Head of Financial Planning & Analysis - AJ Bell

ZipRecruiter; Manchester; Hybrid; GBP 80,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

Join a leading financial services provider based in Manchester as their Head of Financial Planning & Analysis. You will take charge of financial leadership, ensuring robust financial planning and forecasting while guiding a high-performing team. The role demands a strategic mindset coupled with strong technical expertise, allowing for impactful decision-making at the executive level.

Benefits

Competitive starting salary

27 days holiday, increasing to 31

Pension schemes with matched contributions

Discretionary bonus scheme

Private healthcare and dental plan

Free gym membership

Professional development support

Hybrid working model

Qualifications

• Extensive experience in financial planning and analysis, including significant leadership roles.
• Proven success influencing senior stakeholders and delivering financial strategy.
• Experience in Financial Services or regulated environments.

Responsibilities

• Drive the Group's financial planning and forecasting processes.
• Lead the FP&A team and present financial insights to executive leadership.
• Direct the analysis of financial and non-financial data for trends.

Skills

Strategic vision

Financial modelling

Budgeting

Forecasting

Commercial acumen

Education

Professional qualification (CIMA, ACA, ACCA, CPA, or CFA)

Tools

NetSuite

Workday

Advanced Excel

Job description

Job Description

We are now seeking a a commercially minded Head of Financial Planning & Analysis (FP&A) to join our Manchester based team and take a leading role in shaping our financial future.

This is a high impact leadership opportunity for an experienced finance professional who combines strategic vision with technical excellence. You will lead the FP&A team, drive the Group's financial planning and forecasting processes, and provide insight and challenge that enables effective decision making at the highest level of the business.

Key Responsibilities

Strategic Financial Leadership

• Partner with the CFO, ExCo, and senior leaders to support strategic decision making through actionable financial insight.
• Present complex financial information to executive leadership and the Board in a clear and impactful way.

Business Planning & Forecasting

• Own the production and documentation of the Group's three year plan, annual budgets, and long term forecasts.
• Ensure timely delivery of robust, evolving forecasts and analysis to support business planning and regulatory submissions (including ICARA).
• Build and maintain financial models to support rolling forecasts and scenario planning.

Performance Analysis & Insight

• Direct the analysis of financial and non-financial data to identify trends, risks, and opportunities.
• Produce the monthly outturn and quarterly forecasts, providing high quality reporting and insight to key stakeholders.
• Continuously seek to unlock efficiencies and drive sustainable growth through insightful financial analysis.

Regulatory & Scenario Modelling

• Lead the financial modelling to support ICARA, wind down planning, liquidity policies, and capital allocation frameworks.
• Provide input and analysis to support Investor Relations, and external financial communications.

Non-Financial Reporting

• Oversee the production of monthly non-financial KPIs for internal and external reporting, including trading updates and Board packs.
• Lead efforts to streamline and enhance the reporting process, ensuring accuracy and efficiency.

Leadership & Transformation

• Manage and mentor a high-performing team of financial analysts.
• Drive a culture of excellence, collaboration, and continuous improvement.
• Champion process improvements and support finance transformation initiatives, including the development of integrated planning tools.

What We're Looking For

• Professional qualification (CIMA, ACA, ACCA, CPA, or CFA)
• Extensive experience in financial planning and analysis, including significant time in a leadership capacity
• Experience in Financial Services or a highly regulated environment.
• Proven success influencing senior stakeholders and delivering financial strategy in a corporate setting.
• Strong commercial acumen and strategic mindset.
• Advanced financial modelling, budgeting, and forecasting skills.
• Experience with financial systems (NetSuite, Workday, or similar) and advanced Excel skills.
• Demonstrated ability to lead, develop, and inspire teams.

About us

AJ Bell is one of the fastest-growing investment platform businesses in the UK offering an award-winning range of solutions that caters for everyone, from professional financial advisers to DIY investors with little to no experience. We have over 593,000 customers using our award-winning platform propositions to manage assets totalling more than £90.4 billion. Our customers trust us with their investments, and by continuously striving to make investing easier, we aim to help even more people take control of their financial futures.

Having listed on the Main Market of the London Stock Exchange in December 2018, AJ Bell is now a FTSE 250 company.

Headquartered in Manchester with offices in central London and Bristol, we now have over 1,500 employees and have been named one of the UK's 'Best 100 Companies to Work For' for six consecutive years and in 2024 named a Great Place to Work.

Our perks and benefits

• Competitive starting salary
• Starting holiday entitlement of 27 days, increasing up to 31 days with length of service and a holiday buy and sell scheme
• A choice of pension schemes with matched contributions up to 8%
• Discretionary bonus scheme
• Annual free share awards scheme
• Buy As You Earn (BAYE) Scheme
• Health Cash Plan - provided by SimplyHealth
• Private healthcare scheme and dental plan
• Free gym membership, with an on-site gym providing a wide range of free classes
• Employee Assistance Programme
• Bike loan scheme
• Sick pay+ pledge
• Enhanced maternity, paternity, and shared parental leave
• Discounted nursery fees at Kids Planet on Exchange Quay
• Loans for travel season tickets
• Death in service scheme
• Paid time off for volunteer work
• Charitable giving opportunities through salary sacrifice
• Calendar of social events, including monthly payday drinks, annual Christmas party, summer party and much more
• Parking at Exchange Quay (subject to availability)
• Ongoing technical training
• Professional qualification support
• Talent development programmes
• Peer recognition scheme, with rewards including restaurant and shopping vouchers or time off
• Monthly leadership breakfasts and lunches

Hybrid working

At AJ Bell, our people are the heart of our culture. We believe in building strong connections by working together. That's why we offer a hybrid working model, where you'll spend a minimum of 50% of your working time per month in the office. For new team members, an initial period will be full-time in the office to help you immerse yourself in our business and build valuable relationships with your colleagues.

AJ Bell is committed to providing an environment of mutual respect where equal employment opportunities are available to all applicants and all employees are empowered to bring their whole self to work.