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- Tasks: Lead the FP&A team, drive financial planning, and provide strategic insights for decision making.
- Company: AJ Bell is a fast-growing investment platform with over 620,000 customers and a FTSE 250 listing.
- Benefits: Enjoy competitive salary, generous holiday, private healthcare, gym membership, and hybrid working options.
- Why this job: Join a culture of excellence, collaboration, and continuous improvement in a top-rated workplace.
- Qualifications: Professional finance qualification and extensive leadership experience in financial planning required.
- Other info: Initial full-time office period to build connections; ongoing training and development opportunities.
The predicted salary is between 43200 - 72000 £ per year.
We are now seeking a a commercially minded Head of Financial Planning & Analysis (FP&A) to join our Manchester based team and take a leading role in shaping our financial future.
This is a high impact leadership opportunity for an experienced finance professional who combines strategic vision with technical excellence. You will lead the FP&A team, drive the Group\’s financial planning and forecasting processes, and provide insight and challenge that enables effective decision making at the highest level of the business.
Key Responsibilities
Strategic Financial Leadership
- Partner with the CFO, ExCo, and senior leaders to support strategic decision making through actionable financial insight.
- Present complex financial information to executive leadership and the Board in a clear and impactful way.
Business Planning & Forecasting
- Own the production and documentation of the Group\’s three year plan, annual budgets, and long term forecasts.
- Ensure timely delivery of robust, evolving forecasts and analysis to support business planning and regulatory submissions (including ICARA).
- Build and maintain financial models to support rolling forecasts and scenario planning.
Performance Analysis & Insight
- Direct the analysis of financial and non-financial data to identify trends, risks, and opportunities.
- Produce the monthly outturn and quarterly forecasts, providing high quality reporting and insight to key stakeholders.
- Continuously seek to unlock efficiencies and drive sustainable growth through insightful financial analysis.
Regulatory & Scenario Modelling
- Lead the financial modelling to support ICARA, wind down planning, liquidity policies, and capital allocation frameworks.
- Provide input and analysis to support Investor Relations, and external financial communications.
Non-Financial Reporting
- Oversee the production of monthly non-financial KPIs for internal and external reporting, including trading updates and Board packs.
- Lead efforts to streamline and enhance the reporting process, ensuring accuracy and efficiency.
Leadership & Transformation
- Manage and mentor a high-performing team of financial analysts.
- Drive a culture of excellence, collaboration, and continuous improvement.
- Champion process improvements and support finance transformation initiatives, including the development of integrated planning tools.
What We\’re Looking For
- Professional qualification (CIMA, ACA, ACCA, CPA, or CFA)
- Extensive experience in financial planning and analysis, including significant time in a leadership capacity
- Experience in Financial Services or a highly regulated environment.
- Proven success influencing senior stakeholders and delivering financial strategy in a corporate setting.
- Strong commercial acumen and strategic mindset.
- Advanced financial modelling, budgeting, and forecasting skills.
- Experience with financial systems (NetSuite, Workday, or similar) and advanced Excel skills.
- Demonstrated ability to lead, develop, and inspire teams.
About us
AJ Bell is one of the fastest-growing investment platform businesses in the UK offering an award-winning range of solutions that caters for everyone, from professional financial advisers to DIY investors with little to no experience. We have over 620,000 customers using our award-winning platform propositions to manage assets totalling more than £96.1 billion. Our customers trust us with their investments, and by continuously striving to make investing easier, we aim to help even more people take control of their financial futures.
Having listed on the Main Market of the London Stock Exchange in December 2018, AJ Bell is now a FTSE 250 company.
Headquartered in Manchester with offices in central London and Bristol, we now have over 1,500 employees and have been named one of the UK\’s \’Best 100 Companies to Work For\’ for six consecutive years and in 2024 named a Great Place to Work.
Our perks and benefits
- Competitive starting salary
- Starting holiday entitlement of 27 days, increasing up to 31 days with length of service and a holiday buy and sell scheme
- A choice of pension schemes with matched contributions up to 8%
- Discretionary bonus scheme
- Annual free share awards scheme
- Buy As You Earn (BAYE) Scheme
- Health Cash Plan – provided by SimplyHealth
- Private healthcare scheme and dental plan
- Free gym membership, with an on-site gym providing a wide range of free classes
- Employee Assistance Programme
- Bike loan scheme
- Sick pay+ pledge
- Enhanced maternity, paternity, and shared parental leave
- Discounted nursery fees at Kids Planet on Exchange Quay
- Loans for travel season tickets
- Death in service scheme
- Paid time off for volunteer work
- Charitable giving opportunities through salary sacrifice
- Calendar of social events, including monthly payday drinks, annual Christmas party, summer party and much more
- Parking at Exchange Quay (subject to availability)
- Ongoing technical training
- Professional qualification support
- Talent development programmes
- Peer recognition scheme, with rewards including restaurant and shopping vouchers or time off
- Monthly leadership breakfasts and lunches
Hybrid working
At AJ Bell, our people are the heart of our culture. We believe in building strong connections by working together. That\’s why we offer a hybrid working model, where you\’ll spend a minimum of 50% of your working time per month in the office. For new team members, an initial period will be full-time in the office to help you immerse yourself in our business and build valuable relationships with your colleagues.
AJ Bell is committed to providing an environment of mutual respect where equal employment opportunities are available to all applicants and all employees are empowered to bring their whole self to work.
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Head of Financial Planning & Analysis | Manchester, UK employer: Aj Bell
Contact Detail:
Aj Bell Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Head of Financial Planning & Analysis | Manchester, UK
✨Tip Number 1
Network with professionals in the financial services sector, especially those who have experience in FP&A roles. Attend industry events or webinars to connect with potential colleagues and learn about the latest trends in financial planning and analysis.
✨Tip Number 2
Familiarise yourself with the specific financial systems mentioned in the job description, such as NetSuite or Workday. Consider taking online courses or tutorials to enhance your skills in these platforms, which will make you a more attractive candidate.
✨Tip Number 3
Prepare to discuss your leadership style and experiences in managing teams during the interview. Think of specific examples where you successfully mentored team members or led a project that resulted in significant improvements.
✨Tip Number 4
Research AJ Bell's recent financial performance and strategic initiatives. Being able to discuss their current position and how you can contribute to their goals will demonstrate your genuine interest in the role and the company.
We think you need these skills to ace Head of Financial Planning & Analysis | Manchester, UK
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your CV: Make sure your CV highlights your experience in financial planning and analysis, especially in leadership roles. Emphasise your professional qualifications and any relevant achievements that align with the job description.
Craft a Compelling Cover Letter: Write a cover letter that showcases your strategic vision and technical excellence. Use specific examples from your past experiences to demonstrate how you can contribute to the company's financial future.
Highlight Relevant Skills: In your application, focus on your advanced financial modelling, budgeting, and forecasting skills. Mention your experience with financial systems and your ability to influence senior stakeholders effectively.
Showcase Leadership Experience: Detail your experience in managing and mentoring teams. Highlight any initiatives you've led that drove process improvements or finance transformation, as this is crucial for the role.
How to prepare for a job interview at Aj Bell
✨Understand the Financial Landscape
Before your interview, make sure you have a solid grasp of the current financial landscape, especially within the financial services sector. Familiarise yourself with recent trends, regulations, and challenges that companies like AJ Bell face. This will help you demonstrate your strategic vision and commercial acumen.
✨Prepare to Present Complex Information
As a Head of FP&A, you'll need to present complex financial data to senior leaders. Practice summarising intricate financial concepts into clear, impactful narratives. Consider using examples from your past experiences where you've successfully communicated financial insights to non-financial stakeholders.
✨Showcase Your Leadership Skills
Be ready to discuss your leadership style and how you've developed high-performing teams in the past. Prepare specific examples of how you've mentored team members, driven collaboration, and championed process improvements. This will highlight your ability to lead and inspire others.
✨Demonstrate Advanced Financial Modelling Skills
Given the emphasis on financial modelling in the job description, be prepared to discuss your experience with advanced financial models, budgeting, and forecasting. You might even want to bring along a sample model or two to showcase your technical excellence and problem-solving abilities.
