Fp&A Analyst

An opportunity has arisen for an ambitious and driven Group FP&A Analyst to join the Group FP&A team, which is pivotal in supporting the Board to evaluate the strategic direction and financial performance of the Group during a time of significant change.

Reporting to the Group Senior FP&A Manager, this role will work alongside another FP&A Analyst, as well as the wider Group Finance team. The role is based in the Group's global HQ in Birmingham city centre, with a hybrid working pattern. The team closely supports the CFO and Group Business Development Director, as well as working closely with other Group functions including Reporting, Treasury, ESG, Procurement and Tax.

What you'll do...

• Supporting the delivery of the periodic reforecasting, annual Budget and longer term Strategic Plan, including completing the required analyses, maintaining and developing financial models in support of these activities, challenging divisional management on input assumptions, shaping the overall financial projections and summarising the output of these processes for the Group FP&A team.
• Regularly liaising with divisional finance teams to understand business performance and risk/opportunity to this, gather required data to support Group analysis, and constructively and confidently challenge key assumptions in forecasts / Budget.
• Designing and concluding upon insightful financial analysis to understand and articulate key topics such as capital expenditure, cost savings, fleet financing methods and return on capital employed, among others.
• Supporting the half yearly going concern and goodwill impairment review processes.
• Performing complex financial modelling to support the Board in evaluating strategic decisions on investment/divestment, growth expansion and refinancing.
• Collaborating with other Group functions, including Investor Relations, Financial Reporting, Treasury, Tax, Commercial Development and Procurement.
• Supporting the credit ratings review process, maintaining the financial model, calculating key metrics, monitoring the Group's credit outlook and preparing presentations for the annual agency review meetings.
• Completing ad-hoc financial analysis for the CFO, often in response to investor / analyst queries, demonstrating a strong understanding of key trends within the business, with a willingness to further investigate where required.

In addition, there is also the opportunity when workload allows, to become involved in other projects within the Group Finance team.

This is a highly complex and multi-faceted business, both from an operational and a technical accounting standpoint. While the individual will not be responsible for oversight of technical accounting, a sound grasp of IFRS and a willingness to further develop knowledge on these matters will be highly beneficial in the role.

This is an excellent opportunity for an ambitious person to develop in an international listed business environment. For high performers there are significant career development opportunities available.

What you'll need...

• Qualified accountant with either industry and/or transaction services experience preferred. The role would best suit a first time mover, likely with a Big 4 accountancy background.
• Experience in financial planning activities in other fast-paced, complex businesses would be highly advantageous.
• Excellent financial modelling skills, with the ability to build, develop and maintain complex financial models which remain robust and flexible to adapt to business planning needs e.g. scenario modelling
• Sound understanding of technical accounting, ideally with prior experience in IFRS 15/16 and a willingness to further develop technical knowledge to support development in the role.
• Strong data analysis capabilities, able to assimilate data from multiple sources to draw conclusions and present these in an insightful manner.
• Excellent attention to detail and curiosity to challenge the status quo
• Able to communicate confidently with senior personnel and to present information in a succinct and professional manner.
• Highly efficient and with the energy and tenacity to see work through to completion, in a timely manner, ensuring deadlines are met at all times. Able to take end-to-end responsibility for certain key tasks.
• Resilient, able to cope well with pressure and have the organisational skills to manage a diverse range of tasks and competing priorities.
• A motivation to identify and implement process improvement within the role.
• Able to collaborate well with employees across all levels within the organisation

What we offer in return for your hard work and commitment...

• Free Bus & Coach travel for yourself
• Complimentary coach travel for a Nominated Person or complimentary bus travel for a Spouse or Partner
• 50% discount for friends and family on full fares on our coach services
• Life Assurance
• Company pension
• Employee Assistance programme
• Private online GP service

National Express is proud to be a Disability Committed organisation. We therefore welcome applications from disabled candidates. Please let us know in your application if you have any accessibility needs.

We reserve the right to close this advert early if we receive a high volume of applications before the advertised closed date.

Things to Note...

At National Express, we are really proud of our health and safety record and as a result, we operate a Drugs and Alcohol Policy which is applicable to all employees.

As part of your initial assessment, we will complete Drug and Alcohol testing and you may be subject to random tests during your employment.