KEY RESPONSIBILITIES AND ACCOUNTABILITIES

• Identifying and Delivering Process Improvement initiatives working with the wider Finance Team introducing better controls, data management and automation.  Able to lead activity and work pro-actively with a range of stakeholders using their initiative, problem-solving and systems skills.
• Developing new reporting dashboards, and providing financial modelling support for initiatives.
• Developing new ways of accessing data to create insightful analysis that guides and informs to support decision making.
• Lead the provision of timely, accurate and insightful reporting, analysis and targeted interpretation of monthly results to the business area management teams. Highlight key performance variances and work with the business areas to agree corrective action and identify any risks or opportunities to the latest forecast.
• Engage with stakeholders to create the Budgets & Forecasts for business areas feeding into the overall Budget, providing information & analysis for incorporation into ExCo and Board reports.
• Support Budget Managers in the creation, monitoring and controlling of their budgets and quarterly forecasts.  Analysing variances and liaising with budget holders on potential problem areas, subsequently making recommendations and advising on the impact.
• Actively participating in their internal customers’ monthly team meetings, providing financial updates and reports and influencing decision-making on key financial and non-financial matters.
• Creating a continuous improvement culture in particular developing and implementing streamlined and user-friendly processes, procedures and reports to support the financial activities within their internal customer teams, provide training to employees to embed these processes and embed reviews to ensure that these continue to be fit for purpose.
• Identifying and delivering process improvement and cost reduction opportunities.
• Taking actions which ensure the on-going success of the Finance team.
• Play a role in developing and implementing future data strategy using new digital techniques and tools such as Predictive Analytics and AI

Key Performance Indicators

• Measurable benefits from Process Improvements through time reduction, data quality and accuracy – creating efficiencies within monthly reporting cycle.
• Production of monthly management reporting & analysis including commentary in accordance with the defined timeframe for timely incorporation in ExCo and Board reporting.
• Budget and forecast process and reporting delivered on time and to required standard, pressures and opportunities identified promptly.
• Participation on key cross-departmental teams and projects and early involvement in decision making processes.
• Regular monthly attendance at management team meetings to provide financial update.
• Financial elements of Annual Operating Plans are based on sound assumptions and medium to long term plans are robust.
• Deliver Improvement actions and ensure control framework for areas of responsibility are compliant, success determined by internal and external audit points/actions.

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS, SKILLS, EXPERIENCE & KNOWLEDGE

Qualifications

• A relevant professional accounting qualification (CIMA, ACCA or CA)

Experience

• Demonstrable experience in the provision of financial planning and analysis support and advice to operational and service delivery teams.
• Experience in supporting non-finance managers in the delivery of the business plans; in interpreting the financial aspects of performance reporting; and to ensure decision making is based on robust assumptions and modelling.
• Demonstrable experience in creating financial models and visual analytics.
• Experience in delivering financial monthly reports & analysis to inform and influence senior managers.
• Demonstrable experience in the preparation and development of annual budgets and quarterly forecasting, ensuring the engagement of the budget holders responsible for delivery.
• Working on integrated, complex financial systems with a focus on reporting and interpreting data for use in analysis to support decision making.
• Experience of identifying, developing and implementing process change and training colleagues (both finance and non-finance) in the new process.

Desirable:

• Power BI (or equivalent analytics software) Experience.
• MS Dynamics Experience.

This role will be worked partially from the Edinburgh Office and partially from home.