Financial Planning & Analysis Analyst

Job Description

The FP&A function plays an essential role in decision making at Emerald, providing critical insights and strategic direction through comprehensive analysis and forecasting. This is an exciting opportunity for an FP&A Analyst to join our Finance team and lead on the delivery of our quarterly forecasts, further develop our reporting capabilities and manage commercial projects.

The FP&A Analyst’s primary role is to manage the quarterly forecast process, ensuring the information is collated, summarised, and reported on in a timely and reliable manner. Therefore, accuracy and attention to detail are key to succeeding in this role.

During non-forecasting periods, the FP&A Analyst self-manages change projects, ranging from cross-functional opportunities to commercially improve the business to developing new reporting suites. Direct support and coaching are readily available from the FP&A Manager.

You will report into the FP&A Manager, but will work closely with the rest of the Finance team, which is made up of around 16 people. We work mostly remotely, but you will be expected to join the team in our office in Leeds at least once a month, and for company days quarterly.

Day to day we’ll trust you to:   

• Managing the quarterly forecasting process to ensure it runs smoothly, including:

- Coordinating Finance Business Partners and liaising with budget holders to ensure that inputs are delivered on time and are robust.
- Reviewing, cleansing and loading key data sets, such as headcount forecasting.
- Updating reporting outputs (including the forecast pack) to reflect the latest business requirements, with commercial insights and recommendations clearly and concisely presented using a mix of visualisations, commentary, and direct presentations.

• Assisting the Systems Accountant with the operational maintenance and support of Cognos Planning Analytics (TM1) and Cognos Analytics (BI) , including:

- Preparation of the Cognos TM1 model for each quarterly forecast, rollover of end user input forms and reporting slices, running lockdown processes.
- Maintenance of data structures, processes and reports/slices to support other BAU cycles, such as month end.

• Self-managing change projects, producing high quality ad-hoc analysis, modelling and other financial plans as required by the business.

You’ll need to have:   

Skills & competencies

• CIMA, ACCA or ACA qualified/part qualified.
• Accuracy and attention to detail.
• Organised and motivated, able to work within tight deadlines
• Proactive and curious – taking the initiative and seeking opportunities for change.
• Excellent communication skills, both verbal and written
• Confident, personable and professional attitude.
• Flexible – adapting to changes in priorities, deadlines, responsibilities and projects.
• Advanced Microsoft Excel user, confident with complex formulae and modelling.
• High standard of IT literacy, proficient in the use of all Microsoft Office programmes, especially PowerPoint.

Essential experience

• Prior experience of managing or coordinating parts of a forecasting process.
• Comfortable managing and ensuring data integrity of large data sets.

Highly desirable:

• Prior experience of using IBM Cognos Planning Analytics (TM1) or similar OLAP software (desirable).
• E2E forecasting/budgeting experience.
• Project implementation/delivery.
• Business partnering experience.

What’s in it for you?

At Emerald, we value our people. Becoming a part of our team means you’ll join a trusting and flexible environment and we've been flexified so you can trust that we're a truly flexible workplace. All we ask is that you attend the office once a month to come together with work colleagues. You'll also have numerous opportunities to progress your career, as well as access to professional development and the opportunity to learn new skills.

You’ll receive a wide range of benefits, such as 38 days annual leave (inclusive of bank holidays, remote flexible working, a discretionary performance bonus, 6% pension contribution and various benefits aimed at supporting your wellbeing and work-life balance such as a working from home allowance. You can check out a full list of our benefits here.

Roles are advertised at a benchmarked market median rate. Offers will be made within a range of the median, depending on skills and experience.

Emerald Group is committed to creating an inclusive environment for all of our applicants. If you would like to request any accommodations/adjustments from application through to interview stages, please complete the relevant section within the application or contact us at peopleteam@emerald.com and let us know.