Head of Finance - Systems

Salary:
Competitive Plus Benefits

Location:

London Store Support Centre and Home, London, EC1M 6HA

Contract type:
Permanent
Business area:
Finance & Transformation
Closing date: 20 August 2026
Requisition :

We’d all like amazing work to do, and real work-life balance. That’s waiting for you here at Sainsbury’s. For a FTSE business, we move incredibly fast. When we’re not leading projects, we’re supporting teams across the wider group to achieve their goals. And here, you can see the impact of your work as soon as you walk into a store, giving you a real sense of purpose and responsibility.

Better still, the team around you will listen to your ideas and opinions, and you’ll have every chance to try something new. The scale and complexity of our business mean there’s always something new to learn, and we’ll support you every step of the way. We’re trusted to get on with it. So get ready to make things happen.

Location:London, Coventry or Manchester Store Support Centre & Home – colleagues go into the office 1-2 days per week on average.

Joining Sainsbury's as the Head of Finance Systems offers a unique opportunity to lead a talented team and drive the Finance Systems strategy to support the company's vision and strategic aims. With a focus on governance, systems development, user support, and data integrity, you will play a crucial role in shaping the future of Finance operations. Collaborating with cross-functional teams and senior stakeholders, you will have the chance to make a significant impact and contribute to the success of a leading retail organisation, while gaining valuable experience in a dynamic and innovative environment.

What you'll do

You will be leading the Finance Systems team in developing and implementing Finance Systems strategy and governance, systems administration, development, user training and support, access controls, and data integrity. Your role will involve collaborating with Sainsbury's Technology and Finance leaders to align systems strategy with the organisation's strategic aims, overseeing the implementation of programmes and projects, leading governance processes, and ensuring the integrity and security of financial data.

Your expertise in leading a Finance Systems team, programme and project management, change management, and stakeholder engagement will be critical in driving the success of Finance Systems within a large and complex organisation like Sainsbury's.

Who you are

You are an accomplished leader with a proven track record of managing and developing Finance Systems teams within large, complex organisations. Your expertise in programme and project management, coupled with change management experience, enables you to drive the implementation of strategic initiatives that align with the organisation's vision and goals. With a recognised Finance qualification and a strong background in senior stakeholder management in Finance and Technology, you possess the necessary skills to lead governance processes, ensure data integrity, and optimise financial systems to support the operational and strategic needs of the business.

• Recognised professional finance qualification (e.g. ACA, ACCA, CIMA or equivalent)

Demonstrable understanding of finance systems and technology, including the ability to lead the adoption, optimisation, and governance of technology-enabled finance processes

• People management expertise with proven experience leading a Finance Systems team within a large, complex organisation – retail is desirable
• Demonstrable experience delivering finance-related programmes and projects, including planning, governance, and implementation
• Evidence of leading and managing organisational change, including the adoption of new systems, processes, or ways of working
• Proven ability to manage and influence senior stakeholders across Finance and Technology functions to achieve business outcomes
• Knowledge of key products in use such as One Stream, Blackline & Oracle
• Knowledge of data analysis & presentation tools
• Group / Technical Finance experience

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