Finance Analyst

Harper May is working with a UK-owned, multi-channel retailer managing over 60 stores and a significant direct-to-consumer platform. The business has grown steadily over the past three years through organic expansion and selective acquisition, and operates across both premium and volume segments. Leadership is stable and founder-backed, with a clear five-year plan to strengthen operational and commercial capabilities. The finance team is expanding to support faster decision-making across merchandising and supply chain, and they are now recruiting a Finance Analyst to join the function.

The Role
Reporting to the Finance Manager, you will deliver commercial analysis, support monthly reporting cycles, and contribute to forecasting and planning across the group. This role sits at the intersection of finance and operations-you will need to translate numbers into actionable insight for store managers, buyers, and the commercial leadership team.

• Produce monthly trading reports with variance analysis against budget and prior year
• Analyse gross margin, markdown, and promotional effectiveness by category and location
• Support quarterly reforecasting and annual budget cycles
• Build and maintain Excel-based dashboards and financial models for senior stakeholders
• Investigate P&L movements and recommend commercial actions
• Assist with bank covenant reporting and group consolidation

What we are looking for

• ACA, ACCA, or CIMA qualified or part-qualified
• Prior experience in retail, hospitality, or another multi-location business
• Confident with Excel and able to design simple reporting tools
• Natural interest in how retail margins work-stock, shrink, pricing, and product mix
• Ability to explain financial findings to non-finance colleagues without jargon
• Resilient under month-end pressure and comfortable with tight deadlines