THE ROLE

This role sits within the Financial Accounting team and is primarily focused on managing all aspects of Stock Lifecycle. This role interfaces with other areas of Finance, including Accounts Payable, Tech, Tax and Commercial Finance and the wider business, in particular Retail and Logistics.

Stock Lifecycle incorporates but is not limited to: valuation, provisioning, stock counts, lost in transit, stock write offs, warehouse price/quality differences, jobber stock, raw materials, return to supplier, goods received not invoiced, inter-warehouse processes. As processes and the business evolve, the remit of Stock Lifecycle may change, and we are looking for someone who is interested in the Stock Lifecycle area and taking this forward.

THE TEAM

ASOS is an online retailer for fashion-loving 20-somethings. Through market-leading web and app experiences and a selection of more than 850 brands, as well as own-brand clothing and accessories, ASOS serves 24.5 million customers in 200 markets and in ten languages. We are led by our purpose, driven by our mission and guided by our values. Our purpose is to give you the confidence to be whoever you want to be and our mission is to become the world's number one destination for fashion-loving 20-somethings. Our values are authentic, brave, creative and disciplined.

Here at ASOS, working in Finance means working collaboratively with the business to deliver our mission. Simply put, the role of ASOS Finance is to build and protect business value. As a team, we enable ASOS to be its best self by: 

• Driving long-term growth, profitability, and free cash flow  
• Implementing brilliant processes and controls, levering lean, automation and data science 
• Ensuring ASOS delivers its shorter-term goals 
• Building a leading team and defining new ways of doing finance 

We love people who are as passionate about our journey as we are, who have initiative and who embrace change. If this sounds like you, we’d like to hear from you and your experience for the role of Finance Manager – Stock Lifestyle.

What you will be doing..

Financial Accounting:

• Developing and maintaining detailed knowledge of the business stock operations including activities in the retail, warehousing and accounts payable teams
• Own accounting for stock financial entries in collaboration with trading finance, including ability to be able to take a detailed level of understanding on financial entries and display this into appropriate summary level for presentation to senior management
• Taking ownership for financial accounting of stock GRNI in collaboration with trading finance, working closely with Accounts Payable team to understand stock entries and advise on provisioning
• Accountable for the accuracy and appropriateness of all standard cost components in the Group’s average weighted stock costs (AWC) on a periodic basis
• Taking ownership for ensuring correct accounting treatment in accordance with IFRS accounting standards for stock, being pro-active to review current treatment and be able to provide guidance to the business as required
• Own reporting, analysis and challenge on all stock lines for Actuals across both P&L stock losses and Balance Sheet accounts, including monthly challenge sessions
• Ownership for the testing and first level finance sign off in collaboration with Fin C&T on any warehouse changes which impact the financial environment, including implementation of new warehouses, return centres etc.

Financial Control:

• Ensuring appropriate and robust financial control environment on all stock related areas, spanning from the posting of journals to assisting with supporting documentation for the external audit
• Ensuring financial controls, processes and risks are fully documented for all stock related areas and regularly updated to meet the demands of a rapidly growing business. Providing analysis, identifying potential process and control weaknesses and recommendations to management as required
• Taking ownership of end-to-end stock lifecycle processes, including documentation, change impact assessment and requirements, and successful delivery of process changes including training support
• Being responsible for the review, challenge and continuous improvement of robust and accurate P&L and balance sheet accounting for all stock related accounts to ensure accuracy of the financials, including coordination and resolution of any issues with relevant functions
• Assisting in collaboration with Trading Finance in the successful delivery of interim and year-end audit information for external auditors as well as ad hoc internal audits as required, ensuring all documents are delivered to an auditable standard and in line with agreed timeframes
• Ensuring appropriate financial controls and KPIs around the wholesale business and that invoices are raised and settled in a timely manner.
• Assisting in other ad hoc projects as required by the Head of Financial Accounting to provide business insight and ensure that objectives and deadlines are met

Team Management:

• Leading the Stock Lifecycle team to deliver objectives aligned with both Finance and ASOS goals, including excellent stakeholder management both internal and external to Finance
• Providing coaching to team members and support them in their career development, creating a supportive learning environment in which talent flourishes
• Managing and supporting the team on a day-to-day basis to ensure all deadlines are met and pro-active with challenging the status quo of these tasks

We’d love to meet someone with…

Experience

• Experienced qualified accountant (ACA/ACCA/CIMA/Equivalent)
• Previous stock retail experience (desirable, not essential)
• Comprehensive understanding of IFRS accounting standards and practical application
• Experience of carrying out or providing information for external and internal audits
• Experience in producing high-quality analysis and reporting
• Experience of working with non-financial stakeholders across multiple business areas
• Experience of working with senior levels within a business and adopting a professional approach always

Skills

• Team player who works for the success of the wider team
• Ability to work in a fast-paced environment, adapt to change and deal with high volumes of information
• Flexible with the ability to identify opportunities and implement practical solutions
• Excellent written and oral communication skills
• Excellent time management and organisational skills
• Disciplined approach to production and documentation of work
• Strong leadership and team development
• Strong stakeholder management capability

What's in it for you?

• Competitive salary, bonus and pension matching
• Life insurance, free private medical care, cycle to work scheme + more
• A bespoke flexible benefits scheme catered to you
• Best in class Learning & Development schemes and career development programmes
• 25 days holiday + never work on your birthday again!
• Free modern onsite gym, plus personal training and wellness rooms
• A dynamic social environment, from company-wide sports days, charity days & company-wide celebrations to name just a few
• Huge staff discounts and sample sales