Director, Finance - UK, Ireland & Nordics

Position Overview

Primary responsibility of the Finance Director, UK & Ireland is to ensure the successful financial and operational performance of the UK & Ireland market through close partnership with the Managing Director and Regional CFO.

Specifically, under the guidance of the Regional CFO, the Finance Director, UK & Ireland will lead all activities related to Strategic Planning and Analysis, Reporting and Forecasting, Profit Planning, and workforce management. Providing timely, accurate, and relevant financial analysis the Finance Director will recommend improvement opportunities, develop plans, and drive projects forward.

Key Responsibilities

Financial

• Provide the Managing Director all financial information necessary to evaluate and measure the financial performance of the region. Establish timely reviews of current operating performance and analyze operations for growth and/or cost control opportunities.
• Assume responsibility for all aspects of financial direction in the business.
• Ensure that all period end and reporting processes are robust and guarantee the integrity of the information to the parent company and external parties. e.g. Audit
• Manage budgetary control processes, ensuring that budgets are consistent with Company plans and maintained within agreed limits.
• Regularly review actual results against expectation, and provide management with an early warning of any deviations or adverse trends. Anticipate issues that influence the Company's current or future results, and recommend options to the Executive and local management.
• Develop and maintain reports and analyses at the market leader level that will assist the regional GVP and market leaders in measuring and monitoring the performance of their businesses.
• Ensure that Finance is at all times closely integrated with and positively supports the business, providing managers at all levels with the necessary information to maximise sales, profitability and efficiency.
• Develop and coach the Finance team. Recruit first class financial management as and when appropriate and effectively manage succession planning.
• Work closely with the Regional Finance team to ensure a commonality of approach, and their full understanding of the operation.
• Support the business through any transactions, ensuring that the best return is secured.
• Drive the Finance team out into the Business to work as value-added partners with the Operational managers.
• Take responsibility for ad-hoc projects as they may arise, and manage them through to successful conclusion.
• Act as the Finance representative on cross-functional business groups and project teams.
• Support the Finance team to ensure the development and management of strong controls, designed to support and safeguard the business. Develop and update standards and Key Performance Indicators with divisional management.
• Proactively bring unique and innovative insight and transparency to key metrics.
• Provide ad hoc financial and process analysis to support management decision making.

Operations

• Locally manage UK Distribution initiatives to ensure local business needs are met.
• Identify strategic opportunities to enhance profitability, operational controls, and efficiency by analyzing expense, staffing, and damage/loss reports for the UK Distribution Centre.
• Review Business controls, and in partnership with Regional and Global Leadership, develop and implement Best Practice across the facility. ( i.e. internal audit compliance, policies and procedures.)

Leadership and Talent Management

• Ensure staff are trained, developed and have the necessary tools to succeed in their job responsibilities. This includes providing employees with ongoing feedback, coaching, and training to support their activities long term. Build relationships and utilize networks to accomplish business goals & develop consensus among coworkers, other departments, and across the Company.
• Provide leadership to direct and indirect reports and influence others by setting clear expectations, providing ongoing coaching and holding team members accountable for them.
• Develop and maintain agile workforces that readily adapt to the changing needs and landscape of the business.
• Develop collaborative relationship throughout GCSS and the Finance organization.

Qualifications

• Four year college degree in Finance or other related field with 5-7 years of business operational experience in an analytical driven environment
• Excellent analytical and mathematical acumen. Proficient with mathematical modeling techniques for scenario testing and goal setting
• Strong project focus including attention to detail and consistent follow-through.
• Excellent written and verbal communication and presentation skills
• High level of self management and ability to function amidst tight deadlines and changing priorities
• Ability to prioritize and work in a highly dynamic, fast paced and team-oriented environment
• Ability to:
  • Extract complex data and analyze it to monitor business performance and identify trends
  • Translate operational metrics into financial performance
  • Present ad hoc and formal presentations to Executive audience
• Strong Microsoft Word, Advanced Excel and PowerPoint skills.
• Retail experience highly desirable.
• Luxury Industry experience would be an advantage.
• MBA preferred.
• Build relationships across functional and personnel levels.
• Business Objects experience is a plus.
• Willingness to devote hours necessary to completing task at hand, particularly during seasonal business activity.