Commercial Finance Manager - #2158980

Forge Talent are partinering with a well-established and growing retail business, based in Manchester city centre.

Reporting directly into the Finance Director, you’ll take ownership of the day-to-day finance function while playing a key role in monthly reporting, financial control, commercial analysis and business performance.

You’ll lead a small finance team across Purchase Ledger, Sales Ledger and Management Accounting, while working closely with the Finance Director and wider operational teams to improve reporting, controls and financial performance.

Given the nature of the business, strong experience across stock and inventory accounting is essential.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead and develop the finance team across Purchase Ledger, Sales Ledger and Management Accounting
• Own the monthly management accounts process, ensuring accurate and timely reporting
• Take full ownership of P&L and balance sheet reporting, analysis and financial control
• Oversee stock and inventory accounting, including valuations, reconciliations, provisions and write-offs
• Investigate stock movements and variances, working with operational teams to improve stock accuracy
• Analyse sales, gross margins, product profitability and cost performance
• Work closely with the Finance Director on budgeting, forecasting and reforecasting
• Manage cash flow and working capital, with a particular focus on stock, debtors and creditors
• Oversee balance sheet reconciliations, accruals, prepayments and journals
• Produce regular reporting around sales performance, margins, stock turns, aged inventory and purchasing
• Partner with commercial, operational and supply chain teams to provide meaningful financial insight
• Support the Finance Director with board reporting, commercial analysis and wider strategic projects
• Support year-end audit, statutory reporting and compliance requirements
• Identify and implement improvements across finance processes, systems, controls, reporting and automation

About You

We’re looking for a qualified accountant with strong management accounting and financial control experience, ideally gained within retail, FMCG, wholesale or another stock-led environment.

You’ll need to be commercially minded, comfortable managing a finance team and confident working closely with senior stakeholders.

Strong stock and inventory accounting experience is essential, alongside the ability to analyse financial information and turn it into clear, actionable insight.