Financial Analyst - 18 month FTC

BPA; Hemel Hempstead; Hybrid; GBP 36,000 - 52,000; Full time

Job summary

British Pipeline Agency Limited (BPA) is seeking a finance professional to deliver accurate financial reporting and planning support for Operations and Engineering. You will help budget holders and senior stakeholders understand performance, costs and make informed decisions.

Responsibilities include producing cost/turnover reports, reconciling variances, maintaining forecasting models, and supporting the rolling five-year plan to produce robust forecasts and reliable management information.

Qualifications

• GCSEs in Mathematics and English (grade C/4 or above).
• At least two years’ experience in an accounts or finance role.
• Experience in budgeting and financial forecasting.
• Experience in preparing, maintaining and reviewing detailed financial reports and spreadsheet models.

Responsibilities

• Lead and support the production of engineering project cost and turnover reports using Excel and project data.
• Prepare and deliver monthly cost and time-writing reports for internal and external accounts.
• Maintain rolling cost, turnover and fee forecasting models and assist with the five-year plan.

Skills

Advanced Microsoft Excel

Financial analysis

Budgeting

Forecasting

Attention to detail

Collaborative working

Microsoft Office

Education

GCSEs in Maths and English

Tools

Finance systems

Job description

Join Our Team at BPA: Officially Where it’s a Great Place to Work!

At BPA, we’re proud to be jointly owned by BP and Shell - two of the world’s leading oil majors - which gives us the strength and stability of industry giants. Yet, with a close-knit team of around 180 professionals across the UK, we maintain a genuinely friendly, supportive, and collaborative environment. Our size means every individual is valued, and we work together as one team -sharing knowledge, supporting each other, and celebrating our successes collectively. This whole-team focus allows us to deliver industry-leading hydrocarbon transport and storage solutions, while providing the personal touch that only a united team can offer!

Our People:

What sets BPA apart is our people. We are committed to the development and growth of everyone in our team. Our leadership are invested in ongoing training, professional qualifications, and mentoring to help staff reach their full potential. For example, we offer regular technical training, support for gaining industry-recognised certifications, and opportunities to take on new responsibilities or lead projects. By encouraging continuous learning and providing clear pathways for progression, we ensure that everyone can enjoy a rewarding career and, together, deliver outstanding technical advice and services to our clients.

Role Purpose:

To deliver accurate financial reporting, forecasting and planning support for Operations and Engineering, helping budget holders and senior stakeholders understand performance, manage costs and make informed decisions.

Main Duties and Responsibilities:

Reporting and Data Analysis

• Lead and support the production of Engineering Project Summary reports, using Excel and project data to validate costs, analyse performance and ensure fee and turnover forecasts are accurate, consistent and supported by clear assumptions.
• Prepare and deliver timely business information booklets, financial reports, invoices and year-end information for BPA’s Operations clients, using Excel and finance-system data to reconcile figures, investigate variances and present clear management information.
• Produce accurate monthly cost and time‑writing reports for internal and external accounts, checking data completeness and resolving discrepancies before issue.

Forecasting and Business Planning

• Maintain and analyse detailed cost, turnover and fee forecasting models, working closely with Operations and Engineering Project Managers to challenge assumptions, explain variances, identify trends and keep forecasts current and reliable.
• Coordinate the preparation and maintenance of the rolling five-year plan, consolidating and analysing submissions from budget holders, testing assumptions with senior stakeholders and modelling future scenarios to produce clear, robust forecasts.

Financial and Project Administration

• Maintain accurate job-cost records within BPA’s finance system, including setting up job numbers, entering budgets, updating project data and closing completed projects.
• Manage the biannual settlement process for contractual agreements from initial data preparation and validation through to reconciliation and completion.
• Maintain accurate records for return on investment, depreciation and ACA relating to completed capital projects, ensuring supporting data is complete and up to date.
• Complete routine finance activities, including preparing journals, reviewing overheads and fixed‑fee contracts, and supporting accurate budget entry and financial controls.

What do we need:

Qualifications

• GCSEs, or equivalent, in Mathematics and English at Grade C/4 or above.

Experience

• At least two years’ experience in an accounts or finance role.
• At least one year experience of budgeting and financial forecasting.
• Experience of preparing, maintaining and reviewing detailed financial reports and spreadsheet-based models.

Skills

• Advanced Microsoft Excel skills, with the ability to analyse large datasets and develop, maintain and review complex financial reports and forecasting models.
• Strong analytical and problem‑solving skills, with the ability to identify trends, investigate variances and draw clear conclusions from financial data.
• Excellent attention to detail and a consistently high level of accuracy.
• Able to prioritise competing demands, meet deadlines and work effectively both independently and collaboratively.
• Confident using finance systems, databases and other Microsoft Office applications.

Diversity & Inclusion

We know that diverse teams drive innovation and excellence. Research shows that people from underrepresented groups may hesitate to apply if they don’t meet every requirement. At BPA, we are dedicated to building a diverse and inclusive workplace. So, if you're excited about this role but your experience doesn't align perfectly with every detail in the job description, we encourage you to still apply. You may be just the right candidate for this or other roles.