Financial Planning & Analysis Lead

RNLI; England; On-site; GBP 90,000 - 110,000; Full time

Job summary

RNLI is seeking a Financial Planning & Analysis Lead to join our FP&A team. You will shape financial planning, forecasting and budgeting to support the 2026–2030 5-Year Plan, delivering trusted data, insight and automation.

You will lead the FP&A function, coordinate with the Head of FP&A and wider finance teams, and drive improvements in processes, data and tooling. You will combine strong FP&A knowledge with curiosity about data and technology, inspiring colleagues to deliver high-quality

Qualifications

• Extensive experience coordinating forecasting, budgeting, reporting and planning in a complex org.
• Strong financial analysis, modelling and management reporting skills.
• Solid understanding of financial controls and data governance.
• Experience with Power BI, Power Query and modern planning tools.
• Proven ability to lead and develop FP&A teams.

Responsibilities

• Lead the central FP&A function and ensure timely planning, forecasting, budgeting and reporting.
• Drive automation and data quality improvements.
• Coordinate cross-functional planning with senior stakeholders.
• Develop the FP&A team and enhance processes.

Skills

FP&A leadership

Forecasting & budgeting

Financial analysis

Management reporting

Cross-functional collaboration

Tools

Power BI

Power Query

Planning systems

Data models

Workflow automation

Copilot

Job description

About Us

The RNLI is a charity with the purpose to save lives at sea with a vision to save every one. We providea 24-hour lifeboat search and rescue service, lifeguards, fundraising, and drowning prevention. Our frontline lifesavers and fundraisers need a dedicated, professional and talented team behind them, and that is where you come in. This is your chance to join that team and help save lives every day.

About Us

The RNLI is a charity with the purpose to save lives at sea with a vision to save every one. We providea 24-hour lifeboat search and rescue service, lifeguards, fundraising, and drowning prevention. Our frontline lifesavers and fundraisers need a dedicated, professional and talented team behind them, and that is where you come in. This is your chance to join that team and help save lives every day.

We are looking for a Financial Planning & Analysis Lead to join our Financial Planning & Analysis team, who will provide effective processes, trusted data, insight and automation that enable the RNLI to plan accurately and ensure donor funds are used as effectively as possible.

Your role

This is an exciting opportunity to make a real difference. You will be coming into this new role at an interesting time as we shape the organisation to take on the challenges of the future with the delivery of our 5-Year Plan (2026 to 2030) in support of our overall RNLI strategy.

As Financial Planning & Analysis Lead you will lead the central Finance Planning & Analysis (FP&A) and support the continued development of the organisation’s FP&A capability, ensuring financial analysis, forecasting, budgeting, reporting and associated processes are delivered efficiently and consistently. The successful candidate will coordinate core planning and reporting activity, develop the team and drive practical improvements in processes, data and automation, working closely with the Head of FP&A, Strategic Finance Partnering Manager and wider Finance teams.

About You

To be considered as our new Financial Planning & Analysis Lead you will be someone who combines strong FP&A knowledge with curiosity about data and technology and can take responsibility to ensure your team delivers core tasks and objectives, while pursuing meaningful change. You will have the ability to build confidence through great organisation, collaborate well across professional levels in the organisation and translate change into automation to allow more time for insight, challenge and better decisions.

You Will Also Have

• Significant experience of coordinating financial forecasting, budgeting, reporting and planning processes within a complex organisation.
• Strong financial analysis, modelling and management reporting capability, with the ability to turn detailed data into clear organisational insight.
• A sound understanding of financial controls and data governance, and the ability to balance innovation with reliability and proportionate assurance.
• Practical experience of Power BI, Power Query, modern planning systems, data models, workflow automation, Copilot or comparable tools.
• Demonstrable experience of improving processes, reducing manual effort, or implementing new reporting, planning or analytical approaches
• Experience of leading, coordinating and developing colleagues while balancing multiple cyclical deadlines and improvement priorities.

If this sounds like you, and you are someone who is committed to delivering a high-quality service, can inspire colleagues through your actions and actively champions the RNLI values and expectations.

In return, you will be part of an extraordinary team and have the satisfaction of playing a significant role in driving forward the business of the RNLI: saving lives at sea.

Safeguarding and referencing

The RNLI is committed to safeguarding; protecting a person’s health, wellbeing, and human rights, enabling them to live free from harm, abuse, and neglect. We expect all employees and volunteers to share this commitment and have a zero-tolerance approach. The suitability of all prospective employees and volunteers will be assessed during the recruitment process in line with this commitment. This will include reference checks at offer stage and relevant criminal record checks being carried out dependent on the eligibility of the role. (England & Wales; DBS check, Scotland; Disclosure Scotland PVG, Northern Ireland; Access NI, Republic of Ireland; Garda Vetting; International, International Child Protection Certificate process).

Diversity at the RNLI

Our staff and volunteers have been saving lives at sea without prejudice for 200 years. We respect and value diversity of background, skills and perspectives within our teams, and consider it essential to help us deliver a world-class lifesaving service. We are an inclusive organisation and welcome applications from everyone. In addition to having the skills needed for the role, we also look for applicants who share our commitment to living our RNLI values (trustworthy, courageous, selfless, and dependable), and helping us work towards Our Vision: To save Every One.