Sam Daniells
Milton Keynes,Buckinghamshire
Summary
Accomplished professional with strong financial and commercial awareness, experienced at a senior level. Demonstrates a deep understanding of the retail environment, store processes, and procedures. Proven ability to lead teams with a clear vision and open communication, ensuring team engagement. Skilled in challenging senior stakeholders on financial and general business decisions, influencing decisions within Operational and Finance divisions. Adept at working cross-functionally in a supportive yet challenging manner.
Energetic employee well-versed in strong communication and organisation skills. Seeks solutions to problems and applies extensive analytical knowledge to findings. Adept at multi-tasking, leading group discussions and managing projects.
Overview
24
24
years of professional experience
10
10
years of post-secondary education
1
1
Certification
Work History
Head of Property Finance
Sainsbury's
Coventry, WAR
10.2022 - 04.2025
- Leadership of Property Finance team providing business partner support to Chief Property & Procurement Officer, Director of Estates, Director of FM and Director of Capital Construction, alongside Heads of across various Property teams
- Leadership and development of team – Total 14
- Financial Lead in Property Forums to ensure decisions are based on robust financial appraisals and are in line with groups next level strategy
- Delivery and presentation of key investment papers to key Board meetings, including investment proposals and subsequent Post Investment reviews
- Lead on delivery and evaluation of key long-term investments such as Mixed Used Developments, to drive cash generation and long-term value to group
- Lead on day-to-day Investment appraisal activity for New sites - including Supermarkets and Convenience Stores
- Lead on day-to-day investment appraisal activity for existing estate - lease event activity such as re-gears, renewals
- Lead periodic reporting process for Property division for both P&L and Capital spend – c£1.5bn P&L spend and c£400m Capital
- Financial lead in Property Leadership group meetings to ensure alignment on key results, alongside management of short-term cost position
- Support delivery of savings agenda across Property to support overall group targets and drive cost efficiency
- Delivery of long-term planning cycle (budgets, re-forecasts and 5-year plan)
- Day to day support for Property team on key investment and spend related activity
Head of Central Trading Finance
Sainsbury's
Milton Keynes, BKM
05.2020 - 10.2022
- Leadership of Central Trading Finance (CTF) team providing business partner support to Commercial Director, BUD's, and Head of Trading Finance for GM&C business
- Leadership and development of team – Total 9
- Leading Trading Sales and Margin process across GM&C – including reporting of actual performance including Daily, Weekly, periodic, and quarterly reporting alongside leading planning processes for Latest Views and Budgets
- Leading quarterly Trading Statement and Prelim/Interim process for GM&C business working alongside Group teams / FP&A teams as well as Investor Relations
- Lead Stock Management Reporting processes for GM&C, collaborating with commercial teams to understand drivers of performance to drive forward projections and resulting impact on Group Net Debt
- Day to day support for Commercial Proposition team on key GM&C activities including Range Review and FRSO processes as well as supporting on key activities such as Brexit reporting and regular review of ROI channel performance
- Leadership of Centrals process for GM&C commercial – through day-to-day Business Partnering support on key activities such as Periodic reporting, Latest View planning as well as Project support
- Day to day leadership of reporting and planning process across GM&C including Latest Views and Budgets/Corporate Plan Cycles
Trading Finance Controller
Sainsbury's Argos
Milton Keynes, BKM
08.2019 - 06.2020
- Company Overview: Argos Limited
- Leadership of team providing business partner support to home division alongside Leadership of Stock management agenda across SainsburysArgos
- Leadership and development of team (Direct 3 and Indirect 4) – Total 7 split across two sites
- Business Partnering support to Home Trading Director on short and medium-term objectives
- Leadership of provision of Strategic Finance support to Home Trading division – support on 5 Year plan targets and aspirations
- Business appraisal support for Investment cases and commercial activities
- Lead stock management agenda across commercial alongside Trading Directors – Scope – closing balance £1bn, Order value £5bn
- Responsibility for forecasting and reporting of business stock levels across Sainsburys GM&C and Argos providing insight into opportunities to improve performance
- Targeted stock reduction of more than £250m over 2 years across GM&C
Reporting and Forecasting Financial Controller
Sainsbury's Argos
Milton Keynes
11.2017 - 08.2019
- Company Overview: Argos Limited
- Leadership of team who play pivotal role to create and execute Management accounts budgets, and strategic plans for Sainsburys Argos (Turnover c£7billion)
- Leadership and development of team (Direct 4 and Indirect 13) – Total 18 split across two sites
- Exec Board stakeholder support including CFO and CEO of Sainsburys Argos as well as broader members of executive board
- Day to day No 2 support to Head of FP&A
- Primary contact for Senior finance stakeholders including Head of Business Partnering and senior finance leadership teams across both Argos and Sainsburys
- Responsibility for overall Board level reporting activities including periodic updates to Sainsburys Argos Mgmt Board as well as Sainsburys plc CFO
- Delivery of Financial planning process to provide board with insight and analysis to understand direction of business including short term views as well long-term strategic plans
- Produce channel reporting, analysis, and insight to help business understand which channels are driving growth, cost volume trends and to help guide operational areas
- Responsibility to produce weekly trading pack information – delivered to key stakeholders across Sainsburys Argos business to support short term trading and commercial decisions
- Stakeholder support to Group Investor relations team to support external announcements
FP&A Business Planning Financial Controller
Argos Limited
Milton Keynes
11.2015 - 11.2017
- Responsibility for core FP&A activity for Argos as well as Business Partner responsibility for Central costs (c£150m) and Establishment property costs (c£250m)
- Leadership and development of FP&A Business Planning finance team (Direct team of five and Indirect 12) – Total team seventeen
- Key business stakeholder support including CFO and CEO of Sainsburys Argos as well as broader members of executive board
- Day to day support for Head of Commercial Finance
- Business Partner support to HR director for Central costs alongside supporting day to day delivery to various Heads of departments
- Leadership of execution of financial planning process across Argos business
- This includes both short term and long-term planning cycles (Budgets and 5-year plans)
- Accountable for delivery of all Budget and Forecast cycles for capital expenditure for Argos business and associated prioritisation process to maximise return on investment – Capital c£150m
- Leadership of periodic reporting process across Argos business including presentation to Argos board of periodic financials
- Responsibility for delivery of quarterly Trading Statement requirements into J Sainsburys PLC as well as finance lead for Interim and Prelim financial reporting requirements for Argos business
Transformation Financial Controller
Argos Limited
Milton Keynes, BKM
11.2012 - 11.2015
- Overall responsibility for all Transformation financials including forecasting, reporting and analysis of business cases, benefit tracking and information integrity
- Leadership of Transformation finance teams (8 in Total – 3 Direct team, 5 Indirect 5)
- Lead finance support to key stakeholders including Finance Director, Transformation Director and Head of Commercial Finance
- Accountable for delivery of all Budget and Forecast cycles for Transformation expenditure – Capital c£300m and Revenue costs of c£100m
- Leading finance element of IT commercial process including playing key role in delivery of main contract for IT delivery partner
- Responsible for delivery of project benefit tracking for Transformation to Argos Executive Board – Assessment of expected benefits against plan and explanation of key movements
- Successful delivery of Transformation financials and supporting investment appraisals for launch and communication of Transformation plan to City in October 2012
- Development of reporting suites to support benefit tracking and project profitability
- Lead for financial evaluation and support of new initiatives including eBay strategic partnership
Various Roles
Argos / Homebase
Milton Keynes, BKM
07.2001 - 11.2012
Education
Bachelor of Arts - Accounting & Management Control
Sheffield Hallam University
Sheffield 01.1997 - 01.2001
3 A Levels and 7 GCSE'S - Various
The Radcliffe School
Milton Keynes 01.1991 - 01.1997
Skills
- Strong financial and commercial awareness with exposure at senior level
- Understanding of retail environment, store processes, and procedures
- To lead teams through clear vision and to provide open communications to ensure team engagement
- Ability to challenge senior stakeholders on both financial and general business decisions
- Strong ability to influence decisions at senior level within Retail & Operations and Finance divisions
- Ability to work cross functionally in challenging and supportive way
Certification
ACMA
Custom
BA (Hons)
Affiliations
- I am a keen Marathon Runner, which provides a personal physical and mental challenge, whilst also supporting my own mental well being
Timeline
Head of Property Finance
Sainsbury's
10.2022 - 04.2025
Head of Central Trading Finance
Sainsbury's
05.2020 - 10.2022
Trading Finance Controller
Sainsbury's Argos
08.2019 - 06.2020
Reporting and Forecasting Financial Controller
Sainsbury's Argos
11.2017 - 08.2019
FP&A Business Planning Financial Controller
Argos Limited
11.2015 - 11.2017
Transformation Financial Controller
Argos Limited
11.2012 - 11.2015
Various Roles
Argos / Homebase
07.2001 - 11.2012
Bachelor of Arts - Accounting & Management Control
Sheffield Hallam University
01.1997 - 01.2001
3 A Levels and 7 GCSE'S - Various
The Radcliffe School
01.1991 - 01.1997
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