Business Unit Financial Analyst

Sonoco Limited; Manchester; On-site; GBP 50,000 - 70,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading global packaging solutions provider based in Manchester is seeking a qualified professional for a role in financial planning and analysis (FP&A). This position involves developing strategic objectives, budgeting, forecasting, and performance management. The ideal candidate will have strong analytical skills, relevant educational qualifications, and significant experience in FP&A. Proficiency in Microsoft Excel and experience with ERP systems are essential. This role offers an opportunity to impact business decisions and drive performance improvement.

Qualifications

• Strong analytical and critical thinking skills required.
• Proven ability to connect decisions with financial results.
• Mastery of financial models and ratios necessary.

Responsibilities

• Develop strategic objectives for growth and profitability.
• Support budgeting, forecasting, and capital analysis.
• Provide insights for performance management and decision support.

Skills

Analytical skills

Critical thinking

Business case development

Communication skills

Collaboration

Education

Bachelor's Degree in Accounting, Finance, Economics or related

Master's Degree or professional certification (CPA, CMA, CFA)

Tools

Microsoft Excel

ERP systems

Job description

Long Range & Strategic Planning

• Report, track and assist in developing strategic objectives including growth, profitability, product and service mix, and geographic presence. Participate and assist Corporate FP&A on approach and best practices
• Ability to participate in Corporate Development projects to support various M&A activity

Management Reporting & Insights

• Ability to identify the top KPIs that drive results, ability to isolate, measure, track and influence results, including variance analysis to prior year, budget, and reforecast
• Play an active role in presenting monthly results and providing explanations of drivers

Budgeting & Forecasting

• Supports the development of annual capital spend through strategic prioritization and ROI goals
• Execute annual budgets for the Business Unit based on inputs from Operations and Corporate FP&A
• Manage recurring forecasts on a timely basis to support decision analysis that drive internal action and inform external expectations
• Play active role in preparing budgets and reforecasts, for divisions, regions, countries, plants or cost centers
• Support capital forecasting to improve cashflow forecasting and investment decisions

Net Working Capital, Capital Project, and Lease Analysis

• Develop insights, raise concerns, and report appropriate actions to respective owners to optimize net working capital improvement
• Identifies and challenges key assumptions and risk-related capital projects and conducts post-capital reviews
• Challenge and ensure completeness, reasonable assumptions, and financial viability of capital project analysis as part of capital approval routings

Performance Management & Decision Support

• Partner with Business Unit and operational leaders to provide insight, analysis, and financial acumen to support business decisions, challenge base assumptions, and identify potential opportunities and strategies
• Enhance the capabilities, tools, techniques, and models to enable Finance to influence and drive better decision making in the organization

Knowledge & Skills Required

• Strong analytical, critical thinking, and business case development skills
• Ability to connect business decisions with impacts on financial results
• Ability to understand operational processes to be able to challenge base assumptions and look at potential opportunities

Communication

• Ability to clearly and concisely explain drivers of results, competently answer questions regarding performance and results, influencing and encouraging actions
• Ability to present business leadership relative to the role, i.e. budgets and monthly results, MBR / QBR, capial analysis, and PCAs

Technical

• Deep technical knowledge and understanding of FP&A activities, specifically management reporting, financial analysis, and pricing / competitive analysis activities
• Proficiency and understanding of financial statements and financial ratios
• Ability to create financial models and perform complex calculations
• Strong understanding of financial analysis, industry and competitive landscape, , cash generation management, and risk management
• Ability to complete FP&A activities with a strong attention to detail
• Strong knowledge in general principles of manufacturing or costs accounting and analysis
• Ability to transform large data sets to provide actionable insights
• Strong knowledge of ERP and consolidation systems
• Proficient with Microsoft Office packages such as Word, Excel and Power Point

Relational

• Strong collaboration and relationship management skills
• Ability to actively engage and communicate in in-person, virtual, and remote environments
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills
• Coachable and a willingness to learn
• Ability to provide linkage between Controllership Accounting team and BU FP&A team
• Ability to manage deliverables independently as well as perform under pressure
• Ability to work in cross-functional team environment across multiple levels of management
• Ability to work in fast-paced environment and manage well through ambiguity and complexity

Education Required

Bachelor's / First Degree in Accounting, Finance, Economics Business or related disciplines

Education Preferred

Master's Degree and / or professional certification (CPA, CMA, CFA, etc)

Experience

Relevant experience working in FP&A required, other Finance experience / role beneficial