Finance Director - Consumer - 39 hours

Finance Director, Consumer

• Hybrid Working – with 2/3 days per week at our Handforth Office in Cheshire
• Attendance at the Plc Board and other national meetings
• Comprehensive total reward package

About Us

We’re all for pets, what we do matters for pet owners across the UK. This is more than a business, it’s a responsibility. It’s a promise and commitment we make each day to provide excellent care for each pet that comes through our door.

at Home’s vision is to build the world’s best pet care platform and to create a better world for pets and the people that love them. Founded from a single store in Chester in 1991, the company was acquired by Bridgepoint in 2004, and then KKR in 2010, prior to IPO in 2014, and is today a FTSE 250 company with a market capitalisation of £1.37bn at the time of writing (LSE: PETS).

​​The Finance Director – Consumer (FDC) is a pivotal new role within the organisation; responsible for providing strategic financial guidance and directly partnering with our Chief Consumer Officer. By optimising the company's financial performance, the FDC ensures that we achieve our vision to be the world's best pet care platform.

We put pets first; it’s not simply a statement, its’ our driving value.

About the Role

​The FD, Consumer, is a new role within the Pets Finance structure and signifies our commitment to challenging the status quo and progressing our strategic vision for Consumer.

The role has been introduced to ensure we transform our business from separate Retail and Consumer P&Ls to a consumer-centric platform business. In an omnichannel business, this new role will enable us to drive the best commercial outcomes, whilst ensuring customer-centric choices. This involves optimising between eCommerce and the structural benefits of our large pet care centre estate. Additionally, the FDC will ensure that capital is deployed to deliver the best return on investment, aligning with our vision. This includes reviewing and augmenting property development on a four-wall basis, balancing retail growth and productivity targets against vet growth and expansion.

​Our subscription business is at the foothills of an exciting new chapter, aiming to secure ongoing revenues for the entire lifespan of pets, which averages 10-15 years. This role is crucial in heightening investment between discount, marketing, and price across the business to retain and grow our 8 million-plus loyal club customers.

As a key member of the Finance and Consumer leadership team, you will drive the next chapter of our success by unlocking our potential and identifying opportunities for growth. You will prepare and present insightful financial reports, manage and elevate accounting systems, and ensure compliance with regulatory requirements.

As Finance Director - Consumer, this role will see you operating, leading, and influencing:

Subscription Business Growth; Developing and implementing strategies to grow the subscription business and securing ongoing revenues for the lifespan of pets. Optimising investment between discount, marketing, and pricing to retain and grow the 8 million-plus loyal club customers. Translating data and insights into actionable business strategies to drive subscription growth.

Optimising Investment and Commercial Outcomes; Managing cash flow, working capital, accounts payable, and accounts receivable to ensure financial stability. Optimising investment between discount, marketing, and pricing strategies to drive profitability across the business. Analysing financial data to identify key levers for driving profit in the online business and providing clear direction and recommendations to senior leadership on investment strategies.

Capital Deployment and Property Development; Ensuring that capital is deployed to deliver the best return on investment, aligning with the vision to be the world's best pet care platform. Reviewing and optimising property development on a four-wall basis, balancing retail growth and vet expansion.

Achieving ROI in trading and brand investment, ensuring that capital projects contribute to overall business objectives. Coordinating stakeholders involved in capital projects, including Distribution Centre (DC), Commercial, Operations and Marketing.

Leadership and Team Development; Leading and mentoring the Consumer Finance Team, fostering professional development and ensuring high performance. Working in a matrix with other Finance Directors to support the 'one team' vision, bringing together Vets and Pets to maximise business potential. Providing clear direction on levers to drive profit in the online business, ensuring alignment with overall business strategy.

Innovating and influencing at a senior and executive level, demonstrating gravitas and credibility.

Coordinating all stakeholders involved in online P&L, including DC, Commercial, Operations, and Marketing, with effective challenge to influence and shape strategy.

About You – what we would like you to bring to our role

We are seeking a qualified senior finance leader, with experience gained within an omnichannel retail environment. Ideally, you will have expertise gained in subscription-based business models and capital deployment. With a deep understanding of marketing and promotions, you’ll achieve ROI in trading and brand investment (marketing returns). Translating data and insight into value-add business action, you’ll provide clear direction on the levers to drive profit in our online business.

Your stakeholder management and strategic influence, will be an innate skill, forming trusted, collaborative relationships across a matrix structure. You’ll have the autonomy to quickly navigate your own space and create your own agenda, bringing innovation, new thinking and effective challenge to influence and shape strategy around the growth of our business.

It’s a highly visible, critical role within our business and for our CFO and Chief Consumer Officer.

This is a pivotal role for us and a unique, greenfield senior finance opportunity, for you.

For a confidential initial conversation please contact sarah.chatterley@petsathome.co.uk 

Pets just see people. They aren’t biased and they don’t discriminate. We take our inspiration from pets, and we value and respect difference in all its forms. Our aim is to reflect the diversity of the communities we operate in, and every colleague can help us achieve this. We encourage our people to be themselves so even if your skills and experience don’t perfectly align, if you think you can make a unique contribution through your values and behaviours, we want to hear from you!