Job Description

Employment type

Full time

Experience

5 year

Pay

99,000-110,000 per year

Location

UOE Store : N10
London, England N10 1DW


###

About the job

Reports to:

Fractional CFO and in their absence to the CEO

Location:

North London (Hybrid possible)

Salary:

99,000-110,000 depending on experience

Benefits:

28 days leave (including bank holidays), pension, salary sacrifice scheme, staff discounts

Start Date:

ASAP

About UOE

UOE is one of the UK's fastest growing independent retailers, combining stationery, gifting, printing and Post Office services across a growing network of stores in London and the Home Counties. Backed by private equity and entering a major growth phase, we're building a robust, insight-driven finance function to power our next chapter.



We're about to scale to 40 locations and 250 staff and we know that great retail can only be delivered by brilliant people who care.


We're on a mission to prove that high street retail still matters -- and we're backing that with bold growth, serious investment, and an entrepreneurial team who are in it to win it.

The Role

This is a

hands-on leadership role

for an experienced and commercially aware finance professional. As

Head of Finance

, you'll be responsible for the day-to-day running of our finance function -- from managing ledgers and HMRC compliance to delivering forecasting, budgeting and reporting that support the decisions shaping our future.


You'll manage and mentor a small team and work closely with the CFO and senior leadership on everything from growth planning to investor reporting. You'll also ensure our suppliers are paid on time, our people are paid accurately, and our systems and controls are fit for scale.


It's a high-trust role with visibility across the business -- perfect for someone who's practical, detail-oriented, and ready for their next leadership step.

Key Responsibilities

Financial Operations & Reporting

Lead the finance function to deliver accurate day-to-day accounting, reconciliations and monthly reporting Manage sales and purchase ledger functions, ensuring timely invoicing and payment of suppliers Oversee payroll processes in collaboration with the People team and Deputy platform Prepare monthly management accounts, cashflow forecasts, and financial reporting packs Ensure VAT, PAYE and all HMRC compliance obligations are met Maintain audit-ready financial records and documentation

Forecasting, Budgeting & Planning

Preparation of budgets, reforecasts and financial modelling Validate budgets for new projects and branch transformations submitted by other business groups Monitor performance against budget and provide variance analysis with clear business insight Support scenario planning and funding models as part of our growth strategy

Team Leadership & Oversight

Line manage the Risk & Compliance Lead and oversee the book-keeping function Build a high-performing finance team with a strong focus on accuracy, timeliness and business impact Collaborate with Operations, People, Retail, Store Support and the Transformation teams to align finance with business needs

Systems & Process Ownership

Drive effective use of our finance systems: Xero (accounts), Deputy (payroll), Excel and Microsoft Teams Streamline and document key finance processes to improve controls and efficiency Champion automation and data accuracy wherever possible

Governance, Legal & Compliance

Own statutory and regulatory financial compliance and reporting requirements Support contractual and legal financial responsibilities, including leases, funding and supplier agreements

About You

We're looking for someone who is:

Hands-on and practical-- confident in both doing the work and leading the function Commercially sharp-- understands the numbers and how they influence real-world decisions Reliable and detail-oriented-- gets the basics right, consistently Collaborative and open-- builds strong relationships across teams

You'll also bring:

A professional accounting qualification (ACA, ACCA, CIMA or equivalent) Experience leading finance operations in a growing business Strong understanding of forecasting, budgeting and cashflow planning Excellent Excel skills and confidence with cloud platforms like Xero, Deputy and Teams Experience in retail, multi-site or service-sector environments (ideal but not essential)

Why Join UOE?

Be part of a PE-backed business with scale-up momentum and meaningful purpose Sit on the Senior Leadership Team with real influence and commercial visibility Help shape the future of a dynamic and expanding retail group Enjoy a high-impact role with genuine

career progression opportunities to CFO

for the right person ###

Working at UOE Store

We are UOE

UOE is one of the UK's fastest growing independent retailers, combining award-winning stationery stores with full-service Post Offices. With a proud heritage dating back to 1983, we're a people-powered business that puts community and customers at the heart of everything we do. We're expanding to 40 stores and beyond through an ambitious growth and transformation programme -- reimagining the high street with vibrant, modern retail stores. Our culture is driven by our core values: Expert & Trusted, Hub of the Community and Surprisingly Fun! Join us and help shape the next chapter of UOE.