Job Description

Job Introduction

As we continue our mission to make people and nature happy through chocolate, we're looking for a

Senior Finance Manager

to join our

Commercial Finance team

on a

permanent basis

.


In this pivotal role, you'll work closely with commercial teams across all sales channels to optimise profitability, provide financial insight, and support strategic decision-making. You'll lead and develop members of our Commercial Finance team, ensuring the business drives P&L and cashflow performance while managing operational risks and opportunities.


As well as a competitive salary and a range of company benefits, you'll receive

50% discount

on all products, and a

70% discount

for you and your guests when you stay at our

Rabot Estate hideaway

on the paradise island of Saint Lucia.


Here at Hotel Chocolat, we've adopted hybrid working. This means you'll join us on site for

three days a week

, and for the other two days - you can work from wherever you like!


The on-site location for this role is our support office,

'Mint House'

, in

Royston, Hertfordshire

. Our home from the very beginning, it's just off the A505 and a 10-minute walk from Royston train station, with direct rail links to

London King's Cross

.

What you'll be doing...

-------------------------

Drive financial strategy and P&L performance across all commercial sales channels. Generate actionable insights into business performance, identifying key drivers and implications for future planning. Deliver financial insight and support commercial teams to develop robust business cases and ROI analysis. Lead monthly P&L reviews with finance managers across sales channels. Support year-end external audit requirements for Commercial areas. Lead budgeting and forecasting processes covering demand through to delivered margin. Act as a champion for continuous improvement across Commercial and Finance functions. Foster a collaborative and high-performance culture within the Commercial Finance team. Line management responsibility for the

nine-person Commercial Finance team

.

Who you are...

----------------

Essential

Qualified accountant (

ACA, ACCA, or CIMA

). Proven experience in business partnering and influencing senior stakeholders. Excellent communication, analytical, and problem-solving abilities. Advanced Excel and financial modelling skills, with attention to detail and ability to build and maintain models. Line management experience.

Desirable

High energy, attention to detail, and an appetite for change. Ability to plan, organise, and work on multiple tasks simultaneously. Experience in a retail business with multi-channel operations. Experience using

Microsoft Dynamics 365 (D365)

.

Values and Behaviours

-------------------------


Our

values

-- Authenticity, Originality, and Ethics -- shape everything we do. We also look for our

Ingredients for Success

in every colleague:

I AM ME:

Receive change positively and encourage it within the team. Work on strengths and development areas while coaching others to do the same.

I AM INSPIRATIONAL:

Communicate effectively at all levels and group sizes across the business. Create a positive culture where success is shared.

I AM A TEAM PLAYER:

Work with your team and other functions to achieve shared goals. Build strong working relationships with stakeholders to influence decisions.

I AM COMMERCIAL:

Understand the broader impact of your decisions and escalate or consult as necessary. Maintain awareness of customer needs and expectations.

Who are we?

---------------


We're one of the UK's favourite premium chocolate brands, offering luxury gifts, alcohol, and our pioneering drinking chocolate system, the

Velvetiser(TM)

.


A cacao pod takes years to grow -- it can't be rushed if it's going to be just right for our products. The same applies to Hotel Chocolat, which started as a mint production company before we realised it was luxury chocolate we were truly passionate about.


Today, we're

market leaders

with over

140 stores across the UK

, a growing multi-channel presence, and a focus on creating sustainable value for customers, colleagues, cacao farmers, and suppliers.


To learn more about us and read about our

People Pledge

-- our commitment to equality, diversity, and inclusion -- click here:

hotelchocolat.com/uk/engaged-ethics/our-people.html