en

Candidates

Together, we’ll map out career-defining, life-changing pathways to achieve your ambitions. Browse our range of services, advice, and resources.

Learn more

Find us on WeChat

Visit our WeChat Official Account for more Career Advice

Read more

Services

We understand that no two organisations are the same. Find out more about how we've customised our talent solutions to help clients in China meet their needs.

Read more
Jobs

Our industry specialists will listen to your aspirations and share your story with the most prestigious organisations in China. Together, let’s write the next chapter of your career.

See all jobs
Candidates

Together, we’ll map out career-defining, life-changing pathways to achieve your ambitions. Browse our range of services, advice, and resources.

Learn more

Find us on WeChat

Visit our WeChat Official Account for more Career Advice

Read more
Services

We understand that no two organisations are the same. Find out more about how we've customised our talent solutions to help clients in China meet their needs.

Read more
Insights

Whether you’re seeking to hire talent or seeking a new career move for yourself, we have the latest facts, trends and inspiration you need.

See all resources

Find us on WeChat

Visit our WeChat Official Account for more Market Insights.

Read more
About Robert Walters China

Since our establishment in 2008, our belief remains the same: Building strong relationship with people is vital in a successful partnership.

Learn more

Work for us

Our people are the difference. Hear stories from our people to learn more about a career at Robert Walters China.

Learn more

Finance in the fashion industry

Working in the fashion industry may seem glamorous but the reality is they need good financial brains behind it, driving the business. They need professionals to conduct standard finance procedures, such as accounting, budgeting and issuing debt.

If you are a fashion mad accountant here are examples of 4 different roles you could pursue.

Supply chain finance manager
Supply chain finance deals with the funding of long-term purchasing of materials, coordinating the preparation of financial plans including budgets, forecasts and headcount analysis, based on the published timetable. They monitor actual financial performance against supply chain plans, prepare variance analyses and coordinate the release of KPI and other information.

The fashion industry has a particularly long cash-flow cycle and, therefore, needs financing to fund the period between production and sales. Fashion involves design, factory contracting, production, logistics and retail sales.

Accounts teams
A fashion brand has multiple vendor and stockist relationships that need to be maintained through effective accounts management. The accountants, accounts payable and accounts receivable professionals keep the cash flow healthy and deliver on financial goals. As the cycle is long in the industry, capable and hardworking accounts teams are the mainstay of any successful fashion house.

Retail finance manager
Retail finance managers have a similar role as those in supply-chain finance. However, these responsibilities are slightly less demanding because the process starts at the point of receipt of the goods.

Large publicly-traded fashion firms with well-known national brands need an efficient chief financial officer to manage all the finance and accounting functions of the company.

 

Chief financial officer
Like any corporation, a fashion brand needs a CFO, responsible for managing the daily financial needs of the firm. CFOs oversee all financial operations of an organisation, including accounting, financial reporting and business.

CFO also has to make sure that sales margins are managed properly to be able to pay back supply-chain and retail lenders. This CFO is usually experienced in retail or supply-chain finance, so they have a good idea of the day-to-day financial needs of the fashion industry.

Useful links

Read more on WeChat
Looking for a job?
Salary Survey
Career Advice
Get in touch

Find out more by contacting one of our specialist recruitment consultants

Related content

View all
Answering finance interview questions

Holding the required formal qualifications for an accountancy and finance position you are applying for is only the first step on the path to successfully securing a new role. In today’s candidate-saturated job market, you need to utilise the interview process as an opportunity to set yourself apart

Read More
Being a finance business partner

As a finance business partner, you’ll be expected to play a key role in driving the business forward. We look at the job in more detail. Getting involved with key decision making These jobs are exciting because you’ll be involved in making key decisions that impact the business. Normally based withi

Read More

I'm Robert Walters Are you?

Come join our global team of creative thinkers, problem solvers and game changers. We offer accelerated career progression, a dynamic culture and expert training.