Portfolio Finance Analyst: Strategic Budgeting & Insights

Benchmark Capital; Horsham; On-site; GBP 65,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

Benchmark in Horsham is seeking a finance professional to lead portfolio planning and financial governance within the Transformation department. You will own the portfolio modelling, budgets and forecasts while driving data quality and insightful reporting.

You will deliver dashboards for senior stakeholders, support investment appraisal and forecast scenarios, and partner with Finance, Technology and Change teams to improve investment outcomes.

Qualifications

• Strong financial analysis and modelling capability.
• Advanced Microsoft Excel skills, including complex formulas, scenario modelling, Power Query and large data sets.
• Experience managing programme, project or portfolio budgets.
• Proven experience developing and maintaining integrated financial and resource models.
• Strong understanding of budgeting, forecasting and cost control methodologies.
• Excellent analytical and problem-solving skills.
• Ability to communicate complex financial information clearly to non-financial stakeholders.
• Strong stakeholder management and influencing skills.
• High levels of attention to detail and accuracy.
• AAT qualified or equivalent financial qualification.

Responsibilities

• Own and maintain the portfolio financial and resource planning model.
• Manage programme and project budgets, forecasts and resource plans.
• Monitor financial performance against approved budgets and forecasts.
• Analyse variances, identify cost drivers and provide recommendations to stakeholders.
• Support annual planning, reforecasting and investment planning activities.
• Continuously improve financial modelling, reporting processes and data quality.
• Produce accurate financial reporting, dashboards and management information for senior stakeholders.
• Deliver forecasting, scenario planning and sensitivity analysis.
• Challenge assumptions underpinning forecasts, plans and business cases.
• Provide financial insight and recommendations that support effective decision-making.
• Prepare materials for governance forums including Change Committees, investment reviews and finance meetings.
• Maintain integrated resource and capacity plans across programmes and projects.
• Support delivery teams in understanding resource demand and future capacity requirements.
• Ensure capacity plans remain aligned to strategic priorities and funding constraints.
• Partner closely with Finance, Technology and Change teams.
• Support the development and review of business cases and investment proposals.
• Assist with useful economic life assessments and return on investment reviews.
• Support capitalisation assessments and ensure compliance with internal accounting policies.
• Provide commercial and financial challenge to improve investment outcomes.
• Manage supplier invoicing processes and financial administration activities.
• Validate and track project and programme costs.
• Ensure accurate financial records are maintained.
• Act as a key liaison for supplier financial queries.
• Support month-end activities, including timesheet and supplier cost management.
• Identify financial risks, pressures and opportunities across the portfolio.
• Proactively recommend mitigations and efficiency improvements.
• Drive automation and continuous improvement initiatives within financial reporting and planning processes.
• Support the ongoing maturity of portfolio financial management practices.

Skills

Financial analysis

Modelling

Budgeting

Stakeholder management

Problem-solving

Communication

Education

AAT qualified or equivalent financial qualification

Tools

Excel

Power Query

Job description

Benchmark in Horsham is seeking a finance professional to lead portfolio planning and financial governance within the Transformation department. You will own the portfolio modelling, budgets and forecasts while driving data quality and insightful reporting.

You will deliver dashboards for senior stakeholders, support investment appraisal and forecast scenarios, and partner with Finance, Technology and Change teams to improve investment outcomes.