Project Finance Analyst

Build relationships, grow your expertise and play a key role in major capital investment projects across our business. As Project Finance Analyst, you’ll be the main finance representative on projects, working closely with project managers, workstream leads and colleagues across Procurement and Finance, bringing people and financial information together to support informed decisions. You’ll be a trusted point of contact for project finances, explaining the numbers clearly and constructively challenging costs where needed.

With day-to-day ownership of cost tracking, purchase orders, invoice checks, cashflow forecasting and reporting, your contribution will shape each project. You’ll also help maintain robust financial controls and keep business cases up to date as projects evolve. This hands-on role offers involvement in our two large construction projects - investment in excess of 200 million over the next 5 years. An almost unique opportunity to deepen your skills in project accounting, financial control and business partnering. If you enjoy working with people as much as numbers, this is an opportunity to broaden your experience, build confidence and make a real difference! You could be part qualified or starting your career in accounting. We can consider CIMA or ACCA training support for you to gain your professional qualifications.

Full time, 37.5 hours per week. Hybrid working is available but the nature of the project will require you to be on-site at least 3 days per week.

Responsibilities

• Project cost control and forecasting: Maintain accurate project cost trackers covering actual expenditure, commitments and forecast costs. Monitor expenditure against approved project and workstream budgets and highlight emerging variances. Support regular reforecasting of project costs and expected expenditure. Maintain project cashflow forecasts and provide updated information for wider business cashflow planning. Produce regular project finance reporting and supporting analysis for project meetings and governance forums.
• Financial control: Support appropriate accounting treatment of project expenditure, including the distinction between capital and operating expenditure. Help maintain appropriate financial controls and segregation of duties across project expenditure. Reconcile project reporting to underlying finance systems and investigate differences. Maintain clear supporting documentation and audit trails for significant project expenditure. Escalate significant cost changes, control issues or unusual transactions for review.
• Business partnering: Build effective working relationships with project managers, workstream leads, Procurement, and Finance. Act as a key Finance contact for routine project queries. Challenge cost information constructively where appropriate and ensure changes in cost, supplier or payment timing are reflected promptly in financial forecasts. Translate detailed project information into clear financial reporting for stakeholders, including maintaining the business case model.

About you

• Studying towards, or interested in progressing towards, a recognised accounting qualification such as CIMA, ACCA or ACA, or able to demonstrate equivalent relevant finance experience.
• Experience working in a finance function.
• Good understanding of management accounting, budgeting and forecasting.
• Demonstrable understanding of finance processes.
• Strong attention to detail.
• Understanding of the wider commercial picture.
• Strong Excel skills and confidence working with large volumes of financial data.
• Confident communicating with both finance and non-finance stakeholders.
• Organised and able to manage multiple priorities and deadlines.
• Demonstrates a growth mindset, is curious and proactive, with an interest in developing knowledge and improving processes.

Desirable experience

• SAP or another ERP system.
• In-depth knowledge of purchase-to-pay processes and capital expenditure controls.
• Power BI, Power Query or other reporting/automation tools.
• Working on projects.

Company Benefits

• Competitive salary – accredited Living Wage employer.
• 25 days holiday per year, plus bank holidays.
• Option to purchase up to 5 additional days holiday per year.
• Discretionary annual bonus scheme.
• Pension scheme - employer matched contributions up to 4%.
• Life assurance scheme worth at least 1x annual salary.
• Subsidised canteen.
• Free parking.
• Free turkey or voucher at Christmas.
• apetito perks scheme including salary sacrifice options and retail discounts.

Our Values

As a family-owned business, we take great pride in being a company that makes a real difference and is dedicated to creating outstanding meals to be proud of. We develop a range of products designed to enhance health and well-being for all our customers. We are driven by a passion for service and dedicated to feeding some of the UK’s most vulnerable people. We proudly support British food and farming, focusing on using the best ethical and sustainable produce in alignment with our goal to reach Net Zero by 2040. Our ethical standards are recognised by the ETI and we are an accredited Living Wage employer. We embrace inclusion, empowering individuals from diverse backgrounds. Our commitment to making a real difference extends to customers, communities, and staff and we're on a mission to build an inclusive workplace where everyone reaches their full potential.