Finance Analyst, Grocery – Commercial Finance

Why Sainsbury’s

Sainsbury’s is looking for a bright, driven and enthusiastic Finance Manager to join a team of like-minded individuals in an exciting part of our Business. You will be joining a company that is dedicated to making our customers lives easier every day. Our values make us different and this underpins our core strategy.

In joining the Sainsbury’s Finance team, you will be working closely with a variety of stakeholders (finance and non-finance), at all levels, helping to support and shape the direction of our business. This role is within a team that is fast paced and dedicated to providing the best financial support to enable the best decisions to be made, for our customers and for our business.

The Role

The Commercial Finance Team plays a crucial role in both shaping and delivering the strategy at Sainsbury’s. In a highly competitive industry that never stands still, there is always a lot going on and Finance has a key role to play in challenging ways of working, and driving transformation.  Our main focus is on forecasting and maximising sales, profit, return on investment and cash flow.

This role is an excellent opportunity to experience Commercial Finance, supporting the Finance Manager for Household Baby and Pet and Health and Beauty

Key responsibilities include:

Supporting the wider Commercial Finance team in the preparation of weekly sales reporting; providing key analysis to the business to enable a thorough understanding of performance

Supporting buyers, becoming involved in category planning as well as a variety of analysis to support decision making

Providing sound financial appraisals, including projects, tenders, and several value-add streams (such as VCA and PQF)

Support in the preparation of ad-hoc analysis and reporting to determine the commercial success of promotional strategies, trials and seasonal events

Ensuring compliance with all relevant financial accounting standards and advise buyers and category managers when needed

Assisting the budgeting process for your area, but also provide training and tools to the Trading team

In addition, this role provides pivotal support for the Business Unit’s central costs (people cost).

This will include:

Taking ownership for centrals costs across the Business unit and providing detailed commentary to the Senior Finance Manager and Grocery Leadership team.

Accurately tracking people related costs against budget and providing a robust periodic forecast which captures in flight changes in the team.

Preparation of the Centrals budget; including liaising with Category Managers to ensure

Measures of success

Being a valued business partner to the business unit, meeting their expectations and acting on feedback where given

Driving improved insights through high quality analysis

Delivery of targets and process improvements

Reduction in time spent on manual reporting and forecasting by automating or streamlining reports and/or processes

Completion of work to a high standard – accuracy and timeliness are key

Actively engaging and developing contacts throughout the business, both in and out of Finance (e.g. Fin Ops, Commercial Ops, Insights, FP&A)

Demonstrable enthusiasm in approach to role

Core areas of knowledge, key skills and experience

Part Qualified accountant – studying towards either CIMA/ACCA/ACA

Advanced PowerPoint and Excel skills (pivot-tables, lookups & macros)

Ability to communicate effectively with senior stakeholders, both orally and written

Proven track record of working independently

Self-motivated and ability to manage own time

Ability to prioritise and respond accurately under pressure

Excellent levels of impact and influence

Ability to articulate finance for non-finance

Excellent forward planning and organisation skills

Very good networking and partnering skills

High level of focus on customer service with demonstrated ability to establish and maintain excellent internal & external customer relationships

Work-life balance is important to us, so we offer our colleagues as much flexibility as possible in line with the needs of their role. We trust them to decide how, where and when they work, combining remote and collaborative working with a flexible approach to hours, giving them plenty of time and space for life outside of work whilst delivering against our business goals.