Commercial Finance Director

This role is based across our Nottingham & Central London Locations

The role is a high-profile position with a leading part to play in driving changes and improvements within the Finance function across The Boots Group covering the key domain and future facing areas of IT, Digital and Data.
The Commercial Finance Director will play a pivotal role in shaping the financial strategy and commercial performance of the organisation and the key domain areas it partners with.

To succeed in this role, you will need to build effective relationships across Finance and the Business, establishing credibility with colleagues at all levels, including at executive level.

Acting as a key business partner to the CIO and CDDO, this leader will drive insight-led decision making, optimise profitability, and ensure robust financial governance across all commercial activities. The role requires a blend of strategic vision, commercial acumen, and hands on leadership to influence change and help The Boots Group deliver its next wave of development.

Whilst primarily based in Nottingham, the role will require some travel to Sedley Place (London) and international markets when specific project needs arise.

This role will be working closely with the wider Finance function, IT and Digital Teams.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES
• Define the strategy and implement the ongoing Commercial Finance partnering model for the fast growing and ever changing Digital and IT Business areas of the Boots Group, maximising value whilst working alongside C-Suite and Senior leaders to deliver transformative capabilities and results
• Responsible for the timely delivery of required data, analysis, and information to support and influence decision making
• Lead the Finance strategic planning, budgeting, forecasting and monthly performance reporting processes
• Provides analysis, support & challenge to ensure that major new product and innovation initiatives, projects, and strategic investments are a success
• Implement all Group financial strategies, policies, guidelines, processes, and systems. Ensures full compliance to the Group corporate standards.
• Responsible for a Finance function and their personal development including Business Partnering & Change

Financial management
Primarily responsible for the financial management and control and all activities specific to IT and Digital, including:
• Ensure robust financial controls across trading, pricing, and stock processes
• Maintain compliance with internal policies, audit requirements, and regulatory standards
• Working closely with relevant Shared Services team to ensure Accounts Payable and other utilised services meet the needs of the Group
• Group IT Recharge calculation, analysis, and distribution to ensure all costs are charged to the user of the service and hold each service owner to account to deliver results in line with transfer pricing margins
• Comply and maintain expert knowledge on transfer pricing rules, ensure legal documentation is in place to support transactions and work with Group Tax on future Transfer Pricing policy for IT
• Work with Treasury to manage foreign exchange exposure and develop a strategy as the mix and variation in multiple currencies through the Group changes
• Financial control for projects making sure cost is monitored throughout and in line with Group governance

Business Partnering & Cross Functional leadership
Partner with IT, Digital and Data teams to align financial goals with business and functional strategies
• Provide clear, influential communication of financial performance to senior stakeholders and the Board
• Lead the budgeting, forecasting, and long range planning processes across all supported areas. Robust detailed budgets and plans for all teams and services
• Monthly financial performance review and management, understanding the commercial drivers to review and challenge the team performance and hold the Business to account to reach targets with ongoing monitoring of risks and opportunities
• Business case and commercial support for project investments.

Strategic Leadership and Commercial Insight
• Develop and oversee Digital and IT strategies that balance competitiveness, customer value, and profitability
• Evaluate Digital and IT plans and trade offs, ensuring ROI and alignment with overall strategy
• Drive initiatives that deliver enterprise value enabled by key capabilities
• Build robust financial models to support scenario planning, investment decisions, and strategic initiatives
• Finance lead on significant contracts, providing commercial and financial support and challenge, including business case support

Finance Transformation, Capability Building and Team leadership
• Develop tools and enhance processes, reporting and controls to support the ongoing changes within direct areas
• Work with a number of teams across Finance to drive the finance wide transformation agenda
• Lead and develop a high performing commercial finance team with strong analytical and business partnering skills, as well as coach the team to be able to confidentially influence and Impact stakeholders’ decision making
• Embed a culture of insight, challenge, and continuous improvement.
• Strengthen financial literacy across commercial finance team

KEY EXPERIENCE
• A qualified accountant with at least 15 years’ PQE Experience
• Senior Director level Experience in large, complex multi-site organisations
• Experience of running diverse and different size Finance Teams
• Experience of partnering and driving change with C-suite leadership
• Experience in consulting with a wide range of stakeholders at various levels
• Played key financial leadership roles across large transformation and change including (not exhaustive) digital & data, cost optimisation and operating model change, business development
• Proven experience delivering business and financial outcomes
• Senior leadership experience partnering with IT and Digital functions would be an advantage
• International experience desirable but not necessity

SPECIFIC SKILLS
• Excellent communicator at all levels and across all business functions
• Ability to build strong relationships and networks across the organisation
• Commercial awareness and ability to see the bigger picture
• Excellent analytical skills
• Self-starter, motivated and ambitious
• Well-developed financial accounting expertise
• Capable of challenging in a constructive and positive manner
• Able to listen and influence / persuade through weight of reasoning and character
• Ability to think strategically coupled with strong delivery skills

If you have any questions about this role, please contact samantha.shakespeare@boots.co.uk

Closing date of vacancy: 15th March 2026