Head of Commercial Finance

Reports to: CFO (functional), COO (day-to-day)Direct reports: Management Accountant + Transactional Finance (if applicable)Location: West Sussex (Must be able to come into the office 3 days a week) Role PurposeThis is a pivotal role that blends commercial insight, financial leadership, and team management. You will lead the day-to-day Finance team, drive commercial performance, and act as the business’s primary source of trading, margin, pricing and forecasting insight.Working alongside a part-time CFO focused on corporate governance, this role owns the commercial engine of finance:Weekly trading and performance insight Budgeting, forecasting, and margin analysisDecision support for product, retail, digital and operationsDeveloping and managing finance team capability Ensuring high-quality financial reporting and analysisThis person is hands-on, commercially strong, and confident working directly with senior leaders across the business. Key Responsibilities Lead the Finance Team (Day-to-Day)Manage and develop the Management Accountant and wider finance team.Oversee the month-end process and ensure accurate, timely delivery.Set priorities, review outputs, coach the team and drive a culture of accuracy, accountability and improvement.Ensure the finance function is well-organised, efficient, and continuously improving. Commercial Insight & Business PartneringLead weekly trade reporting with clear, actionable insight.Analyse category, product, channel, margin and customer performance.Partner with Product, Merchandising, Retail, Digital and Operations to drive profitable decisions.Support pricing strategy, promotions, and discounting decisions.Translate data into insights and insights into actions. Forecasting, Budgeting & PlanningOwn the budgeting and reforecast cycles (P&L, margin, opex, cashflow).Build and improve driver-based forecasting models.Provide scenario modelling to support growth decisions (new products, channels, markets, stores, pricing changes).Ensure forecasts are realistic, commercially grounded, and aligned with trading behaviour. Financial Reporting & Month-End SupportReview management accounts, KPIs and financial packs before submission to the CFO/COO.Provide clear, concise commercial commentary.Ensure accuracy of key margin and stock-related entries in partnership with the Management Accountant.Tighten the link between operational data and financial results. Cashflow Oversight(CFO leads governance; you manage the operational rhythm)Maintain a weekly cashflow model with clear visibility of peaks and pressures. Work with procurement, operations, and sales to improve working capital. Support CFO with cash planning and funding requirements. Audit, Governance & Compliance (Support Role)(CFO owns; you ensure operational readiness)Ensure accurate, robust audit files are prepared by the team.Strengthen controls, reconciliations and processes across the business.Maintain integrity of financial data and reporting systems. Systems, Reporting & Process ImprovementImprove BI dashboards (Power BI/Looker Studio) to increase clarity and speed of insight.Enhance processes across reporting, forecasting and operational finance.Drive automation and simplification of finance workflows. Skills & Experience Required EssentialACA/ACCA/CIMA qualified (or equivalent commercial finance background).Strong commercial finance experience in retail, consumer, product or multi-channel businesses.Proven experience managing or mentoring finance staff.Strong modelling capability and advanced Excel skills.Ability to interpret complex trading data and turn it into actions.Confident working alongside senior leaders and challenging constructively.Comfortable working in a fast-paced, hands-on SME environment. DesirableExperience with BI tools (Power BI, Looker Studio).Experience with stock, margin, costings and product economics.Exposure to ERP systems (Netsuite, SAP B1, Sage Intacct etc.). Personal AttributesCommercially curious and insights-driven.Confident leader who enjoys developing people.Strong communicator: simple, clear, fact-based.Proactive, organised and able to work at pace.Hands-on and comfortable balancing commercial and operational priorities.Collaborative team player who can partner with all departments.