Finance Manager - Central Costs
Contract type: Permanent
Location: Hatfield (Hybrid working - 3 days in the office)
Working hours per week: 40 hours
Level: Manager
Application Closing Date: Friday 19th June 2026
About us
Our mission is to deliver joy in every shop, through unbeatable choice, unrivalled service, and reassuringly good value. We’re also on a mission to empower our business with smart technology; we've recently launched our AI Academy, providing a tailored AI learning journey for every colleague.
We’re Ocado Retail, a market-leading joint venture between Ocado Group and M&S, and the world’s largest dedicated online supermarket, ocado.com. Not only is Ocado the only place to shop a full range of M&S food online, it’s also the home to the widest online supermarket range in the UK and champion of small, independent brands. We’re also the brains behind Zoom by Ocado, our same-day grocery delivery service.
About the team and the role
This is a pivotal, high-profile Finance Manager role reporting directly into the Financial Controller. Sitting within our Central Costs team, you will be fundamental in shaping long-term overhead strategies and delivering significant commercial value.
This role is responsible for the financial reporting, budgeting, and forecasting of Ocado Retail's own central costs as well as Ocado Group (OG) recharges. Given the high-exposure nature of these costs, we are looking for an individual with true professional gravitas who can confidently challenge senior leadership and influence strategic decision-making. You will have extensive cross-functional engagement, allowing you to build strong relationships across the business, act as a trusted partner to the Senior Leadership team, and drive the strategic direction of our central costs.
In this role, you will also manage and develop a direct report, helping to grow your leadership capabilities while championing a culture of continuous improvement, commercial awareness, and financial innovation.
What you’ll do
Strategic Business Partnering & Reporting: Act as the financial authority on central costs and Ocado Group (OG) recharges. Provide high-value financial analysis, visibility, and forward-looking insights directly to the Senior Leadership Group. Challenge and hold business partners accountable to their budgets.
Commercial Value Creation: Proactively identify and deliver significant cost savings and efficiency opportunities across the central cost base, while confidently challenging group partners on cost allocations.
Budgeting & Long-Term Planning: Lead the budgeting and 5-Year Plan (5YP) inputs for central costs, identifying financial risks and opportunities early in the cycle.
Cross-Functional Collaboration: Partner closely with the People Team to align headcount forecasting and reporting with the organisation's long-term strategic growth plans.
Continuous Improvement & Innovation: Champion a continuous improvement culture by driving process automation, expanding self-serve reporting capabilities, and exploring smart technology/AI tools to find service efficiencies.
People Management: Direct line management responsibility to lead, engage and develop a direct report—setting clear objectives, conducting performance reviews, and supporting Personal Development Plans (PDPs).
Who you are
Essential:
Qualifications: Fully qualified accountant (ACA / ACCA / CIMA).
Financial Expertise: Strong understanding of complex central/overhead cost structures, allocations, budgeting, and forecasting cycles.
Stakeholder Management: Exceptional experience partnering with, influencing, and challenging senior leadership stakeholders with confidence and gravitas.
Analytical Skills: Excellent analytical and problem-solving skills with a methodical, organized approach and a keen eye for detail.
Systems Experience: Advanced Excel skills and practical experience working with enterprise financial systems (e.g., SAP, Oracle, Hyperion, or similar).
Drive & Independence: Ability to work independently, prioritise workloads effectively, and deliver commercially under tight deadlines.
Desirable:
Tech-Curious Mindset: A natural curiosity regarding AI and smart technologies, with an eagerness to learn, adopt new tools, and share digital insights to automate and improve financial processes.
Experience driving a continuous improvement culture specifically aimed at increasing the use of automated, self-serve financial reporting.
What’s in it for you
By joining Ocado Retail, you’ll have the chance to experience life at the world’s largest online retailer, work with an amazing bunch of people who challenge what’s possible each day, and grow your skills and career in online retail. You'll also be part of our AI Academy, a dedicated learning journey designed to empower every colleague with the smart technology skills of the future.
If that’s not enough to tempt you, you’ll also get access to loads of great benefits to sweeten the deal. Here’s a taste of what we offer:
Health & Wellbeing: Private medical insurance with option to add your family, Digital GP appointments, market-leading family policies, mental health support, discounted gym memberships, dental insurance, and more.
Spend & Save: Annual bonus scheme split between personal and business objectives, recognition with reward platform, up to 7% matched pension contributions, 15% Ocado discount, 20% M&S discount, free breakfast every day in the office, electric vehicle leasing scheme, and free shuttle bus from Hatfield station to the office.
Never miss the moments that matter: Hybrid working, 26 days holiday plus 8 flexible bank holidays, options to buy extra holiday, 2 weeks work from anywhere, and lifestyle break opportunities.
Our Hiring Process
Lucky for us, we receive a high volume of applications and genuinely appreciate the time and effort invested by every candidate. To ensure a fair and thorough process, every application is reviewed by a member of our team. If your skills and experience are a strong match, a Talent Partner will contact you to discuss the role and guide you through the next steps of our hiring process.
Your Application and AI
In the spirit of innovation, we welcome you to use AI tools in your application, just as we use them in our own business at Ocado Retail. However, as you leverage this technology, please don't lose sight of the most important element: your unique self. Your experiences, passions, and personality are what truly set you apart. Ensure that your application still authentically conveys who you are and why you're a great fit for us.
Everyone’s welcome
We’re an equal opportunities employer, which means that we make sure all potential colleagues are treated fairly and equally. We want to ensure everyone has a fair chance to apply; if you need this job description in an alternative format (e.g., larger print, different document type, etc.), please reach out to us at [email protected] and we'll be happy to assist you, and if you require reasonable adjustments during the recruitment process, please let us know on the application form.
