Role Overview
The Finance Director for the UK and Republic of Ireland market is a key member of the Market Leadership Team and a strategic partner to the General Manager. The role is responsible for leading market-level financial strategy, performance management, governance, and investment oversight across a complex multi-channel retail environment.
Working within a listed group structure, the position ensures strong alignment between market performance and Group financial expectations, supports delivery of external guidance commitments, and provides disciplined evaluation of commercial, operational, and business priorities. The role combines rigorous financial control with forward-looking capability in data-enabled planning, automation-led efficiency, and scalable performance insight.
Strategy & Innovation
- Shape and deliver the UK & ROI market financial strategy aligned with Group priorities and shareholder value objectives.
- Partner with the General Manager and Group Finance leadership to evaluate and drive growth opportunities across all channels
- Lead financial evaluation of transformation programmes and value-creation investments within the market.
- Develop scalable frameworks supporting automation, analytics adoption, and productivity improvement initiatives.
- Strengthen forecasting capability through scenario modelling and predictive insight aligned with Group planning cycles.
- Identify opportunities to improve return on capital employed across the market portfolio.
Planning and Execution
- Lead the market annual planning cycle, quarterly reforecasts, and multi-year strategic planning submissions to Group.
- Ensure alignment between trading performance, investment priorities, and externally communicated expectations.
- Oversee governance of market-level capital expenditure and transformation initiatives.
- Support delivery of productivity and efficiency programmes across store and central operations.
- Provide scenario modelling to support decision-making in dynamic trading environments.
- Maintain strong integration between commercial planning, supply chain planning, and Group financial frameworks.
Technology and Platforms
- Support the evolution of the market finance function into a data-enabled, insight-driven organisation aligned with Group standards.
- Oversee effective deployment and utilisation of ERP, planning platforms, and reporting infrastructure within the market.
- Promote adoption of advanced analytics and automation to improve forecasting accuracy and reporting efficiency.
- Partner with Technology and Data teams to strengthen financial transparency and governance across market operations.
- Enable scalable reporting capability supporting the General Manager, Group Finance, and investor-facing requirements where applicable.
- Contribute to evaluation of emerging technologies that enhance productivity across finance activities.
Budget and Performance Management
- Maintain strong financial control and reporting standards consistent with Group policies, UK Listing Rules, and MAR obligations.
- Oversee market budgeting, forecasting, and performance tracking across all projects, channels, and support functions.
- Monitor delivery against revenue, margin, cash flow, and cost efficiency targets.
- Provide structured insight into trading risks and opportunities to the General Manager and Group Finance leadership.
- Lead development of market KPIs aligned with Group strategic priorities and expectations.
- Support preparation of trading updates and performance submissions contributing to external market guidance.
Leadership & Collaboration
- Act as the primary finance partner to the General Manager for the UK & ROI market.
- Operate as a key interface between Market Leadership and Group Finance functions.
- Lead and develop a high-performing market finance organisation aligned with listed-company standards.
- Partner closely with Commercial, Supply Chain, Digital, Property, and Operations leadership across the market.
- Support engagement with Group Investor Relations and central finance teams during results cycles and trading updates.
- Promote a culture of accountability, transparency, and continuous improvement across finance and operational teams.
Success Measures
- Delivery of market revenue growth and margin performance in line with Group expectations
- High-quality forecasting supporting credibility of Group external guidance
- Strong capital allocation discipline across market investment programmes
- Effective execution of transformation and productivity initiatives
- Robust governance and compliance with Group and regulatory requirements
- Clear, timely performance insight supporting decision-making at Market and Group levels
- Development of a scalable, high-performing market finance function
Qualifications and Skills
- Proven experience in a senior finance leadership role within a large, listed retail, consumer, or multi-site organization at the Director or VP+ level.
- Experience operating within a divisional or market-level structure reporting to regional or Group leadership
- Strong understanding of UK Listing Rules, and external reporting frameworks relevant to listed environments
- Experience supporting trading updates, forecasting submissions, and performance alignment with Group guidance
- Demonstrated capability evaluating transformation and capital investment programmes
- Experience building financial cases for digital, automation, and operational productivity initiatives
- Strong enterprise planning and performance management expertise
- Track record leading finance transformation within complex matrix organisations
- Exceptional stakeholder management across market leadership and Group finance teams
- Professional finance qualification (ACA, ACCA, CIMA, CPA or equivalent)
- Experience operating across UK and Republic of Ireland retail markets preferred
