Commercial Finance Director - IT Digital & Data

Job Description

This role is based across our Nottingham & London Locations.

The role is a high‑profile position with a leading part to play in driving changes and improvements within the Finance function across The Boots Group covering the key domain and future facing areas of IT, Digital and Data.

The Commercial Finance Director will play a pivotal role in shaping the financial strategy and commercial performance of the organisation and the key domain areas it partners with.

To succeed in this role, you will need to build effective relationships across Finance and the Business, establishing credibility with colleagues at all levels, including at executive level.

Acting as a key business partner to the CIO and CDDO, this leader will drive insight‑led decision making, optimise profitability, and ensure robust financial governance across all commercial activities. The role requires a blend of strategic vision, commercial acumen, and hands on leadership to influence change and help The Boots Group deliver its next wave of development.

Whilst primarily based in Nottingham, the role will require some travel to Sedley Place (London) and international markets when specific project needs arise.

This role will be working closely with the wider Finance function, IT and Digital Teams.

• Define the strategy and implement the ongoing Commercial Finance partnering model for the fast growing and ever changing Digital and IT Business areas of the Boots Group, maximising value whilst working alongside C‑Suite and Senior leaders to deliver transformative capabilities and results
• Responsible for the timely delivery of required data, analysis, and information to support and influence decision making
• Lead the Finance strategic planning, budgeting, forecasting and monthly performance reporting processes
• Provides analysis, support & challenge to ensure that major new product and innovation initiatives, projects, and strategic investments are a success
• Implement all Group financial strategies, policies, guidelines, processes, and systems. Ensures full compliance to the Group corporate standards.
• Responsible for a Finance function and their personal development including Business Partnering & Change

• Ensure robust financial controls across trading, pricing, and stock processes
• Maintain compliance with internal policies, audit requirements, and regulatory standards
• Working closely with relevant Shared Services team to ensure Accounts Payable and other utilised services meet the needs of the Group
• Group IT Recharge calculation, analysis, and distribution to ensure all costs are charged to the user of the service and hold each service owner to account to deliver results in line with transfer pricing margins
• Comply and maintain expert knowledge on transfer pricing rules, ensure legal documentation is in place to support transactions and work with Group Tax on future Transfer Pricing policy for IT
• Work with Treasury to manage foreign exchange exposure and develop a strategy as the mix and variation in multiple currencies through the Group changes
• Financial control for projects making sure cost is monitored throughout and in line with Group governance

Partner with IT, Digital and Data teams to align financial goals with business and functional strategies.

• Provide clear, influential communication of financial performance to senior stakeholders and the Board
• Lead the budgeting, forecasting, and long range planning processes across all supported areas. Robust detailed budgets and plans for all teams and services
• Monthly financial performance review and management, understanding the commercial drivers to review and challenge the team performance and hold the Business to account to reach targets with ongoing monitoring of risks and opportunities
• Business case and commercial support for project investments.

• Develop and oversee Digital and IT strategies that balance competitiveness, customer value, and profitability
• Evaluate Digital and IT plans and trade offs, ensuring ROI and alignment with overall strategy
• Drive…