Head of Commercial Finance

This is a career-defining opportunity for a commercially minded finance leader to take full ownership of a growing business's finance function.

Job Title: Head of Commercial Finance

Job Type: Permanent

Location: West Sussex (Hybrid - 3 days office-based)

Salary: £70,000 - £90,000

Reference no: 15978

Head of Commercial Finance - Benefits

• Hybrid working with 3 days per week in the office (minimum)
• 25 days annual leave with an additional off on your Birthday
• Life Assurance
• Huge discount off the product portfolio
• Ownership of trading, margin, pricing and forecasting insight
• Opportunity to shape commercial decision-making and finance capability
• Supportive culture with scope for development and progression

Head of Commercial Finance - About The Role

This is a career-defining opportunity for a commercially minded finance leader to take full ownership of a growing business's finance function.

The Head of Commercial Finance will oversee both statutory and commercial aspects of the finance function, managing financial reporting, controls, forecasting, and analysis while partnering with senior leadership to drive profitable growth. You will lead the finance team, ensuring accuracy and efficiency in reporting, while providing insight that shapes business decisions across Product, Retail, Digital, and Operations.

Reporting functionally to the CFO and operationally to the COO, this role offers genuine influence and visibility at board level. It is ideal for someone who enjoys translating data into actionable commercial insight while maintaining statutory compliance and robust governance. What this role offers:

• Broad, high-impact role with responsibility for commercial finance providing weekly performance insight
• Budget, forecasting and margin analysis - you will own the annual budgeting process
• Financial modelling to support decision surrounding new products, channels, market, stores, and pricing
• Review and management accounts, KPI and slide decks for CFO / COO
• You will be the lynchpin between operational and finance
• Direct exposure to the CEO/COO and senior leadership team
• Ownership of trading, margin, pricing, forecasting, and statutory reporting
• Opportunity to shape finance strategy, capability, and commercial insight

You will have a headcount responsibility for a team of 5 people and as such you will be someone that has strong leadership experience. Whilst this role heavily focuses on the commercial elements within the finance function, you will oversee all aspects that is covered by your finance team.

The successful Head of Commercial Finance will have:

• ACA / ACCA / CIMA qualification (or equivalent commercial finance experience)
• Proven experience leading both statutory and commercial finance in consumer, retail, product-led or multi-channel businesses
• Experience managing and developing a finance team, mentoring staff and building capability
• Advanced financial modelling skills and strong analytical capability
• Confidence providing insight and challenging senior stakeholders constructively
• Comfortable working in a fast-paced, hands-on SME environment
• Experience with BI tools (Power BI, Looker Studio) and ERP systems desirable

Howett Thorpe are acting as a recruitment agency in relation to this role and comply with all relevant UK legislation and do not discriminate on any protected characteristics. Due to the high volume of applications we currently receive, we are unable to respond to all candidates. If you do not hear from a Consultant within 5 working days, please assume that you have not been successful.

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