Level 1 Finance Assistant

Compass Group PLC; Birmingham; On-site; GBP 25,000 - 35,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading food service company in the United Kingdom is seeking a Level 1 Finance Assistant to join their sector Finance team. The role focuses on delivering financial support, improving service levels, and managing risks effectively. Responsibilities include preparing financial reports and engaging with key stakeholders. Ideal candidates will possess a finance degree or relevant experience and demonstrate strong analytical skills and attention to detail. An understanding of management accounting is essential, and familiarity with tools like Excel and SAP is preferred.

Benefits

Exclusive travel discounts

Cinema ticket discounts

Wow Points rewards

Contributory pension scheme

Career growth programmes

Qualifications

• Finance graduate or with some experience in accounting roles.
• Demonstrate passion for Finance and understanding of management accounting.
• Ability to communicate effectively with finance and non-finance stakeholders.

Responsibilities

• Help business partner key stakeholders for decision making and managing financial risks.
• Deliver proactive financial analysis to support business unit decisions.
• Prepare monthly reports and budgets for reviews.

Skills

Analytical skills

Attention to detail

Communication

Ability to adapt

Education

Finance degree or accounting experience

Tools

Excel

SAP

Power BI

Job description

Reporting to the Assistant Finance Manager, the Level 1 Finance Assistant will work as part of the sector Finance team delivering financial support to the Business sector. Through effective business partnering, the role will continually improve service levels, cost effectiveness and add value to commercial activities undertaken., Purpose: Commercial Support

Responsibilities

• Help to business partner key stakeholders (financial and non-financial) ensuring strong commercial and operational decision making, managing financial risks and opportunities
• Aid in delivering proactive ad-hoc financial analysis to support business unit decision-making.
• Understand and manage the financial risks and opportunities arising from volumetric and other contract mechanisms - and ongoing business performance.
• Understand and highlight the financial risks and opportunities arising from balance sheet maintenance.
• Help prepare key business reporting such as month end reports, business reviews, client reports, budgets, cash analysis and other ad-hoc analysis to be discussed at monthly review.
• Monthly balance sheet review for area of responsibility, escalating key risks and opportunities to senior stakeholders.
• Support closing monthly accounts ensuring sales and costs are accurately and appropriately recognised.
• Promote working capital improvements through timely, accurate contract billing, active management of debt ledgers and timely resolution of queries.
• Support with the budgeting and forecasting process by consolidating the budget, understanding variances and preparing the budget presentation for senior stakeholders.

Relationship Management

• Working effectively as part of a team.
• Building relationships with key stakeholders.

Qualifications

• Finance graduate or with some experience in accounting roles
• Demonstrate passion for Finance and an understanding of management accounting
• Analytical and with a high level of attention to detail

Desirable

• Ability to adapt to a changing environment
• Good knowledge of Excel
• Experience of SAP and Power-bi as analysis and reporting tools
• Considering or actively studying Accountant in CIMA/ACCA/ACA

Leadership Behaviours

• Communication - ability to work well with peers
• Can Do - Finds new / quicker ways of meeting goals, responds quickly under to achieve targets
• Share Success - Provides task related feedback to do the job effectively and provides excellent service.
• Passion for Quality - Understands performance expectations, understands priorities to maximise benefits, helps to track the commercial implications
• Win through Teamwork - Pursues friendly relationships with colleagues and clients, makes contact with colleagues across the organisation and shares own knowledge and insight and displays a high level of energy and commitment to the role and organisation
• Embrace Diversity - Listens to others and values their contributions, receptive to new and builds on ideas and acts in ethical and socially responsible manner

Performance Standards

• Excellent communication skills - ability to communicate oral and written information concisely and logically - to both finance and non-finance stakeholders
• Pro-active and energetic approach
• Ability to analyse and evaluate information concisely
• Self-motivated with an ability to effectively plan and organise own work
• Ability to take on a broad spectrum of work under pressure and to deliver in agreed timescales

Benefits

• Exclusive travel discounts with TUI, Expedia, Booking.com and many more
• Up to 44% off cinema tickets to enjoy your favourite blockbuster
• Receive Wow Points every time you spend and use them on a wide range of brands
• Contributory pension scheme
• Grow your career with our Career Pathways and MyLearning programmes