Performance & Improvement Analyst

Morson Group; Glasgow; Hybrid; GBP 45,000 - 65,000; Full time

Job summary

Scottish Power is seeking a Performance & Improvement Analyst to drive financial, operational and process improvements within HR and Health & Safety. Based in Glasgow with a hybrid pattern (3 days in office), the role covers budgeting, reporting, and supplier management for learning and pensions activities.

The ideal candidate has a background in financial/operational roles, strong Excel/SAP experience, and familiarity with Power BI.

Qualifications

• Experience in financial, transactional or operational performance disciplines within a complex organisation.
• Forecasting, budget reporting, variance analysis and communicating financial insight to non-finance stakeholders.
• Continuous improvement, process mapping, root-cause analysis and implementing sustainable change.
• Ability to translate ambiguous problems into structured analysis, options, recommendations and delivery plans.
• Strong stakeholder management, communication and constructive challenge skills.
• Proficient use of Microsoft Office packages, particularly Excel, and working knowledge of SAP Financials.
• Experience using Power BI, Power Query, Power Automate or comparable tools.

Responsibilities

• Own high-quality analysis of actual spend against forecast and budget, explaining variances and actions.
• Lead tracking of Learning and Pension budgets and identify risks and cost pressures.
• Coordinate and consolidate budget and forecast submissions and improve data quality.
• Develop concise monthly performance reporting for senior stakeholders.
• Support budget reduction and reallocation exercises with evidence-based recommendations.
• Lead continuous improvement across HR and Health & Safety processes.

Skills

Excel

SAP

Power BI

SharePoint

Financial analysis

Budget reporting

Tools

SAP

Power BI

SharePoint

Job description

Scottish Power are looking for a Performance & Improvement Analyst to join them on a 12 month intimal contract basis, based in Glasgow.

Job Title: Performance & Improvement Analyst
Business Unit: HR
Geographic Location: St Vincent Street, Glasgow/hybrid style working – 3 days pw in office
Duration: 12-month initial contract with scope to extend
Rate: Negotiable (inside IR35)

Role Purpose

The HR Performance & Improvement Analyst provides financial, operational and process improvement expertise across HR and Health & Safety. The role retains responsibility for financial information, operational reporting, purchasing activity, budget analysis and stakeholder support, while taking greater ownership for identifying, designing and embedding improvements to the team’s processes, controls, reporting and ways of working.

The postholder will use financial and operational data to provide insight, challenge assumptions, identify risk and recommend corrective action. They will lead defined improvement initiatives from diagnosis through to implementation and benefits tracking, working across HR, Health & Safety, Control, Purchasing, Administration and third-party suppliers. Particular focus will remain on Learning and Pensions because of the volume and complexity of activity.

The preferred candidate will have a background in a Financial, Operations and/or Transactional profession, with good experience in process improvement, as well as experience in purchase order management and invoicing. Experience in SAP, Excel, and Sharepoint is highly desirable.

Key Accountabilities

Financial performance, planning and insight

• Own high-quality analysis of actual spend against forecast and budget, explaining material variances and recommending practical corrective action to budget holders and the HR Performance Manager.
• Lead the ongoing tracking and analysis of Learning and Pension budgets, using internal and external data to identify emerging risks, opportunities and future cost pressures.
• Coordinate and consolidate budget and forecast submissions for external services and income, constructively challenging assumptions, improving data quality and supporting an accurate year-end position.
• Develop concise monthly performance reporting, turning financial and operational data into clear insight for senior stakeholders.
• Support budget reduction and reallocation exercises by identifying options, assessing impacts and presenting evidence-based recommendations.

Process improvement and operational excellence

• Lead a structured programme of continuous improvement across HR and Health & Safety financial and operational processes, prioritising activity according to value, risk, customer impact and control requirements.
• Map end-to-end processes, identify duplication, delay, failure demand and control gaps, and agree improved future-state processes with stakeholders.
• Design, test and embed standardised processes, templates, guidance, controls and service measures, ensuring changes are practical, proportionate and sustainable.
• Use Excel, SAP and available Microsoft 365 or reporting tools to simplify, automate and improve recurring reporting, reconciliations, workflow tracking and management information.
• Establish baselines and measures for agreed improvements, track delivery and benefits, and provide transparent progress updates to the HR Performance Manager and relevant stakeholders.
• Act as a process improvement coach for colleagues and budget holders, building capability and encouraging ownership of better ways of working.

Purchasing, transactions and compliance

• Oversee and deliver purchase order and receipt activity for HR and Health & Safety in line with agreed service levels, while identifying opportunities to reduce manual effort and improve first-time quality.
• Manage the end-to-end process for spend requests above £4,000 and below £50,000 in line with Group policy, including scoping requirements, coordinating tenders and maintaining clear stakeholder communication.
• Manage consultancy approval activity, ensuring requests are appropriately challenged, justified, affordable and tracked through to decision.
• Maintain and improve reporting on relevant supplier frameworks, highlighting budget availability, expiry dates and actions required.
• Coordinate third-party training invoice requests, commercial training income analysis, debt reconciliation, sponsorship and donation requests, and unmatched receipt reviews.
• Monitor compliance with the Iberdrola Purchase to Pay Model, SPW Direct Purchasing Model, Month End Availability Control and GRN process model, escalating issues and recommending preventive action.

Stakeholder partnership and change delivery

• Build trusted relationships with budget holders and operational teams, translating complex financial or process issues into clear choices and actions.
• Facilitate cross-functional workshops and working sessions to understand root causes, agree requirements and secure ownership of changes.
• Influence stakeholders at different levels, constructively challenging established practice where evidence indicates a better approach.
• Coordinate implementation plans, actions, dependencies, risks and communications for assigned improvement initiatives.
• Provide subject matter support to the HR Performance Manager and contribute to wider performance, governance and transformation priorities as required.

Skills, Knowledge & Experience

• Strong experience in financial, transactional or operational performance disciplines within a complex organisation.
• Demonstrable experience of forecasting, budget reporting, variance analysis and communicating financial insight to non-finance stakeholders.
• Practical experience of continuous improvement, process mapping, root-cause analysis and implementing sustainable change.
• Ability to translate ambiguous problems into structured analysis, options, recommendations and delivery plans.
• Confidence to influence and constructively challenge stakeholders at different levels without direct authority.
• Strong commercial awareness and understanding of purchasing, governance and financial control requirements.
• Advanced capability in Microsoft Excel and good working knowledge of SAP Financials experience of Power BI, Power Query, Power Automate or similar tools is desirable.
• Clear written and verbal communication, including the ability to produce concise senior-level reporting and guidance.
• Sound judgement, strong organisation and the ability to manage recurring deadlines alongside improvement projects.
• Good understanding of HR and Health & Safety operations, or the ability to build this knowledge quickly.

Minimum Criteria (Mandatory)

• Experience in a financial discipline or in financial processes, systems and reporting.
• Experience in reporting and forecasting within a complex budget environment.
• Ability to analyse financial and operational data, explain variances and make recommendations.
• Evidence of leading or delivering process improvement and embedding revised ways of working.
• Strong stakeholder management, communication and constructive challenge skills.
• Proficient use of Microsoft Office packages, particularly Excel, and working knowledge of SAP Financials.
• Understanding of purchasing controls and delegated purchasing models.
• Experience using Power BI, Power Query, Power Automate or comparable reporting and automation tools.
• Recognised continuous improvement, Lean or change qualification.