Finance Analyst

AD Finance; Leicester; Hybrid; GBP 28,000 - 36,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Hybrid working arrangement

Mentorship and development

Career progression opportunities

Job summary

Alexander Daniels are partnering with a well-established business in Leicester to recruit a Finance Analyst. This is an early-career role designed to develop analytical and commercial finance skills in a fast-paced environment.

You will gain exposure to management accounting support, cost analysis, reporting and data interpretation while working closely with an experienced finance team. A strong foundation in data, numbers and Excel will help you progress in finance and commercial analysis.

Qualifications

• Degree-qualified in accounting, finance, business, economics or equivalent finance experience.
• Strong numerical, analytical and problem-solving skills.
• Intermediate to advanced Excel skills for data manipulation and analysis.
• Understanding of management accounting principles from education or work experience.

Responsibilities

• Assist with journals, accruals, prepayments and reconciliations.
• Support monthly management accounts production and reporting.
• Contribute to month-end processes for accurate financial information.
• Provide ad hoc financial analysis and reporting support for the finance function.
• Collaborate with senior finance colleagues on business and finance projects.
• Maintain product costing data and analyze cost performance.
• Develop and enhance Excel-based reporting tools and MI packs.
• Extract, manipulate and analyse data from finance systems to produce dashboards.

Skills

Numerical skills

Analytical thinking

Excel skills

Management accounting

Communication skills

Career in finance

Education

Finance/accounting degree or equivalent

Tools

ERP systems

Reporting tools

Data visualization tools

Job description

Alexander Daniels are partnering with a well-established and expanding business in Leicester to recruit a Finance Analyst. This is an excellent opportunity for an early-career finance professional looking to develop their analytical and commercial finance skills within a fast-paced environment.

This position offers exposure to a broad range of finance activities, including management accounting support, cost analysis, reporting, and data interpretation. The successful candidate will work closely with an experienced finance team and gain valuable exposure to financial systems and business intelligence tools as they progress.

This role would suit an ambitious individual who enjoys working with data, has strong analytical skills, and is keen to build a long-term career within finance and commercial analysis.

Key Responsibilities

Financial Reporting & Accounting Support

• Assist with a variety of routine finance activities, including journals, accruals, prepayments, and account reconciliations.
• Support the production of monthly management accounts and associated reporting.
• Contribute to month-end processes to ensure accurate and timely financial information.
• Provide ad hoc financial analysis and reporting support for the wider finance function.
• Work alongside senior finance colleagues on a range of business and finance projects.

Cost Analysis & Operational Finance

• Support the maintenance of product costing information and ensure data integrity.
• Analyse cost performance and investigate variances to identify trends and improvement opportunities.
• Collaborate with operational teams to develop a strong understanding of business processes and key cost drivers.
• Assist in maintaining accurate cost and performance data to support decision-making.
• Contribute to reporting that supports operational and commercial performance reviews.

Data Analysis, Systems & Process Improvement

• Extract, manipulate, and analyse data from finance and operational systems.
• Produce meaningful reports and dashboards that provide clear insight to stakeholders.
• Assist in developing and enhancing Excel-based reporting tools and management information packs.
• Support continuous improvement initiatives across finance processes and reporting.
• Gain exposure to systems development, automation projects, and data-driven decision-making activities.

Skills & Experience

Essential

• Degree-qualified in Accountancy, Finance, Business, Economics, or a related discipline, or possess equivalent finance experience.
• Strong numerical, analytical, and problem-solving skills.
• Confident working with large volumes of data and interpreting information accurately.
• Intermediate to advanced Excel skills, with the ability to manipulate and analyse data.
• Understanding of management accounting principles gained through education or practical experience.
• Strong communication skills and the ability to present information clearly.
• Desire to pursue a career within finance, analysis, and business reporting.

Desirable

• Previous exposure to ERP systems or integrated business software.
• Experience using reporting, analytics, or data visualisation tools.
• Understanding of costing methodologies gained through studies or work experience.
• Interest in process improvement, automation, or finance systems development.
• Experience within a commercial, operational, manufacturing, or technical business environment.

Personal Profile

The successful candidate will be:

• Naturally inquisitive with a keen interest in understanding how businesses operate.
• Highly organised with strong attention to detail.
• Comfortable working with numbers, systems, and large data sets.
• A proactive learner who enjoys developing new skills and taking on additional responsibilities.
• Collaborative in their approach and confident building relationships across different departments.
• Motivated by long-term career development and progression opportunities.

What's on Offer?

• Excellent opportunity for career progression within a growing finance team.
• Exposure to commercial finance, business analysis, and reporting activities.
• Hands-on experience supporting key business decisions through data and financial insight.
• Ongoing training, mentorship, and professional development opportunities.
• Hybrid working arrangement and supportive team culture.
• Clear pathway towards more advanced analytical, commercial finance, or systems-focused roles.