Commercial Finance Director

About us

VPZ is the UK’s number one vape retailer. Since opening our first store in Edinburgh, we've expanded to 200 locations across the UK and we're not stopping there. We are known for setting and driving the standards within the vape industry, this is a great time to join us as we continue to grow.

About the Role

We are looking for a highly commercial, hands on Commercial Finance Director who can do far more than report the numbers. This person must understand how the business actually makes money, where margin is created or lost, how stock and cash move through the business, and how finance can drive better decisions across retail, manufacturing, online, product, supply chain and operations.

The role requires a switched on, commercially curious leader who can build a faster, sharper finance function while also acting as a genuine strategic partner to the owners and senior team.

For the right person, this role has the potential to develop beyond finance into a broader executive leadership position, including possible future consideration as CEO.

Please note, this role requires 5 days on site at our Head Office in Newbridge, Edinburgh.

Key Responsibilities

Commercial Finance & Business Performance

• Own and improve management reporting, ensuring the business has fast, accurate and commercially useful information.

• Provide clear analysis of revenue, gross margin, EBITDA, cash, stock, working capital and profitability.

• Build reporting that shows performance by store, region, channel, category, product, supplier and brand.

• Identify where the business is making or losing money and drive actions to improve performance.

• Challenge operational and commercial decisions using facts, data and commercial judgement.

Strategic Planning, Forecasting & Regulation

• Lead budgeting, forecasting and scenario planning across the Group.

• Build robust models for regulatory changes, including vape duty, product regulation, pricing, stock strategy and margin impact.

• Support strategic decision making around store performance, manufacturing capacity, stock investment, product mix and supplier exposure.

• Help the business prepare for future sale, investment or transaction activity.

• Improve forecast accuracy and hold departments accountable for delivery against plan.

• Provide commercial insight into risk, opportunity and long-term value creation.

The ideal candidate will be:

• ACA, ACCA or CIMA qualified, or equivalent by experience.

• Experienced in retail, FMCG, consumer goods, manufacturing, multi-site, wholesale, distribution or another operationally complex business.

• Highly commercial, not just technical.

• Comfortable in a founder led, fast moving, entrepreneurial business.

• Able to work with incomplete information and still make good decisions.

• Strong on cash, margin, stock, forecasting and working capital.

Essential Experience

• Senior finance leadership experience in a commercially focused business.

• Strong management reporting and forecasting experience.

• Proven ability to improve finance processes and controls.

• Experience working closely with operations and commercial teams.

• Strong understanding of margin, cashflow and working capital.

• Experience managing and developing a finance team.

• Ability to present clearly to owners, directors, lenders, investors or advisers.

Package

Competitive senior leadership package, dependent on experience and capability.