end stock take process
Manage the interim and year end audit process
Manage the year end process, producing full sets of UK statutory accounts for the group and various subsidiaries
Coordinate and prepare the annual budget and re-forecasts including P&L, Balance Sheet and Cash Flow. This will involve planning the timetable, coordinating inputs from the business and taking responsibility for updating budget models.
Prepare packs for the CEO and FD to explain budget variances. Contribute to board packs on all planning cycles.
Analyse risks and opportunities in weekly sales and margin results compared to budget/forecast
Assist with other forecasting needs within the business including scenario analysis, adding value in decision making, and building of financial models for business initiatives
Oversee production of other management reporting (e.g. daily sales, weekly sales and KPIs, other ad hoc analysis)
Coordinate turnover rent reporting to landlords, obtaining audited certificates as required
Review all VAT and sales tax processes, including UK, EU and US.
Ensure tax reconciliations are correct
Work with insurance brokers annually to ensure correct level of insurance is in place across the business
Oversee the stock count process in partnership with Retail and Logistics
Day to day support and management of the team, including recruitment of any new team members as required
Regular performance management and completion of annual appraisals against objectives for all team members
Candidate Requirements:
CIMA, ACA or ACCA qualified
Experience with full ownership of the month end and year end
Advanced Excel skills
Retail industry background, preferably with a multi-site, multi-channel organisation
Knowledge of SAP financial module is ideal
Excellent attention to detail
Self-starter, ability to work under own initiative
Adaptable to change and proactive in identifying and implementing process efficiencies
Ability to manage and develop a small team
Results focused and flexible working approach
Ability to partner with non-finance functions