Head of Finance

An outstanding opportunity has arisen for an experienced Head of Finance to join the Senior Management Team at our Carlisle Head Office, supporting the Edinburgh Woollen Mill, Bonmarché and Ponden Home retail and online businesses. This is a high-profile, hands‑on leadership role with strategic influence across financial performance, commercial decision‑making, governance and future growth.

We are looking for a commercially focused finance leader who can combine financial insight with the practical leadership needed in a fast‑paced retail environment. The successful candidate will be confident influencing senior stakeholders, developing strong relationships and leading teams through change while maintaining robust financial control and clear performance visibility.

The Opportunity

As Head of Finance, you will play a central role in shaping and supporting the company’s financial and commercial strategy. Working closely with the CEO, Group FD and Senior Management Team, you will provide leadership across finance, reporting, controls, cash management, forecasting and commercial analysis.

This role offers the opportunity to make a meaningful impact across an established multi‑brand retail company, helping to strengthen decision‑making, improve operational effectiveness and support the future development of the business.

You will lead the Finance and Loss Prevention teams, ensuring the business has accurate, timely and practical financial insight to support both day‑to‑day performance and longer‑term strategic planning.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead and develop the Finance and Loss Prevention teams, ensuring high standards of performance, accountability and support across the business.
• Provide clear financial leadership to optimise business performance and support the company’s strategic position.
• Deliver timely, accurate and insightful financial information to the Group FD, CEO and senior stakeholders.
• Oversee budgets, forecasts, management reporting and financial reports, ensuring information is robust, clearly reviewed and commercially useful.
• Ensure effective cash management and forecasting to support operational, capital expenditure and growth requirements.
• Maintain strong financial governance, systems, controls and compliance across the business.
• Ensure financial systems and processes are robust, compliant and capable of supporting current operations and future growth.
• Develop and support policies and procedures that promote sound financial management and control.
• Ensure statutory and regulatory requirements are met across all relevant areas.
• Ensure accounting policies comply with relevant standards and that company policies are applied consistently.
• Partner with senior leaders to strengthen commercial decision‑making and business performance.
• Work with the CEO and Senior Management Team to ensure financial forecasting is accurate, transparent and aligned with business priorities.
• Contribute to company strategy by challenging assumptions and providing financial analysis, guidance and insight on plans, targets and key business drivers.
• Support business growth and resilience in a rapidly changing and competitive retail environment.
• Provide financial guidance and support for contract, pricing and repricing negotiations.
• Build trusted relationships across the business and with external partners, advisers, suppliers and concession partners.
• Work with the SMT to monitor supplier, partner and concession contracts and services, ensuring value for money, flexibility, efficiency and effectiveness.
• Establish credibility and maintain strong working relationships across internal teams and external stakeholder groups.
• Drive continuous improvement across finance processes, team capability and performance reporting

About You

You will be a qualified finance professional with substantial senior leadership experience and a strong track record of operating in a commercial environment. Retail or FMCG experience will be particularly relevant, alongside the ability to influence at senior level, lead change and provide clear financial insight in a complex, fast‑moving business.

• ACA, ACCA or CIMA qualified accountant with 10+ years’ post‑qualification experience gained in a commercial environment.
• Significant experience in retail, FMCG or another complex operational environment.
• Executive‑level strategic and financial leadership experience, with credibility at Board and senior stakeholder level.
• Strong commercial acumen, analytical capability and confidence supporting operational and trading performance.
• Proven ability to lead change, overcome resistance and deliver agreed results.
• Strong leadership, relationship‑building and people‑management skills.
• Sound judgement and the ability to develop practical, commercially focused solutions.
• Excellent communication skills, with the ability to engage effectively with stakeholders at all levels.
• Open, proactive and approachable style, with the resilience to operate effectively in a challenging environment.
• Hands‑on, adaptable and determined approach to leadership and delivery.

If you are an experienced finance leader who thrives in a dynamic retail environment and wants to play a key role in shaping business performance and future growth, we would welcome your application.

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