We are proud to announce that in 2024, Outcomes First Group was officially certified as a ‘Great Place to Work’ for the fifth year running.
We’re on a mission to give our colleagues an amazing work/life balance! We are trialling the four-day working week, getting paid 100% for 80%!
Job title:
Financial Planning Analyst – Reporting & Analysis
Location:
Bolton office – hybrid twice per week
Salary:
Up to £40,000.00 per annum dependent on experience
Hours:
Monday to Friday, 9.00am – 5.00pm
Contract:
Permanent, 52 weeks
UK applicants only. This role does not offer sponsorship.
Job Purpose
To provide high-quality financial planning, analysis and reporting to the finance leadership and operational teams to drive business performance, foster understanding and support growth.
Key Responsibilities:
1. Financial performance:
o Lead month-end reporting and analysis to Operational leaders, delivering clear and accurate financial results in a timely manner.
o Analyse monthly financial results prepared by the accounting team to highlight and comment on key variances to budget or forecast.
o Collaborate with and support stakeholders to understand, track and analyse site financial performance, building rapport and holding them accountable for budget targets.
o Ensure that financial KPIs for relevant divisions are clearly and accurately reported on, with key trends highlighted to support informed decision making.
o Communicate performance effectively and objectively to the business, challenging budget holders and fostering a culture of accountability.
o Manage and maintain the month-end query tracker, ensuring site leaders receive prompt and clear responses to aid their understanding of financial results.
o Continuously review and improve the reporting processes and analysis across the FP&A and wider Finance team where appropriate.
o Work closely with the Business Intelligence team to create and distribute financial results and scorecards through systems and automation.
2. Budget and Forecast:
o Support the Finance Business Partners in the budgeting process across all areas of the Group, ensuring alignment to strict timelines and relevant analysis is adhered to.
o Maintain a budget and forecasting financial model to ensure consistency of data across all areas, including relevant KPIs.
o Support the Lead FP&A Analyst, Head of FP&A and Business Intelligence team in implementing system-driven automation for reporting, budgeting and modelling tools.
3. Customer service:
o Build strong relationships with senior leaders and operational teams, including relevant department heads.
o Act as the main point of contact on behalf of the wider finance team for responding to queries raised directly to the job holder.
o Demonstrate strong financial business partnering skills by: Providing timely delivery of monthly reports and scorecards (with support from the Business Intelligence team).
o Offering training and guidance on financial awareness to key senior leaders in operational teams as needed.
o Model a positive, professional and collaborative ethos in the Finance team, fostering a supportive and productive work environment.
Experience, Skills & Qualifications:
* Studying towards or completed a relevant accounting qualification (CIMA / ACCA / ACA etc.)
* A relevant degree (Accounting / Finance / Maths etc.) or AAT qualification.
* Unqualified candidates with significant relevant experience would be considered.
* Advanced Excel skills is critical – data manipulation (including extraction from financial ledgers), analytical and presentation skills at a level suitable for Senior Manager review.
* Proven ability to influence financial outcomes and work closely with operational managers.
* Strong interpersonal and communication skills. Ability to communicate and build relationships with people at different levels.
* Ability to present complex data and analysis in a high impact visual manner to senior stakeholders, drawing out the key messages and findings.
* Relevant management accounting experience.
* Excellent working knowledge of Microsoft Office including PowerPoint.
* Experience of Access Dimensions and Power BI would be advantageous, though not essential.
Why join Outcomes First Group?
Outcomes First Group is the leading provider of specialist education in the UK. We exist to give neurodivergent children and young people access to a great education that caters to their specific needs, abilities and aspirations.
We are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of pupils and young people. All applicants will be subject to social media checks and successful applicants to a fully enhanced DBS.
We are an Equal Opportunities Employer.
#J-18808-Ljbffr