Group Finance Director

Job Description : Group Finance Director mandate within a major European grocery retail environment based in the Middle East. The below brief has been written by Dr. Lee Hutchinson with clear purpose and intent, directly aligned to the client’s critical operational, commercial, and governance requirements for the Group Finance Director mandate. This is not a short-sighted appointment, nor a developmental or step-up opportunity. The mandate requires a proven, commercially astute finance leader with the credibility, resilience, operational depth, and governance capability to operate at Group level from day one. The successful individual must demonstrate deep commercial and operational finance capability, coupled with strong governance leadership and retail financial discipline. A true major grocery expert is a must. Strong command of operational and commercial financial performance metrics that underpin retail profitability and long-term business sustainability, including but not limited to rent-to-sales ratios, labour cost efficiency, working capital optimisation, gross margin performance, and store-level profitability analysis. Proven ability to embed robust financial discipline across complex retail operations through effective governance frameworks, operational accountability, process adherence, and consistent execution across multiple business functions. Demonstrated experience establishing and strengthening financial control environments, including approval authorities, segregation of duties, risk mitigation protocols, and governance mechanisms relating to banking controls, supplier master data management, company account amendments, and other high-risk financial activities. Ability to drive a finance-led culture of operational diligence, compliance, and commercial accountability across retail operations, distribution networks, and central support functions, ensuring financial and operational risks are proactively identified and mitigated. Strong commercial acumen with the ability to enhance financial visibility and oversight across key strategic and operational areas, including trading performance, capital allocation, expansion initiatives, cost optimisation, investment decisions, and overall business performance management.

---