Department: Commercial
Location: Head Office, Chelsea House
Description
This is an exciting opportunity for an ambitious individual to join the highly respected Commercial Finance team at River Island. The team supports all the core business areas, from Retail performance to Product management and Buying support. We help manage the cost base and guide all stakeholders to help achieve our financial and non-financial objectives.
Responsibilities:
Strategic Financial Planning:- Drive business performance by supporting the development of robust financial models and contributing to the ongoing management of the rolling forecast process.
- Collaborate with the Commercial Finance team to shape and execute the Group Strategy and annual budgeting process, including taking ownership of key deliverables and contributing to modelling assumptions.
- Maintain clear and proactive communication with the wider finance team to ensure timely delivery of all outputs, while remaining adaptable and responsive to shifting priorities and deadlines.
Reporting and Financial Analysis:- Ensure daily reports are delivered on time, are accurate, and effectively reflect the Group’s performance.
- Support the period-end process across the Group and take ownership for delivering a complete and accurate set of management accounts for the Central Overhead functions.
- Collaborate with the Financial Accounting team to support the preparation and delivery of the Group Board report.
- Produce clear, concise, and timely financial reports that not only reflect historical performance but also provide forward-looking insights and actionable analysis to support informed stakeholder decision-making.
- Ensure the effective maintenance of all financial reporting and consolidation systems, collaborating with the internal IT team to log and resolve any issues.
- Create insightful, visually compelling, and easy-to-interpret presentations that clearly convey key messages with minimal need for further clarification or analysis.
Cross-Functional Collaboration:- Provide stakeholder support demonstrating a commercial approach through close partnership with colleagues in finance and other functional teams.
- Assist in developing business strategies that align with the organisation’s overall goals.
What we’re looking for:- Expert-level financial modelling skills, with advanced proficiency in Excel and a proven ability to build accurate, robust models from the ground up.
- Progress towards a professional accountancy qualification (preferably at finalist level), with the ambition to become fully qualified in the near future.
- Strong presentation capabilities, able to produce clear, concise, and visually engaging materials that effectively communicate insights without requiring additional explanation.
- Commercially minded and analytically curious, with the ability to interpret data, draw meaningful conclusions, and confidently make informed recommendations.
- Detail-oriented and proactive, with a confident and approachable demeanour and strong problem-solving skills.
- Hands-on experience with ERP systems (e.g., Oracle) and familiarity with financial software tools and applications.
About Us
We’re a much-loved brand with an exciting future. Our Islanders are a diverse bunch of bright, talented people who love working together – and are proud of the work they do. Progression here can take you in all kinds of directions. This is what a career at River Island is like. And this is where yours starts.
This role is based at our Head Office in West London. Check us out here on a map.
What we can offer you:
💰 Generous 50% staff discount so you can treat yourself to the latest products, and a bargain staff shop on site!
🛒 Reducing Islanders everyday expenses through discounts, benefits, financial advice, wellbeing solutions and more through Reward Gateway!
🎉 A free onsite gym, subsidised restaurant & café to fill you needs. Various social events to socialise throughout the year.
🤎 Every family is unique, we support Islanders with all different family setups enhanced maternity, paternity, adoption & fertility treatment. We also work closely with the Retail Trust to create dedicated support for all our Islanders!
💻 Flexible working is a given, on top of payday and summer early finish Fridays.
💕 Give as you earn scheme, a ‘Giver Island’ day each year and receive matched funding.
🎓 Support with upskilling through on the job training and qualifications. A succession plan if you want to progress.
💰 A generous bonus scheme & private pension plan.
☀️ 25 days paid holiday, exclusive of Bank Holidays. With the added option to purchase additional holiday twice a year for whatever the need!
Keeping You Safe
At River Island we are committed to the safeguarding of all of our employees regardless of age or job role. We will fulfil our obligation under the Prevent duty which seeks to stop extremism and extremist views from materialising in our business. We promote and encourage the belief in British Values- including democracy, the rule of law, individual liberty and mutual respect and tolerance of different faiths and beliefs. To find out more, please visit www.gov.uk.
Our Island is made up of a diverse community, where we all belong and feel part of something bigger. We are committed to equality of opportunity and welcome applications from individuals, regardless of age, gender, ethnicity, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, socio-economic background, religion and/or belief. We will consider flexible working requests for all roles unless operational requirements prevent otherwise. To find out more about this interview process, check out our hiring process below.
