Senior Cost Analyst

The Niche Partnership; Southampton; Hybrid; GBP 52,000 - 72,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Hybrid working

35 days holiday incl. bank holidays

Pension scheme

Annual bonus

Dental/Health plan

Family leave

Life assurance

Cycle scheme

Job summary

The Niche Partnership is seeking a Senior Cost Analyst to own the numbers behind a major programme for an 18-month fixed-term contract. You will identify opportunities, challenge assumptions and turn complex data into meaningful commercial insight, with exposure to senior stakeholders and Board-level reporting.

You will help track costs, benefits and value across the business, supporting budgeting and forecasting while maintaining governance and robust financial submissions from diverse

Qualifications

• Experience in a senior finance/analyst role with ownership of numbers and insights.
• ACA/ACCA/CIMA or equivalent professional qualification.
• Advanced Excel skills including financial modelling with large datasets.
• Strong accounting knowledge: controls, budgeting and forecasting.
• Ability to translate complex financial data into clear commercial insights.
• Confidence communicating with senior stakeholders.

Responsibilities

• Producing programme performance reporting for governance forums, Steering Committees and Board-level stakeholders.
• Maintaining cost and benefit trackers, financial models and baselines.
• Monitoring synergy and benefit delivery, highlighting performance, risks and opportunities.
• Preparing reporting covering Cost to Achieve, forecasts, synergy delivery and progress against plan.
• Supporting budgeting, forecasting and financial planning across the programme.
• Reviewing and challenging financial submissions from different workstreams.
• Partnering with Finance, the Integration Management Office and stakeholders to maintain governance.
• Providing scenario modelling and ad hoc analysis to support strategic decisions and value opportunities.

Skills

Advanced Excel

Financial modelling

Stakeholder engagement

Cost accounting

Analytical thinking

Education

ACA/ACCA/CIMA or equivalent

Tools

Excel

Job description

Looking for a fixed term contract where your analysis can genuinely influence decisions, rather than simply report what has already happened? As Senior Cost Analyst, you’ll take ownership of the numbers behind a major programme, identifying opportunities, challenging assumptions and turning complex data into meaningful commercial insight on an 18 month fixed term contract basis. You’ll have exposure to senior stakeholders and Board-level reporting, with the opportunity to shape how costs, benefits and value are tracked across the business.

Reporting to the programme leadership team, you will be responsible for:

• Producing programme performance reporting for governance forums, Steering Committees and Board-level stakeholders
• Maintaining cost and benefit trackers, financial models and agreed programme baselines
• Monitoring synergy and benefit delivery, highlighting performance, risks and opportunities
• Preparing reporting covering Cost to Achieve, forecasts, synergy delivery and progress against plan
• Supporting budgeting, forecasting and financial planning across the programme
• Reviewing and challenging financial submissions from different workstreams
• Partnering with Finance, the Integration Management Office and stakeholders to maintain strong financial governance
• Providing scenario modelling and ad hoc analysis to support strategic decisions and value opportunities

What you will need:

• Previous experience in a similar finance role, such as Senior Finance Analyst, Senior Financial Analyst, FP&A Analyst, Commercial Finance Analyst or Finance Business Partner
• A professional accounting qualification, ACA, ACCA, CIMA or equivalent
• Advanced Excel skills, including financial modelling and working with large datasets
• Strong accounting knowledge covering financial controls, budgeting and forecasting
• The ability to turn complex financial information into clear commercial insight
• Confidence communicating with and influencing senior stakeholders
• Strong attention to detail alongside the ability to see the wider commercial picture

What you will get:

• Hybrid working, with one day per week in the office
• Flexible working hours
• 35 days’ holiday including bank holidays, plus the option to buy and sell days
• Competitive pension, annual bonus schemes and annual salary reviews
• Dental insurance, health cash plan, health screening and voluntary critical illness cover
• Enhanced family leave, including 16 weeks’ full pay for maternity, pregnant parent or primary adopter leave and 8 weeks’ full pay for paternity, non-pregnant parent or co-adopter leave
• Partner life assurance and critical illness cover
• Car salary exchange, cycle scheme and technology discounts