Head of Finance

Summary
Fully woven into the DNA of M&S, our Finance team plays a key role in setting the pace for our key business decisions, shaping our budgets, analysing our sales, managing costs and making sure our most vital statistics and data are absolutely accurate.

With a focus on adding value to all business areas by helping them make data-driven decisions and understand what is driving commercial performance - it's our job to make sure the right tools, processes, governance and ways of working are in place to support this.

All the details

You'll be leading all aspects of budgeting, forecasting and analysis of our Group-wide performance to provide support and insight to senior management, as well as the business partnering the corporate cost base and associated leadership team (HR, legal and governance, finance, communications and sustainability).

You'll have a meaningful role in steering of M&S Group financial and strategic planning, and provides guidance and challenge to the Group Finance Director and CFO, with exposure to the CEO, Executive Committee members and the business unit finance directors.

Please note this role is a 6 month fixed term contract.

Whats in it for you

Being a part of M&S is exactly that becoming a part and playing your part. Were an inclusive, dynamic, exciting, and always evolving business built on core values.

Here are some of the benefits we offer that make working for M&S just that little bit more special

• 20% Colleague discount on most things from furniture, fashion and food.
• A first-class welcome to M&S with a tailored induction and a wide range of training schemes to help with your learning and development. Having options to progress is something were proud of at M&S.
• Attractive annual bonus, based on company performance and personal objectives.
• Competitive holiday entitlement with the potential to buy extra holiday days!
• Amazing perks and discounts via our M&S Choices website. Including GymSave that offers up to 25% off Gym Memberships and the option to become an M&S Shareholder using our ShareSave & ShareBuy Schemes
• Charity Volunteer Day A paid day away from work to support your chosen charity.
• A very generous Defined Contribution Pension Scheme and Life Assurance
• Every colleague at M&S has access to a fantastic range of wellbeing support this includes access to our 24/7 Virtual GP, PAM Assist to support you & your family as well as many other schemes
• Family friendly policies to support lifes most important milestones including maternity leave, neo-natal

What youll do

Your key accountabilities will include:

• Leading, coaching and managing a team of 9 spread across London and Manchester (our business service centre)
• As a member of the Finance Leadership Group, taking part in leadership of the function which may include supporting learning and development, talent and capabilities and other finance transformation initiatives, building strong relationships across the function at all levels
• Collaborating with the Group and wider strategy teams, setting the agenda and focus of Group budgeting, forecasting and 3 year planning cycles, with a keen focus on cashflow and balance sheet management.
• Crafting regular and ad hoc presentations and papers for the Board, Audit Committee and Remuneration Committee, as well as ad hoc support to the CFO, CEO, Investor Relations and Treasury.
• Supporting your team to business partner 3 Executive Committee (ExCo) members (Director of HR, General Counsel and Director of Corporate Affairs), managing the c.240m cost base, including in-year budgeting and forecasts and strategic longer-term planning,

Who you are

Your skills and experience will include:

• FP&A experience in a listed entity, either in a large business unit or Group environment
• Commercial awareness to add challenge and insight to the business, with ability to form strong relationships with senior business partners
• Excellent written and verbal communication and story-telling skills to engage and influence a wide variety of business partners, including senior management without a finance background
• Proactive self-starter with collaborative approach and can build a strong network with colleagues
• Willingness to challenge the status quo, and a drive for continuous improvement: implementing or overseeing changes to processes which improve efficiency and outputs.

Everyones welcome

M&S is ready to push boundaries to lead the retail industry into a greener, speedier, more inspiring digital era. Thats why were revolutionising how we work and offering our most exciting opportunities yet. Theres never been a better time to be part of our team. Marks & Spencer aims to be an inclusive organisation, trusted and admired by our colleagues, customers and suppliers. Join us and make an immediate impact.

Were an in-person business and have core collaboration days in our Support Centre each week. For most teams, this is 3 working days where we come together to collaborate, innovate, and serve our customers brilliantly.

We are committed to an active Inclusion, Diversity and Equal Opportunities Policy, which starts with our recruitment and selection process, and we are happy to talk flexible working.

If you consider yourself to require reasonable adjustments to any part of our recruitment process, we invite you to share those requirements with us when completing your application. We will make every effort to ensure your needs are met to provide a fair and transparent process of assessment.

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