Lead FP&A Analyst

Full Job Description

Does working 4 days a week but with FULL pay sound like a dream?!*

It doesn't have to be! Have a better work/life balance and come and work for Outcomes First Group!

JOB TITLE:                       Lead FP&A Analyst                

LOCATION:                      Bolton (Hybrid)                

HOURS:                            37.5 hours per week, Monday to Friday, 9-5        

SALARY:                          up to £60,000 per annum

JOB PURPOSE:                

Providing high-quality financial forecasts, analysis and reporting to the finance leadership and operational teams to drive business performance, foster understanding and support growth. Be a trusted and valued financial modeller and business partner to senior management, providing strategic financial insight and analysis to enhance knowledge and alignment to strategic goals. 

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES: 

Financial performance:

• Lead all aspects of periodic financial reporting and analysis to internal and external stakeholders, delivering clear and accurate financial results in a timely manner.
• Analyse monthly financial results to highlight and comment on key variances to budget or forecast, ensuring leaders receive prompt and clear financial information to aid their understanding of financial results.
• Ensure that financial KPIs for relevant divisions are clearly and accurately reported on, with key trends highlighted to support informed decision making.
• Support strategic initiatives through insightful, detailed and accurate financial modelling and analysis.
• Continuously review and improve the reporting processes and analysis across the FP&A and wider Finance team where appropriate.
• Collaborate with and support stakeholders to understand, track and analyse financial performance, building rapport and holding them accountable for budget targets.   
• Work closely with the Business Intelligence team to create and distribute financial results and scorecards through systems and automation.
• Undertake ad-hoc analysis in a timely manner as requested by the Head of FP&A, Finance Director or senior Operational Directors.
• Lead and manage the UK annual budgeting process in collaboration with the wider FP&A team, working closely with Operational Leaders to ensuring alignment with strategic and divisional goals whilst adhering to strict Group deadlines.
• Create and lead the quarterly reforecasting process and model, working closely with the wider Finance and Business Intelligence (BI) teams to automate, improve and streamline where possible. 

Budget and Forecast:

• Maintain a budget and forecasting financial model to ensure consistency of data across all areas, including relevant KPIs.
• Monitor performance against budgets and complete variance analysis to highlight deviations so corrective actions can be implemented.
• Support the Head of FP&A and Business Intelligence team in implementing system-driven automation for reporting, budgeting and modelling tools.

Customer service:

• Build strong relationships with senior leaders and operational teams, including relevant department heads.
• Act as the main point of contact on behalf of the wider finance team for responding to queries raised directly to the job holder.
• Demonstrate strong financial business partnering skills by:

o          Providing timely delivery of monthly reports and scorecards (with support from the Business Intelligence team)

o          Offering training and guidance on financial awareness to key senior leaders in operational teams as needed. 

• Model a positive, professional and collaborative ethos in the Finance team, fostering a supportive and productive work environment.
• There are a number of standard duties and responsibilities that all employees, irrespective of their role and level of seniority within OFG Group are expected to be familiar with and adhere to;
• Participates in an annual performance review programme
• Works, at all times, in accordance with the policies and procedures of the OFG Group and statutory regulations applicable to the Group.
• Observes, at all times, strict rules of confidentiality appropriate to the post.
• To comply at all times with the requirements of Health and Safety Regulations
• to ensure their own wellbeing and that of their colleagues.
• OFG Group is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults and expect all employees to work in accordance with this.
• Undertakes other duties as assigned.

STANDARD RESPONSIBILITIES:

MEASURES: 

• Measures against set objectives relevant to the role
• Set performance indicators
• Departmental Net Promoter Scores
  
  EXPERIENCE, SKILLS & QUALIFICATIONS: 

ESSENTIAL

• Completed a relevant accounting qualification (CIMA / ACCA / ACA etc.) or be at the final stages.
• Advanced Excel skills – data manipulation (including extraction from financial ledgers), analytical and presentation skills at a level suitable for Senior Manager review.
• High proficient in financial modelling, budgeting and forecasting.
• Strong analytical and problem solving skills with a keen attention to detail.
• Ability to present complex data and analysis in a high impact visual manner to senior stakeholders, drawing out the key messages and findings.
• Relevant management accounting experience.
• Excellent working knowledge of Microsoft Office including PowerPoint.

DESIRABLE

• Experience with business intelligence tools (e.g., Power BI, Tableau, Cognos).
• Knowledge of financial modelling tools and automation systems.

Why join Outcomes First Group? 

About the Group

Outcomes First Group is the leading provider of specialist education in the UK. We exist to give neurodivergent children and young people access to a great education that caters to their specific needs, abilities and aspirations.

There are three brands in our Outcomes First family: Acorn Education, Options Autism and Momenta Connect. Together, we educate, care for and support children, young people, and adults across the UK, empowering them to be happy and make their way in the world.

We are really proud to say that in 2024, Outcomes First Group were officially certified as a ‘Great Place to Work’ for the fifth year running.

Our Vision

Empower every child, whatever their ability, with a world-class education that nurtures potential, inspires lifelong learning, and equips them to thrive in a diverse and evolving world.

Our Mission

We commit to unlocking our pupils’ potential through personalised learning, innovation, and opportunity, supporting growth and aspirations.

Our Promise

We Listen.
We never assume.

We work together.
To make the remarkable happen.

We are accountable.
To each other and for one another.

Benefits

Your health and wellbeing are important to us, so you’ll get an exceptional reward package including:

• Life Assurance
• Pension scheme with options to increase your contributions
• “Your Wellbeing Matters” – access to a wide range of first-class mental health support services and physical health checks
• Family Growth Support - inclusive benefits package covering enhanced maternity and paternity leave, along with paid fertility treatment support.

And a market-leading benefit offering through our Flexible Benefits Platform, Vista, enables you to choose the package that’s right for you, including:

• A wide range of health, wellbeing, and insurance benefits
• 100’s of discount options valid in the UK and abroad
• Cycle to Work Schemes
• Electric Car Purchase Scheme
• Critical illness cover

And that’s not all, we place the outcomes of the pupils and vulnerable young adults in our services at the heart of everything we do, so you’ll wake every day in the knowledge that your role will have a significant positive impact on the lives of others.

We are committed to the safeguarding and promoting the welfare of pupils and young people. All applicants will be subject to social media checks and successful applicants to a fully enhanced DBS.

We're on a mission to give our colleagues an amazing work/life balance!