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 12-month fixed-term (maternity cover) basis.
In this pivotal role, you’ll partner with senior stakeholders across our commercial teams to optimise profitability, provide financial insight, and drive sustainable growth. As a trusted advisor, you’ll support key decision-making through robust analysis, business case development, and continuous improvement initiatives — all while leading and developing members of our talented Commercial Finance team.
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…
Deliver financial insight and support commercial teams to develop robust business cases and detailed ROI analysis.
Develop and maintain product margin models and reporting, including variance analysis against budget, forecast, and prior periods.
Provide in-depth analysis of product margin drivers such as pricing, promotions, and product mix.
Act as a trusted business partner to non-finance teams, providing clear and actionable financial insight.
Champion continuous improvement across Commercial and Finance functions.
Foster a collaborative and high-performance culture within the Commercial Finance team.
Manage and develop team members – this role includes line management responsibility within a 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.
Demonstrable line management experience.
Desirable
Strong attention to detail combined with high energy and an appetite for change.
Ability to manage multiple priorities and deadlines effectively.
Experience within a retail or multi-channel business.
Working knowledge of Microsoft Dynamics 365 (D365) or similar ERP systems.
Who are we?
We’re one of the UK’s favourite premium chocolate brands, with a range of products spanning luxury gifts, alcohol and our pioneering drinking chocolate system, the Velvetiser™.
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 can be said for Hotel Chocolat, which originally started as a mint production company before we realised it was luxury chocolate that we were really passionate about.
Now, we’re market leaders in the industry. What began as an online-only business has grown to over 140 stores across the UK, and we’re still expanding. Today, we’re multi-category, multi-channel, and multi-territory, and our customers, colleagues, cacao farmers and suppliers all benefit from the success we make together.
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