Head of Finance - Technology

Description

Location: London or Coventry Store Support Centre & Home. Colleagues go into the office 2 days per week on average.

Why join us

Joining Sainsbury's as the Head of Finance - Technology (Commercial, SC&L and Argos) offers a unique opportunity to play a pivotal role in shaping and delivering the strategic direction of a dynamic and competitive industry. As a key partner to the Technology Leadership Team, you will drive financial performance, influence investment decisions, and provide valuable insights that contribute to maximising sales, profit, and overall business success. With a focus on innovation, collaboration, and continuous improvement, this role empowers you to lead a team, challenge strategic initiatives, and drive meaningful change in a large and complex portfolio.

What you'll do

You will act as the strategic senior finance partner to the Directors of Technology, guiding investment decisions and overseeing financial performance across technology change initiatives. Your role will involve leading the end-to-end financial planning cycle with a specific focus on technology change, delivering accurate and insightful performance reporting, and providing forward-looking insights to inform technology investment decisions. You will serve as the key link between the business, technology, and other commercial finance functions, ensuring stakeholders are well-informed and engaged, while also challenging the business on strategic initiatives and identifying new opportunities for enhancement. Your leadership and communication skills will be essential in driving change and enhancing performance within a fast-paced and transformational environment, ultimately contributing to the overarching success of Sainsbury's technology investments and strategic outcomes.

Who you are

You are a strategic and collaborative finance leader with a proven track record of shaping and overseeing technology investments to drive financial and commercial performance. With your professional qualification and experience in managing financial planning cycles, performance reporting, and strategic decision-making, you excel in guiding investment decisions, providing insightful analysis, and influencing senior leaders to optimise business outcomes. Your commitment to driving change, strong commercial acumen, and ability to lead and develop a high-performing finance team make you a valuable asset in driving the business towards its strategic objectives.

Essential Criteria

• Professionally qualified accountant (ACA, ACCA or CIMA), with demonstrable application of technical accounting standards in a commercial finance environment, ideally retail, FMCG or tech
• Proven experience leading and developing teams, including supporting colleagues’ progression through coaching, feedback, and day‑to‑day leadership responsibilities
• Demonstrable ability to business partner, influence and appropriately challenge senior stakeholders, including executive and board‑level audiences, across varying levels of financial and commercial understanding
• Evidence of shaping, evaluating, and overseeing technology‑related investments, including practical application of relevant technology accounting rules and governance
• Proven capability to operate effectively in fast‑paced, transformational environments, including prioritising competing demands, managing change and conflict, maintaining effective financial controls, and focusing on sustainable commercial outcomes

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