Finance Assistant

Compass Group PLC; City of Westminster; On-site; GBP 35,000 - 50,000; Full time

Job summary

A global leader in food services is seeking a Financial Support Analyst to provide high-quality operational and financial analysis. This role involves business partnering with stakeholders, financial risk management, and reporting. Candidates should be studying towards a CIMA/ACCA/ACA qualification, have strong analytical abilities, and experience with tools like Power BI. The ability to adapt and communicate effectively in a fast-paced environment is essential, along with a proactive and energetic approach. Competitive salary offered.

Benefits

Competitive Salary

Qualifications

• Experience in management accounting and producing reports.
• Ability to adapt to a fast-paced environment.
• Full P&L and Balance Sheet exposure.

Responsibilities

• Provide commercial and operational financial support.
• Deliver proactive financial analysis.
• Assist training of operational teams in business reporting.
• Monthly balance sheet reviews and risk management.

Skills

Commercial awareness

Analytical skills

Interpersonal skills

Communication skills

Attention to detail

Education

Studying Accountant in CIMA/ACCA/ACA or QBE

Tools

Power BI

Excel Macros and VBA

SAP

Job description

Purpose

PURPOSE: Commercial Support

Performance

• The role provides high-quality commercial and operational financial support to the Head of Operations' patch, ensuring strong decision-making, effective risk management, and delivery of business performance
• Business partnering with key financial and non-financial stakeholders, enabling data-driven insight and supporting successful operational outcomes
• Attend designated site and client meetings, presenting financial performance and analysis as required
• Delivering proactive ad-hoc financial analysis to support business unit decision making
• Understand and manage the financial risks and opportunities arising from volumetric and other contract mechanisms - and ongoing business performance
• Understand and highlight the financial risks and opportunities arising from balance sheet maintenance
• Help prepare key business reporting such as month end reports, business reviews, client reports, budgets, cash analysis and other ad-hoc analysis to be discussed at monthly review
• Assist in training of operational teams in the use of business reporting to understand and improve their financial performance. Power BI experience is favourable, looking at enhanced reporting for the operational teams
• Monthly balance sheet review for area of responsibility, escalating key risks/ opportunities to senior stakeholders
• Promote working capital improvements through timely, accurate contract billing, active management of debt ledgers and timely resolution of queries
• Support with the budgeting and forecasting process by consolidating the budget, understanding variances and preparing the budget presentation for senior stakeholders
• Support with completion of documentation for client tenders, negotiations and capital expenditure appraisals
• Support operational teams with understanding actions required on mobilisation and ensure that these are executed in line with timetable
• You will ensure health and safety of all colleagues within the business and report any incidents via the approved company processes

People: Relationship Management

• Working effectively as part of a team
• Building relationships with key stakeholders
  Actively studying Accountant in CIMA/ACCA/ACA or QBE
• Experience of management accounting inclusive of accounting adjustments, producing reports/analysis to support commercial decision making
• Analytical and with a high level of attention to detail
• Experience of business partnering non-finance professionals to support the delivery of sound financial information
• Full P&L and Balance Sheet exposure

Desirable

• Ability to adapt to a fast-paced and changing environment
• Excel Macros and VBA
• Experience of SAP and reporting tools
• Power BI

Performance Standards

• Excellent communication skills - ability to communicate oral and written information concisely and logically - to both finance and non-finance people
• Pro-active and energetic approach
• Ability to analyse and evaluate information concisely
• Excellent interpersonal skills with proven ability to influence internal and external parties
• Self-motivated team player with an ability to effectively plan and organise own work
• Ability to take on a broad spectrum of work under pressure and to deliver in agreed timescales

Leadership behaviours

• Communication - ability to work well with peers
• Can Do - Finds new / quicker ways of meeting goals, shows conviction in own judgement and decisions, responds quickly under pressure and overcomes hurdles to achieve targets
• Share Success - Provides task related feedback to do the job effectively and provides excellent service.
• Passion for Quality - Sets demanding performance expectations, sets priorities to maximise benefits, tracks the commercial implications of a situation in a step by step way
• Win through Teamwork - Pursues friendly relationships with colleagues and clients, makes contact with colleagues across the organisation and shares own knowledge and insight and displays a high level of energy and commitment to the role and organisation, building trust with various stakeholders
• Embrace Diversity - Listens to others and values their contributions, receptive to new and builds on ideas and acts in ethical and socially responsible manner
• Competitive Salary