Business Performance Analyst (12-month FTC) in Houghton-Le-Spring

Arriva is a leading European passenger transport partner, operating in 11 countries across the UK and Europe. With around 35,000 colleagues delivering more than 1.5 billion passenger journeys each year, we connect people and communities safely, reliably and sustainably. With strong roots dating back to 1938 and an ambitious growth and sustainability agenda, Arriva is focused on building a strong and sustainable future.We are looking for a curious and detail-oriented Analyst to join the Business Performance team within Group Finance at Arriva. Based at our Doxford Park office in Sunderland, this is a 12-month fixed-term contract offering an excellent opportunity to gain exposure to a wide range of commercial and financial analysis activities.This role plays a key part in ensuring the accuracy, integrity and consistency of business performance data, supporting the production of trusted reporting across the organisation. This is an excellent opportunity for an analyst who enjoys working with data and supporting business performance through high-quality reporting and analysis.You will work across multiple functions to collect, validate, reconcile and analyse data, ensuring that reporting is reliable, aligned and fit for decision-making, including supporting delivery of the Group Performance Dashboard and wider Business Performance reporting. The role offers broad exposure across financial, operational and sustainability reporting, with a strong focus on data quality, reconciliation and continuous improvement of reporting processes.We are looking for someone with strong attention to detail, a practical, problem-solving mindset, and a focus on improving data quality, reporting controls and process efficiency.This role will be on a hybrid working basis, a minimum of 3 days per week from the Doxford office, with the remainder focused on where you can best deliver for your colleagues while maintaining a healthy work-life balance.Key ResponsibilitiesReportingOwn defined inputs and outputs within the Group Performance Dashboard, ensuring accuracy, consistency and alignment with wider Business Performance reportingAssist in the development and enhancement of other dashboards and reporting outputs, ensuring underlying data is reliable and clearly definedEnsure outputs are aligned across operational, financial and KPI reporting, and are suitable for Exec-level reporting and decision-makingWork with Finance and wider business stakeholders to understand data requirements, ensure consistent reporting outputs, and act as a key point of contact for reporting queriesSupport the accurate collection, validation and reconciliation of ESG and other non-financial data, including inputs into planning, forecasting and reporting cyclesPerformance Insights & AnalysisIdentify trends, variances and anomalies, ensuring underlying data is validated before drawing conclusionsExplain key movements in performance, supporting business understanding and decision-makingSupport development of performance commentary and insight used in management reporting and stakeholder discussionsData IntegrityOwn the collection, validation and reconciliation of performance data across multiple sources, ensuring consistency between financial, operational and KPI reportingMaintain clear documentation of data definitions, sources and reconciliation logicEnsure reported performance reflects underlying business activityInvestigate and resolve data discrepancies, working with stakeholders to identify root causes and improve source data qualityMaintain data quality standards and support continuous improvement in data integrity and reporting processesContinuous ImprovementIdentify and deliver improvements to data quality, reporting processes and performance outputsSupport automation, standardisation and efficiency improvements in reportingWork with Group Digital & Technology to support the development and automation of data collection and reporting processes, improving efficiency and reducing manual interventionAssist with ad hoc analysis and projects as required by the Business Performance Manager and wider Group Finance teamAbout YouYou are analytical, organised and detail-focused, with a strong emphasis on structured analysis, accuracy and data integrity.You are comfortable working across functions and with complex datasets and take a structured approach to ensuring data is consistent, reconciled and reliable before it is used in reporting or decision-making.You enjoy understanding how data flows across systems and processes and are confident investigating and resolving issues where inconsistencies arise.Essential Skills & ExperienceDemonstrable experience in a data, reporting, finance, or business performance role, with the ability to analyse data, produce insights, and support business decision-making.Strong experience working with data validation, reconciliation and issue resolutionExperience working with financial, operational and/or non-financial performance dataStrong Excel skills and confidence working with large datasetsHigh attention to detail and commitment to data accuracy and integrityAbility to trace and resolve data issues across multiple sources and processesStrong organisational skills with the ability to manage competing priorities and deadlinesAbility to communicate findings clearly to both technical and non-technical stakeholdersDesirable Skills & ExperienceExperience owning or leading delivery of reporting outputs or datasetsExperience supporting ESG, CSRD or other non-financial data collection and reportingExperience using Power BI to develop reports, dashboards or visualisationsFamiliarity with data modelling, reporting tools or business intelligence platformsExperience working within Finance, Corporate Finance or a Business Performance environmentUnderstanding of data governance, controls and reporting accuracyInterest in improving data quality, reporting controls and process efficiencyWhat We OfferCompetitive salary and benefits packageHybrid and flexible working opportunitiesExposure to senior stakeholders and strategic business initiativesOpportunities to develop technical, analytical and commercial skillsA collaborative and supportive team environmentCareer development within a progressive Group Finance function#LI-HC1 #J-18808-Ljbffr