Finance Manager, 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 responsible for providing best in class finance support to two trading categories within the Grocery Business unit; Household, Baby and Pet and Health and Beauty

The role encompasses the following:

Your role has a strong stakeholder management element and you will support your category manager as well as buyers, becoming involved in category planning as well as a variety of analysis to support decision making

You will be responsible for providing sound financial appraisals, including projects, tenders, and a number of value-add streams (such as VCA and PQF) that will help your categories achieve and exceed targets set by the Business Unit Director

Types of ad hoc analysis that will be needed are around the success of promotional strategies; trials; seasonal activity or events; sub-brands; trading intensity; product/buyer profitability; capital investment etc.

As part of the core Trading Finance team you will support your BUFM and Senior Manager, advising on performance but also being responsible for communicating project progress, financial benefits or outcomes pertinent to your area.

As with any key business partnering role, financial rigour is at the heart of what you do, and you will provide the necessary challenge and excellence to ensure the robustness of your figures. You will need to ensure that we remain compliant to all relevant financial accounting standards and advise buyers and category managers when needed

As the face of Finance to your buyers, along with the BUFM, you will need to assist in the budgeting process for your area, but also provide training and tools to the Trading team to raise commercial awareness and improve decision-making, landing key messages aligned with the wider business agenda

Oversight of the BU centrals (people cost) reporting, working with the Grocery Finance Analyst to ensure submissions and forecasts are accurate. Highlighting risks and opportunities to the Senior Finance Manager where applicable.

Where applicable, deputising for the Senior Finance Manager to provide support to the wider Grocery Leadership and Commercial Finance Leadership teams.

In addition, this role will have oversight of the Grocery Finance Analyst; and an important element will be directing work load and responsibilities to assist in the preparation of deliverables within trading categories.

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

Qualified accountant –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.