Financial Planning Analyst

GradBay; Manchester; Hybrid; GBP 35,000 - 55,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Flexible working arrangements

Private healthcare

Life assurance

Enhanced parental leave

Generous holiday entitlement

Structured learning support

Job summary

A high-growth technology company in Manchester is seeking a Finance professional early in their career to design financial models and enhance forecasting frameworks. Candidates should possess strong analytical skills and a background in quantitative subjects like Mathematics or Economics. The role offers significant progression opportunities with close collaboration with finance leadership. Benefits include a competitive salary, flexible working arrangements, and support for professional development, creating an environment for meaningful work and rapid development.

Qualifications

• Early in career (0–3 years of experience) with interest in commercial decision-making.
• Experience in financial forecasting or performance analysis is a plus.
• Comfort in a fast-paced, evolving environment.
• Logical, structured approach to problem-solving
• Strong communication skills and the confidence to engage with stakeholders
• Intellectual curiosity about business operations and growth
• Comfort in a fast-paced, evolving environment

Responsibilities

• Design and develop financial and operational models.
• Build and enhance revenue forecasting frameworks.
• Communicate insights to non-finance audiences.
• Translate open-ended questions into data-backed analyses
• Collaborate with cross-functional stakeholders to refine modelling assumptions
• Identify opportunities to streamline and automate financial processes
• Explore AI-enabled workflows to improve forecasting and planning
• Communicate insights concisely to non-finance audiences
• Develop ownership of forecasting and strategic modelling over time
• Engage with senior finance leadership and contribute to executive discussions

Skills

Analytical capability

Spreadsheet modelling

Logical problem-solving

Strong communication skills

Intellectual curiosity

Curiosity about business

Adaptability in fast-paced environment

Education

Outstanding academic background in Mathematics, Economics, Finance, Data Science, Engineering or similar

Tools

Excel

SQL

Business Intelligence tools

BI tools

Job description

A high-growth technology business focused on building advanced software that helps organisations identify and resolve critical digital risks. Their products are developed by engineers, driven by research, and trusted by security professionals worldwide.

The company operates with small, empowered teams that take ownership of meaningful work. They value technical excellence, independent thinking, and continuous improvement. You’ll be given real responsibility from the outset, supported by experienced colleagues who prioritise learning, clarity, and long-term impact over short-term noise.

The Role of Finance

Their finance team plays a central role in shaping strategic decisions. We combine commercial understanding with rigorous analysis to provide leadership with clear insight into performance, investment choices, and future growth opportunities.

This is not a back-office reporting function — it is a forward-looking, commercially engaged team that works closely with stakeholders across the organisation.

Key Responsibilities

In this role, you will:

• Design and develop financial and operational models that reflect underlying business drivers
• Build and enhance revenue forecasting frameworks based on performance data and key assumptions
• Use tools such as spreadsheets (Excel or Google Sheets), SQL, business intelligence platforms, and emerging AI solutions to analyse and structure data
• Convert open-ended business questions into clear, data-backed analysis
• Collaborate with cross-functional stakeholders to understand context and refine modelling assumptions
• Identify opportunities to streamline, automate, and improve existing financial processes
• Explore new technologies, including AI-enabled workflows, to improve forecasting and planning
• Communicate insights in a concise and accessible way to non-finance audiences

About You

We are looking for someone early in their career (0–3 years of experience) with strong analytical capability and a genuine interest in commercial decision-making.

You will likely have:

• An outstanding academic background in a quantitative subject (e.g. Mathematics, Economics, Finance, Data Science, Engineering, or similar)
• Excellent spreadsheet modelling skills, including experience building models from first principles
• Exposure to financial forecasting or performance analysis
• A logical, structured approach to problem-solving
• Strong communication skills and the confidence to engage with stakeholders
• Intellectual curiosity about how businesses operate and grow
• Comfort working in a fast-paced, evolving environment

It would be advantageous if you have:

• Experience in financial planning & analysis or commercial finance
• Familiarity with subscription or SaaS business models, including recurring revenue metrics
• Experience using SQL or BI tools to extract and analyse data
• Interest in applying automation or AI tools to financial workflows

This position offers significant progression. Over time, you will:

• Develop deep insight into the company’s commercial model and performance drivers
• Take increasing ownership of forecasting and strategic modelling
• Transition from supporting analysis to directly influencing business decisions

You will work closely with senior finance leadership and gain exposure to executive-level

discussions from an early stage.

Professional development is actively supported, including sponsorship for relevant qualifications such as CIMA (or equivalent).

They offer a competitive salary, performance-based rewards, and a comprehensive benefits package. This includes flexible working arrangements, private healthcare, life assurance, enhanced parental leave, generous holiday entitlement, and structured learning support.

Our aim is to create an environment where talented individuals can do meaningful work, develop quickly, and feel supported both professionally and personally.