Financial Analysis Manager (Newcastle)

Working for a global law firm with over 50 offices and 7,000 employees worldwide.

This Firm has a client base that includes some of worlds most prolific corporations and financial institutions. It offers a full business law service.

Their new hybrid working model allows their people to have more flexibility in the way they choose to work from both the office and a remote location, while continuing to deliver the highest standards of service. They offer a range of family friendly and inclusive employment policies and provide access to programmes and services aimed at nurturing our people’s health and overall wellbeing.

Background:

This role sits within the Commercial Finance function which supports the leadership team by providing accurate, timely, insightful and relevant financial planning and analysis advice. They aim to be an effective and efficient business partnering service, working in conjunction with other colleagues across the professional support family to deliver a seamless and proactive service.

The role:

This is a fantastic opportunity for an ambitious individual who wishes to be part of a progressive, customer-centric team which works closely with the business to provide proactive financial leadership and support. Key components of the role (inter-alia) are as follows: -

• Plays a leading role in the provision of analytical support, primarily to the Commercial Finance function, but on occasions work for the wider Finance team will also be required. Working with their team, the Financial Analysis Manager will ensure requests for support are prioritised and managed appropriately, ensuring the analyst team workload is balanced, and that all outputs are accurate and delivered on time to 'delight the customer’
• Working closely with the Head of Finance Business Partnering, line manage a team of 3 finance analysts (all studying accountancy qualifications), providing a structured framework to ensure a high quality analyst capability which is underpinned by developmental support and coaching for team members.
• Assisting in the preparation of high quality financial presentations to the business and providing analysis and recommendations as and when required. The Financial Analysis Manager will also provide support to resolve any follow up actions which result from business engagements.
• Becoming a SME for the suite of finance systems and models used by the Department, working with Commercial Finance senior leadership to ensure systems and models remain accurate, relevant and fit for purpose. The successful candidate should proactively look for ways to improve the efficiency of data generation.
• Providing assistance to the Commercial Finance Director and Commercial Finance Business Partners with routine deliverables including, but not limited to, the annual budget process, quarterly reforecast exercises and business review presentations.
• Working with the Finance and HR teams (both locally and remotely) to ensure integrity and accuracy of data used by the Department, e.g. headcount, fee earner cost rates.
• Where business needs require it, acting as a Finance Business Partner to smaller areas of the EMEA business, working with Commercial Finance colleagues to ensure adequate levels of support
• Compiling financial data to support complex business requests including, but not limited to, partner and fee earner appraisals, client and matter profitability, trend reporting. The Financial Analysis Manager should be capable of turning financial data into timely and relevant insights and recommendations for management action.
• Assisting the wider Commercial Finance function with other adhoc tasks as required.

Requirements:

Essential

• Undergraduate degree - 2:1 or above with a solid understanding of finance and accounting principles
• ACCA/CIMA/ACA qualified or qualified by experience
• A minimum of 5 years’ experience as a senior financial analyst in a commercial environment.
• Experience managing a team of customer-centric analysts where coaching, continuous improvement and collaboration were evident in maintaining an accurate and effective support capability
• Excellent time management skills and able to prioritise work when facing competing deadlines (for themselves and the wider analyst team)
• Advanced Excel skills.
• Demonstrable experience of being able to analyse large data sets and deliver qualitative and quantitative information and findings in a concise and useful manner in order to support key stakeholders
• Excellent written and verbal communication. The ability to remain calm and focussed under pressure
• Proven attention to detail and can demonstrate taking pride in work and ensuring it is of the highest standard

Desirable/Advantageous

• Professional services or commercial sector experience
• Experience of providing Finance Business Partnering to senior business stakeholders.
• Experience providing supervision or mentoring of more junior staff