Cfo jobs in United States

The Head of Group FP&A at WHSmith plays a critical role in shaping the financial strategy of a global retail Group operating across the UK, North America and Rest of World markets. The role leads the entire planning, budgeting and forecasting cycle, ensuring strong financial performance management across all divisions. Acting as a strategic partner to the CFO, CEO and Executive Committee, the postholder provides high-quality insights that drive profitable growth, operational efficiency, and disciplined investment across WHSmith’s diverse portfolio.

• Lead the Group budgeting, forecast and three-year plan planning cycles across the UK, North America and Rest of World divisions, ensuring consistency and alignment with the Group strategy.
• Consolidate divisional plans into a coherent and accurate Group view, challenging assumptions and ensuring robust financial rigour.
• Build forward-looking financial models that reflect the Group’s pipeline and macroeconomic factors.

• Drive monthly performance reviews with the CFO, CEO and Divisional MDs, presenting clear analysis, insight and recommendations.
• Monitor trading trends, trading profit margin drivers, labour and operating costs across the store estate.
• Highlight risks, opportunities and actions required to meet Group targets, ensuring early identification of emerging issues.
• Provide insight into customer behaviour, channel mix, profitability, and store performance to support strategic decision-making.

• Lead the financial evaluation of capital investment proposals, new store openings, refurbishments and technology investments.
• Produce high-quality modelling and business cases for major strategic initiatives such as new airport contracts, category developments, and international growth.
• Act as a key advisor to ExCo, ensuring decisions are supported by a robust financial and commercial lens.

• Own the delivery of accurate, consistent monthly management information to the CFO and Board.
• Improve clarity, quality and timeliness of reporting across the Group, including dashboards, KPIs and key performance narratives.
• Develop forward-looking insights that help the business anticipate market shifts and optimise trading performance.

• Partner with the transformation team to implement new EPM system to significantly evolve FP&A processes.
• Streamline and automate forecasting, reporting and analytical processes to increase efficiency and accuracy.
• Strengthen financial governance across divisions, ensuring consistent methodologies and data integrity.

• Build and develop a high-performing Group FP&A team with strong analytical capability and business partnering skills.
• Foster strong relationships with Finance Directors, Commercial, Operations, Property, Supply Chain and the Executive Committee.
• Act as the Group’s champion for insight-driven decision making and financial discipline.

• Ensure Group FP&A processes align with internal controls, audit standards and WHSmith financial policies.
• Support the CFO, Group Finance Director and Head of Group Reporting with key governance, reporting and investor relations requirements.
• Maintain high integrity of Group financial data and ensure all formal submissions follow a consistent governance framework.

• Extensive senior FP&A leadership experience within a complex, multi-site or retail organisation (ideally global or multi-division).
• Experience partnering closely with C-suite stakeholders, including challenge, insight and strategic influence.
• Strong analytical, modelling and commercial finance skills.
• Proven track record improving forecasting accuracy, reporting quality and decision support capability.
• Experience building high-performing teams and driving cultural and process change.
• Highly proficient with planning tools and data visualisation solutions.
• Commercially minded, customer-focused and data-driven.
• Able to balance strategic thinking with hands‑on delivery.
• Strong communicator who can simplify complexity for senior audiences.
• Proactive, resilient and comfortable operating in a fast‑moving, highly commercial retail environment.
• Collaborative, influential and able to build strong cross‑functional relationships.

• Retail or consumer‑sector experience (preferably convenience, travel retail, store‑based, concession or franchise models).
• Professional finance qualification (CIMA, ACCA, ACA or equivalent).
• Experience in capital appraisal, lease analysis, ROI evaluation and multi‑country financial planning.
• Experience supporting listed‑company reporting (FTSE / public markets).

• Hybrid Working Model from home and in the office.
• 4pm Friday Finish.
• Flexible Working.
• 25 days holiday, plus your Birthday off, plus Bank Holidays with an opportunity to buy extra days holiday.
• Family Friendly Leave.
• Company Pension scheme.
• Sharesave Scheme.
• Annual Bonus based on company and personal performance.
• Competitive Salary and Car Allowance.
• Private Medical.
• Staff Discount Card for stores and online.

Celebrating over 230 years, we’re proud to have grown and evolved into a globally recognised brand present in over 30 countries around the world, and we’re proud to be that air of familiarity people love and trust on their journey, both in life and through life. As a diverse group of over 5,000 colleagues, we are all on the same journey to a better business through our commitments to our planet, people and the communities we serve.

Our UK Travel office is based in a buzzing part of central London close to Liverpool Street Station. We are an ambitious team that thrives on pace, collaboration and innovation resulting in a real entrepreneurial culture. It’s perfect for people who are happy to use their initiative and embrace life outside their comfort zone.

At WHSmith, we’re all about creating an inclusive and welcoming workplace where everyone can be themselves and do their best. No matter your background, age, disability, gender, gender expression, gender identity, race or ethnicity, marital status, religion, sex, sexual orientation or anything else that makes you, you—you’re welcome here.

We’re also open to flexible working where possible, so if that’s something you need, let’s chat. And if you need any adjustments during the selection process, just let our Talent Acquisition team know—we’re happy to help!