Finance Analyst

at  Just Group

SKILLS & EXPERIENCE

• Qualified Accountant (ACA, ACCA, CIMA or equivalent)
• Experience of cost accounting in a multi divisional and multi departmental organisation.
• Experience of budgeting, forecasting and management accounting best practice.
• Experience of working in an Insurance or other Financial Services environment is preferred
• Experience of a Life Insurance environment would be advantageous.
• Working knowledge of IFRS 17 accounting principles would be advantageous
• Knowledge of Oracle would be an advantage but not essential.
• Strong and confident communication skills – both written & verbal
• Strong analytical skills.
• Ability to handle and manipulate large amounts of raw data into relevant and presentable formats. This will require very effective IT skills – Microsoft Office packages including Word, advanced Excel (including pivot tables, look ups), presentational packages (PowerPoint, PDF).
• Ability to present financial information in a clear and coherent manner suitable for presenting to senior management.
• Strong and confident communication skills – both written & verbal

ABOUT THE ROLE

We are looking for a Finance Analyst to ensure that Just Group’s expenses are accounted for accurately, reported to key stakeholders to support decision making and that forecasts and plans are robust. The Finance Analyst will ensure that effective cost management processes and controls are maintained and improved upon where required.

RESPONSIBILITIES

• Month end: posting expense accruals, prepayments and other adjustments into the general ledger, in line with relevant accounting standards and adhering to Group timetables. You will need to maintain strong relationships with the Finance Business Partners who will have insight into the cost base for different areas of the business. Prepare variance analysis to ensure outputs from month end processing as outlined above are as expected. Investigate discrepancies and produce commentary to explain variances. Provide supporting evidence for expense entries to external auditors.
• Produce and contribute to regular MI and reporting: ensure that MI answers the ‘so what’ and that variances are clearly explained. Proactively seek action from MI where there are undesirable variances and contribute. Ensure that processes by which cost information hits the ledger and MI is produced are robust and timely and improved where necessary to increase efficiency.
• Ad hoc analysis: Conduct independent deep dive/reviews of Functional cost base to provide insight to business areas. Support project business cases and benefits appraisal.
• Forecasting: Assist with maintaining regularly updated, rolling forecasts and deliver key inputs into the annual 5 year Plan process including projections of the staff cost base, key strategic development costs and 3rd party costs.
• Continuous process improvement: continually look to challenge processes and reporting and provide suggestions for better ways of working for agreement within the team before implementing.
• Strong business knowledge: Develop and maintain strong business understanding including key product lines, key strategic priorities and markets in which the business operates.
• Review allocations: assist in the periodic review of the allocations rules for cost centres as required. Understand how allocations flow through into key IFRS and SII financial performance metrics.