Job Description

About WHSmith

If you’re looking for a Finance job that’s more than just numbers, WHSmith adds up. Our Commercial Finance teams are the engine room of the business; everything depends on the overall trading environment and our competitors. It’s fast-paced and you never know what will happen next. 

We’re now looking for a Senior Commercial Finance Analyst on a permanent basis, reporting into the Senior Commercial Finance Manager. If you’re looking to build on your finance journey with a company equally as ambitious as you are, then WHSmith could be right for you! 

Purpose of the Role 

We are looking for someone who can support our existing Commercial Finance team in delivering timely and actionable insights to both finance and non-finance teams via detailed analysis of the company’s financial performance. The successful candidate will also manage the Sales and Margin P&L lines, within the core business. 

What you’ll be doing:

• You will take ownership of the sales and margin reporting for the UK core business, including management accounts and month end responsibilities.  
• Producing the weekly trading pack and assisting manager with pulling our commentary and insights. 
• Providing detailed analysis of key variances against current trend, prior years and forecast at both store and product category level.  
• Reporting and analysing Key Performance Indicators such as Average Transaction Value and Spend Per Passenger. 
• Modelling pricing and promotional initiatives, to drive help the commercial decision making.  
• Developing a comprehensive understanding of category margins with Volume, Rate, Mix analysis. 
• Business partnering with both finance and non-finance colleagues, up to exec level. 
• Tracking and measuring the success of ongoing trials and projects.  
• Working with both finance and merchandising teams to understand and challenge stock movements. 

What we are looking for:

• We are looking for someone highly numerate with an analytical background, ideally within Retail FMCG. 
• Advanced Excel is essential. 
• Part or newly qualified (CIMA/ACMA/ACA), or with significant Commercial Finance experience. 
• PowerBI knowledge would be of benefit. 
• Someone with Management Accounts experience (P&L and balance sheet management, accruals, journal posting etc). 
• You should have strong interpersonal skills to build key relationships within the trading teams. 
• Confidence to articulate the output of your analysis and challenge both the approach and results when necessary.  
• Most importantly we are looking for someone with a proactive approach and the initiative to identify opportunities to drive improvement.  

What you’ll get in return:

You’ll be at the hub of an incredibly fast-moving function and you’ll be trusted to make decisions that benefit the business. It’s a serious responsibility – which will seriously motivate you. You’ll thrive on the freedom and the chance to use your skills and will be supported with plenty of training and development opportunities. What’s more, you can expect some fab rewards, including an achievable annual bonus, 25 days’ holiday (and the option to buy more), contributory pension plus the perks of your birthday off, an early finish on Fridays, and lots more! Our new Houndsditch head office is only a 5 minute walk from Liverpool Street station and close to a variety of shops, bars and restaurants