PLEASE NOTE: As part of our organisational changes, our ongoing structure and roles continue to be reviewed. While this role is being advertised, circumstances may change and the role could be withdrawn/amended.
At WHSmith our people are at the heart of everything we do. They are the ones that go the extra mile for our customers, the ones that enable our growth. The Senior Commercial Finance Analyst is a key finance role responsible for supporting the accurate forecasting, tracking, recognition, reporting and control of supplier income and rebates across the UK and International travel retail business. The role works closely with commercial finance, buying, merchandising, FP&A and business intelligence teams to ensure supplier income is understood, well controlled and accurately reflected in financial performance.
Operating at analyst level with no direct reports, the role provides detailed analysis, reporting and process support across supplier income and rebate arrangements, including accruals, deferrals, invoicing, reconciliations, balance sheet support and risks and opportunities. The role helps ensure that income is recognised only when appropriate obligations have been met, calculations are robust, supporting evidence is complete, and stakeholders have clear visibility of performance, issues and actions.
What you will be doing:
Supplier Income and Rebate Analysis
- Support the tracking, analysis and reporting of supplier income and rebate performance across the UK and International business.
- Maintain clear visibility of income by supplier, category, market, income type, agreement status, invoicing profile and recognition status.
- Analyse rebate calculations, income trackers and supporting data to ensure values are accurate, complete and aligned to agreed commercial terms.
- Identify variances, risks, opportunities, timing differences and data issues, escalating clearly with supporting analysis and recommended actions.
Forecasting, Reporting and Month-End Support
- Support budgeting, forecasting and latest view processes for supplier income and rebates, ensuring assumptions are evidenced, up to date and aligned with commercial activity.
- Prepare accurate and timely reporting on supplier income performance against budget, forecast, prior year and latest view.
- Support month-end processes, including review of income trackers, accruals, deferrals, invoicing status, aged accruals, aged debt and balance sheet positions.
- Support FP&A and senior finance stakeholders with accurate inputs for management reporting, planning cycles, balance sheet reviews and audit preparation.
Governance, Controls and Reconciliations
- Support strong governance and control over supplier income agreements, rebate calculations, recognition, billing, cash collection and balance sheet positions, using Vistex.
- Perform reconciliations between income trackers, supplier agreements, invoice records, rebate calculations, management accounts and balance sheet balances.
- Ensure supplier income and rebates are supported by appropriate documentation, approvals, calculations and evidence of performance obligations being met.
- Investigate differences between internal data, supplier data, invoices, credit notes and accrued income, working with stakeholders to resolve issues promptly.
- Support the review and clearance of aged accruals, aged debt, disputed balances and unsubstantiated items.
- Contribute to continuous improvement of supplier income processes, reporting, data quality, tracker discipline, system usage and audit readiness.
Stakeholder Support and Continuous Improvement
- Work collaboratively with commercial finance, buying, merchandising, FP&A, accounts receivable and business intelligence teams to support effective supplier income management.
- Provide practical support to stakeholders on supplier income reporting, rebate calculations, tracker queries, reconciliations and month-end requirements.
- Help maintain clear action logs, issue trackers and follow-up processes for income risks, open items, overdue invoicing and unresolved reconciliations.
- Identify opportunities to improve reporting quality, standardise ways of working and strengthen control over supplier income and rebate processes.
What we are looking for:
- Part-qualified accountant, finance graduate or qualified by experience, with experience in commercial finance, supplier income, rebates, margin and FP&A.
- Experience working with accruals, deferrals, reconciliations, balance sheet support, invoicing, reporting and month-end finance processes.
- Strong analytical skills, with the ability to review large data sets, identify issues, validate calculations and explain variances clearly.
- Good understanding of supplier income, rebates, retros, promotional funding, marketing income, margin support or similar commercial income streams.
- Strong Excel and reporting skills, with confidence using finance systems, trackers, business intelligence tools and source data to support robust analysis.
- High attention to detail, strong process discipline and ability to maintain accurate records, audit trails and supporting evidence.
- Ability to work effectively with commercial and finance stakeholders, following up actions and escalating issues clearly.
- Retail, travel retail, supplier income, buying finance or commercial finance experience would be advantageous.
How we reward our teams:
- Hybrid Working Model from home and in the office
- 4pm Friday Finish
- Flexible Working
- 25 Days holiday, plus your Birthday off, plus Bank Holidays with an opportunity to buy extra days holiday
- Family Friendly Leave
- Company Pension scheme
- Annual Bonus based on company and personal performance
- Competitive Salary and Car Allowance
- Private Medical
- Cycle to work scheme
- Staff Discount Card for railway stores (subject to policy)
About us:
Celebrating over 230 years, we’re proud to have grown into a globally recognised brand present in over 30 countries – the air of familiarity people love and trust on their journey. As a diverse group of over 6,000 colleagues, we’re all on the same journey to a better business through our commitments to our planet, people and the communities we serve.
Our business operates from two key locations, In a vibrant area of London, close to Aldgate and Liverpool Street Station, while the other is located at Swindon’s International Business Park, just off the M4 with excellent transport links and over 100 on-site parking spaces.
For WHSmith Europe, our mission is simple – to create value for our stakeholders by providing a platform for global brands across airports, hospitals, rail stations and other markets. Our operational environment is fast-paced and highly regulated, requiring exceptional standards of maintenance, compliance, health & safety and colleague welfare across every location.
We’re all about creating an inclusive and welcoming workplace where everyone can be themselves and do our best. No matter your background, age, disability, gender, gender expression, gender identity, race or ethnicity, marital status, religion, sex, sexual orientation or anything else that makes you-you’re welcome here.
We’re also open to flexible working where possible, so if that’s something you need, let’s chat. And if you need any adjustments during the selection process, just let our Talent Acquisition team know-we’re happy to help!
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