Financial Planning and Regulatory Manager

CO-OP; Manchester; On-site; GBP 85,000 - 120,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Annual bonus

28 days holiday (rising to 32 with 1–2

Pension with up to 10% employer

Company car or £6,000 car allowance

Private healthcare

Onsite gym at Manchester HQ

Staff discount: 30% on Co-op products

Stream – pay advancement option

Virtual healthcare and mental health支持

24/7 colleague support service

Training and career progression

Cycle-to-work scheme

Belonging and inclusive policies

Job summary

Co-op is seeking a Senior Financial Planning and Regulatory Manager to join the Life Services Finance team in Manchester. You will shape financial planning, forecasting and reporting, turning data into clear strategic recommendations and ensuring strong governance and regulatory compliance.

You will lead and develop a high-performing team, partner with senior leaders, and drive continuous improvement through technology, AI and enhanced processes to support sustainable business performance.

Qualifications

• Experience in financial planning, forecasting and reporting across large or complex organisations.
• Strong governance and regulatory reporting experience.
• Ability to partner with senior leaders and provide financial challenge.
• Proven ability to develop financial models and scenarios.
• Proven leadership experience coaching and developing finance teams.

Responsibilities

• Lead financial planning, forecasting and reporting activities across Life Services, ensuring accurate and timely performance insight.
• Oversee monthly and periodic financial reporting with clear analysis, variance commentary and recommendations for action.
• Provide financial challenge and support to senior stakeholders for strategic decisions.
• Lead performance analysis to identify risks, opportunities and improvement initiatives across the business.
• Develop financial models and scenario planning to support long-term business performance and decision-making.
• Lead submission of regulatory returns, ensuring compliance with regulatory requirements and strong governance and controls.
• Drive continuous improvement across financial planning and reporting processes using technology, automation and AI.
• Lead, coach and develop a high-performing team across Life Services finance and wider Group finance teams.

Skills

Financial forecasting

Budgeting

Stakeholder management

Leadership / people management

Presentation skills

Education

Professional accounting qualification (ACA/ACCA/CIMA or equivalent)

Job description

We're looking for a Senior Financial Planning and Regulatory Manager to join our Life Services Finance team and help us shape the future of Funeralcare and Life Services through high-quality financial planning, reporting and performance insight. In this role, you'll lead a team responsible for planning, forecasting and reporting across Life Services, providing the analysis and challenge needed to support strategic decision-making. You'll work closely with senior leaders to turn complex financial and operational data into clear recommendations, while ensuring strong financial governance, meeting regulatory obligations and helping drive continuous improvement across our finance function. Why this role matters Co-op Life Services is on an exciting growth journey, with a clear strategy, strong performance and ambitious plans for the future. As Senior Financial Planning and Regulatory Manager, you'll play a key role in shaping that next chapter, helping leaders make informed decisions through financial insight, planning and performance management. You'll also have the opportunity to influence how finance operates across the businesses, driving improvements to processes, reporting and ways of working, while exploring how new technologies and AI can help create a more efficient, effective and forward-looking finance function.

• Lead financial planning, forecasting and reporting activities across Life Services, ensuring accurate and timely performance insight
• Oversee the delivery of monthly and periodic financial reporting, including clear analysis, variance commentary and recommendations for action
• Provide financial challenge and support to senior stakeholders, helping to inform strategic, operational and investment decisions
• Lead performance analysis to identify risks, opportunities and improvement initiatives across the business
• Develop financial models and scenario planning to support long-term business performance and decision-making
• Lead the accurate and timely submission of regulatory returns, ensuring compliance with regulatory requirements and strong financial governance and controls
• Drive continuous improvement across financial planning and reporting processes, identifying opportunities to simplify ways of working, improve efficiency and make better use of technology, automation and AI
• Lead, coach and develop a high-performing team, creating an inclusive culture that supports growth and development within your team, across Life Service finance and wider Group finance teams
• A professional accounting qualification (ACA, ACCA, CIMA or equivalent) alongside significant experience in financial planning, reporting and business partnering and significant post qualification relevant experience
• Strong financial forecasting, budgeting and performance management expertise, with the ability to influence decisions at senior leadership level
• The ability to turn complex financial information into clear, meaningful insight and recommendations
• Excellent communication and presentation skills, with the confidence to tell a compelling performance story to a range of audiences through visual presentation and verbal delivery
• Strong stakeholder management skills, with experience building effective relationships across multiple teams and functions, demonstrating strong resilience and influencing skills
• Experience leading, coaching and developing finance teams in a complex business environment
• A good understanding of financial governance, controls and regulatory reporting requirements
• A passion for improving how finance operates, with experience leading process improvements and embracing new technologies to deliver better outcomes
• At Co-op, we're owned by our members. And because we're owned by you, we can do right by you. So when you join us, you're not just taking a job, you're joining a movement. We're an organisation that puts people and communities first, and we're powered by purpose. We want this to be a place where you can thrive, so you'll also receive:
• An annual bonus (based on personal and business performance)
• 28 days holiday (rising to 32 with service) plus bank holidays
• A pension with up to 10% employer contributions
• A company car or £6,000 car allowance
• Private healthcare
• Access to a subsidised onsite gym (at our Manchester HQ)
• 30% discount on Co-op products and 10% off other brands
• Stream - early access to a percentage of your pay as you earn it
• Virtual healthcare including GP appointments, mental health support, nutrition and fitness advice
• 24/7 colleague support service
• Training and support for your development and career progression
• Cycle-to-work scheme
• A place you'll belong We're building diverse and inclusive teams that reflect the communities we serve. We welcome applications from everyone and are committed to creating a workplace where colleagues can feel like they belong, supported by our inclusive policies and the ways we work.