Regional Finance Director - Travel Retail West

Description

The Regional Director, Finance, Travel Retail West is responsible for providing strategic financial leadership, insight, and governance across a $1B global retail business spanning the UK, Europe, Middle East, and Americas. Reporting to the VP, Finance, TR WW&APAC, with a matrix reporting line to the SVP/GM Travel Retail West, and is based in London.  

The role is accountable for optimising financial performance, ensuring sustainable growth, strong profitability, and disciplined investment aligned to business priorities. Acting as financial steward, it leads the end-to-end finance agenda across planning, performance, and operations. The role partners with regional and global leadership across Commercial, Brand, Supply Chain, and Finance to align strategy and execution, strengthen decision-making, and deliver long-term value.

Key responsibilities include: 

Drive Key Strategic Initiatives for the Region (30%)

• Partner with SVP/GM and TR West LT to deliver key initiatives driving growth and operational excellence
• Provide financial insight to support commercial decisions and profitability
• Translate global TR strategies into clear regional priorities and cascade across Finance
• Monitor external economic trends and advise on business impact
• Lead outsourced activities to ensure quality and efficiency
• Foster collaboration and continuous improvement.

Provide Financial Leadership to the Region (40%)

• Lead regional budgeting, ensuring alignment and delivery
• Actively participate in the monthly estimate reviews making recommendations, and guide teams to ensure optimal decision making & alignment with strategic goals.
• Partner with Brand and Commercial teams on growth plans, investments, and profitability to maximise ROI
• Monitor performance against budget by territory and account; analyze variances, and recommend actionable solutions to address any identified issues.
• Oversee reporting and productivity analysis
• Present updates in Sales Cycles, C-Suite visits, and leadership meetings 
• Actively participate in meetings and discussions with key retailers.
• Partner with Lachen Distribution Centre on shipment alignment
• Lead integrated business planning to improve forecast accuracy and performance
• Build strong relationships with Retailers’ Head of Finance

Ensure Compliance and Leader Operational Effectiveness (15%)

• Maintain knowledge of economic, business, and financial standards and ELC policies (incl. Sarbanes-Oxley)
• Drive efficiencies, enhance analytics, and reduce non-value-added work
• Ensure systems and processes support business strategy, identifying gaps and driving improvements
• Improve information flow to strengthen decision-making.

Leads and Develops People (15%)

• Lead and develop a high-performing finance team, fostering accountability and excellence
• Set expectations and provide coaching, feedback, and development opportunities
• Support succession planning and capability building
• Inspire team with a clear purpose and create opportunities for growth.

Qualifications

Key competencies include: 

• Strong strategic and commercial acumen, with the ability to translate business priorities into clear financial direction
• Credible and influential leader, able to challenge and partner effectively at senior stakeholder level
• Deep financial expertise across planning, forecasting, and performance management in complex, multi-market environments
• Proven ability to drive business performance through insight-led decision-making
• Builds and leads high-performing teams, with a focus on talent development and succession
• Navigates complexity and ambiguity with sound judgement and a solutions-oriented mindset
• Leads change and transformation, driving continuous improvement and innovation
• Strong focus on governance, risk management, and operational excellence
• Collaborative and enterprise-minded, with the ability to work effectively across functions and geographies.

This role is global grade 14.