Finance Manager in London - Harper May Ltd

Harper May is working with a purpose-led retail group operating across standalone stores and a growing online platform. Founded by retail entrepreneurs with deep market knowledge, the business has expanded steadily over the past five years and is now scaling its supply chain and distribution capability. To support this growth phase and strengthen financial controls across the organisation, they are seeking a Finance Manager.

The Role
Reporting to the Finance Director, you will manage the core finance function, overseeing transactional activity, management reporting, and commercial analysis. You will work directly with store managers, buyers, and operations leadership to translate financial performance into actionable insight in a collaborative, hands-on environment.

• Lead month-end and year-end close cycles, producing timely and accurate financial statements
• Build and maintain rolling forecasts and variance analysis across the store estate and online channels
• Monitor inventory valuations, cost of goods sold, and departmental profitability
• Support working capital management and cash flow planning across seasonal trading patterns
• Manage payroll accruals, fixed asset registers, and balance sheet reconciliations
• Liaise with external auditors and ensure statutory compliance and tax filing deadlines are met
• Identify process improvements and help implement new finance systems or reporting tools

What we are looking for

• ACA, ACCA, or CIMA qualified, or equivalent demonstrable experience
• Proven track record in retail, hospitality, or distribution finance roles
• Sound technical grounding in management accounts, consolidation, and regulatory reporting
• Ability to engage with operational teams and communicate financial concepts clearly
• Comfortable with Excel, accounting software, and learning new systems quickly
• Self-starter with attention to detail and the stamina to work through busy trading periods