Finance: Tim Winmill

Name: Tim Winmill

Job: Retail finance analyst

Employer: The Arcadia Group

Area of work: Finance

Qualifications: Bcomm business commerce, University of Birmingham

I have always liked the idea of analysing data to provide information for driving the decision-making process. I was also interested in clothes and fashion, so retail finance was a good way of marrying the two interests.

My job

My role is extremely varied and challenging. I monitor store performance, look at cost controls, and plan ahead. I produce a monthly information pack for meetings attended by directors, which reviews the previous month’s trade and costs and discusses full year risks and opportunities. In the same meeting, I present a section on controllable costs, where I speak in front of the directors and may need to challenge senior managers. I also send out weekly reports reviewing the previous week’s trade, help produce planning packs for the next season, and do ad hoc work such as working on a project to increase the accuracy of payroll forecasting. On top of this, I field queries from managers and liaise with regional controllers to fulfil their needs. The work environment is creative and fast-paced, with a relaxed dress code as we’re a fashion company.

Best and worst

Retail finance is an exciting area to work in; I never know what analysis I will have to undertake. There is, however, still a lot to learn – I’m on the first year of a three-year programme, and will rotate through two other areas of finance.