Head of Finance / Finance Director

Job Description:

Role Overview

• Position Title:Head of Finance / Finance Director (Retail)
• Reports To:Chief Financial Officer (CFO) or Managing Director
• Department:Finance and Accounts
• Industry Focus:Retail, E-commerce, or Consumer Goods

Key Responsibilities

Retail Financial Planning & Analysis (FP&A)

• Lead annual budgeting, long-term strategic plans, and rolling forecasts tailored to seasonal retail cycles.
• Track Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) including Gross Margin Return on Investment (GMROI), same-store sales growth, inventory turnover, and shrink rates.
• Evaluate store-level profitability, regional performance, and omnichannel (online vs. in-store) revenue streams. [1]

Inventory & Working Capital Management

• Partner with merchandising and supply chain teams to optimize inventory levels and reduce holding costs.
• Monitor cash flow cycles, supplier payment terms, and working capital requirements.
• Assess markdowns, promotional pricing effectiveness, and margin impacts. [1]

Accounting, Compliance & Risk Management

• Oversee daily accounting, general ledgers, accounts payable/receivable, and payroll.
• Ensure compliance with local tax regulations, GST/VAT, and financial reporting standards.
• Manage internal controls to prevent fraud, asset loss, and inventory shrinkage. [1, 2, 3]

Leadership & Strategic Advisory

• Manage and mentor the finance and accounting team.
• Provide data-driven insights to senior leadership for real estate decisions (e.g., opening new retail outlets or closing underperforming stores).
• Lead the vendor relationship management for external audits, banking, and legal tax advisors. [1, 2, 3, 4]

Qualifications & Requirements

• Education:Bachelor’s degree in Finance, Accounting, or Economics; MBA or professional certification (CA, CPA, or ACCA) is strongly preferred. [1, 2]
• Experience:8 to 12+ years of progressive financial management experience, with at least 3 to 5 years in a multi-unit retail, fast-moving consumer goods (FMCG), or e-commerce environment.
• Technical Skills:Advanced proficiency in financial modeling, ERP systems (e.g., SAP, Oracle, NetSuite), and retail POS data integration. [1, 2]
• Soft Skills:Strong commercial awareness, cross-functional leadership, and clear communication skills to present complex data to non-financial executives. [1]