At a Glance
- Tasks: Drive financial planning and analysis to optimise business performance.
- Company: Join Big Bus Tours, the world's largest open-top sightseeing operator.
- Benefits: Enjoy 25 days holiday, remote work options, and exclusive discounts.
- Other info: Hybrid working model with opportunities for career growth.
- Why this job: Make a real impact in a fast-paced environment with global exposure.
- Qualifications: Qualified accountant with FP&A experience and strong analytical skills.
The predicted salary is between 60750 - 74250 £ per year.
Big Bus Tours is the world’s largest operator of open-top sightseeing tours, fuelling the spirit of adventure in 27 world-famous cities across four continents.
Beginning its journey almost 30 years ago with a fleet of only three buses, Big Bus Tours has swiftly expanded to a global fleet of over 400 hundred open-top buses, turning 5 million tourists into explorers, every year.
Each open-top bus tour provides a hop-on, hop-off facility at a variety of interesting locations, with complimentary additions to enhance the visitor sightseeing experience.
In February 2015, private equity firm Exponent purchased Big Bus Tours, with a shared vision to make Big Bus Tours the number 1 thing to do in each world-famous city.
The business is looking to strengthen its Global Finance team with a commercially minded and analytically strong FP&A Manager on a 12-month fixed-term contract.
Reporting directly to the Group Financial Controller, you will play a key role in driving financial planning, forecasting, reporting, and performance analysis across the Group.
This role offers broad exposure across the business, partnering closely with senior leaders to provide commercial insight, challenge assumptions, and support strategic decision-making.
It is an excellent opportunity for an ambitious finance professional who enjoys working in a fast-paced environment and influencing business performance through data-driven analysis.
The individual will work within the Global Finance team, partnering with stakeholders across the Group.
Key stakeholders include
- City General Managers
- Operational and Commercial Leaders
- External stakeholders, including banking partners
Overview of Duties & Responsibilities
- Business Partnering
- Provide Senior Leaders with analysis and insight to optimise business performance and support delivery against targets.
- Act as a trusted finance business partner, delivering meaningful financial analysis, KPI reporting, and performance insights.
- Support stakeholders in understanding key financial drivers, risks, and opportunities across the business.
- Budgeting and Forecasting
- Lead the annual budgeting process, strategic planning cycles, and rolling forecasts across the Group.
- Conduct detailed variance analysis, identifying and explaining differences between actual performance, budget, and forecast.
- Prepare and maintain accurate weekly liquidity forecasts, challenging assumptions and ensuring the quality of forecast inputs from stakeholders.
- Support ad hoc forecasting, scenario planning, and financial modelling as required.
- Reporting
- Manage month-end consolidation, reporting, and analytical review processes.
- Deliver timely and accurate reporting of month-end results to the Senior Leadership Team.
- Maintain and enhance monthly management reporting packs for the Group.
- Prepare Board reporting packs for presentation to shareholders and external stakeholders.
- Support Facility Agreement reporting requirements.
- Assist with Group statutory accounts preparation, including going concern and impairment assessments.
- Analytics and Decision Support
- Deliver financial and operational analysis to support strategic and commercial decision-making.
- Conduct cost efficiency reviews and benchmarking exercises to optimise business performance.
- Analyse monthly results and report on key variance drivers and performance trends.
- Partner with City General Managers to identify opportunities to improve profitability and operational efficiency.
- Report on key Group operational metrics to internal and external stakeholders, including banking partners.
- Special Projects
- Prepare business cases and financial feasibility studies for new initiatives and investment opportunities.
- Support strategic projects and conduct post-implementation reviews to assess business outcomes and value delivery.
Qualifications & Experience
Education
- Strong academic record (degree level qualification).
- Qualified accountant (ACA/ACCA/CIMA) including membership of the relevant accredited professional body.
Experience
- Previous experience working within FP&A or a similar commercial finance role.
- 2+ years post-qualified experience preferred.
- Experience working closely with senior stakeholders and business leaders.
- Previous experience within the travel, leisure, hospitality, or retail sectors is advantageous but not essential.
- Experience with budgeting, forecasting, financial modelling, and management reporting.
Skills & Knowledge
- Strong understanding of management accounting, budgeting, forecasting, and cash flow management.
- Knowledge of IFRS and statutory reporting requirements.
- Experience developing and maintaining financial models.
- Understanding of business performance analysis and KPI reporting.
- Strong relationship-building and communication skills.
- Advanced Microsoft Excel skills and strong Power Point capability.
- Ability to manage large volumes of data with accuracy and attention to detail.
- Highest standards of accuracy and precision; highly organised.
- Highly efficient with the ability to prioritise several tasks at once.
- Ability to think creatively, analytically, and commercially.
- Highly driven, self-motivated, and comfortable managing multiple workstreams simultaneously.
- Ability to present complex financial information clearly to non-financial stakeholders.
- Personal resilience and self-awareness, with a passion for continuous improvement and development.
- Effective communication skills underpinning strong relationships and collaboration across the business.
- Results-driven with a commercial mindset and focus on delivering business outcomes.
- Strong analytical and problem-solving skills, capable of identifying trends, risks, and opportunities from complex data.
- Confident influencing and challenging stakeholders at all levels of the organisation.
- Strategic thinker with the ability to balance short-term priorities and long-term objectives.
- Comfortable operating in a fast-paced environment and adapting to changing business needs.
- Able to manage confidential information with discretion and professionalism.
Other Information
- Monday to Friday
- Hybrid working – currently 2 to 3 days in the office and the remainder at home, subject to change in the future
- Office based in Victoria, London
- Flexibility to work outside agreed working hours when required
We are proud to offer all our colleagues a competitive benefits package (pro-rata for fixed-term contracts), which includes:
- 25 Days Holiday + Bank Holidays
- Employee Assistance Programme
- Aviva Digi Care+ (Remote GP & 2nd Medical Opinion)
- Complimentary Big Bus Tickets
- Merlin Attractions Discounts
- Sick Pay Scheme
- Employee Referral Scheme
Due to the volume of applications our vacancies regularly receive, please allow up to 2 weeks from the closing date to hear back regarding your application, although our team will endeavour to contact every applicant as soon as practicable.
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Financial Planning Manager employer: Big Bus Tours
Big Duck Tours offers a unique and exciting opportunity for Skippers to join a friendly team in Windsor, operating one of the UK's first electric amphibious sightseeing vessels. With competitive pay and genuine career progression as the company expands, employees can enjoy a dynamic work environment that prioritises safety and customer experience while being part of a growing attraction on the River Thames.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Financial Planning Manager
✨Join Financial Networking Events
Jump into local finance meetups and conferences — they’re a goldmine for temporary roles in banking and financial services. You can chat with industry professionals and even get leads on upcoming opportunities that might not be posted online yet.
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✨Connect with Alumni from Your Uni
Don't underestimate the power of your university’s alumni network. Many former students are working in banking and can help you find temporary roles or even offer mentorship. Reach out directly or attend alumni events to broaden your circle.
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Keep your eyes peeled on job boards specifically for finance roles. Companies like Big Bus Tours might post temporary positions directly on their sites, so make sure to apply there too. Set alerts to catch those roles the moment they go live!
We think you need these skills to ace Financial Planning Manager
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Off Your Academic Achievements:In banking and financial services, your academic record can really make you stand out. List relevant grades, certifications, or coursework on your CV, especially if you've taken finance-related modules. This is particularly important for a temporary role where qualifications can help you shine even brighter!
Highlight Relevant Experience:If you’ve done any internships, part-time roles, or even coursework that aligns with banking or finance, make sure you include those! Showcase specific tasks where you used quantitative skills or analytical thinking, as this is what the hiring managers at Big Bus Tours will be keen to see in your application.
Tailor Your Cover Letter Purposefully:When writing your cover letter, focus on why you’re interested in a temporary position at Big Bus Tours. Let them know how you can quickly adapt to the team's needs and how eager you are to learn the ropes of the banking sector during this short stint. Your motivation and enthusiasm could really set you apart!
Be Prepared with References:For temporary roles, references can play a crucial role in your application. Make sure you’ve got a couple of references lined up who can vouch for your skills and work ethic. This helps to give Big Bus Tours confidence in your short-term commitment to the role.
How to prepare for a job interview at Big Bus Tours
✨Brush Up on Financial Regulations
Since this is a role in banking and financial services, be ready to discuss key regulations like MiFID, Basel III, or GDPR. These are hot topics, and your awareness of how they impact daily operations can give you a significant edge during your interview with Big Bus Tours.
✨Showcase Your Analytical Skills
Prepare for interview questions that assess your analytical abilities. You might need to tackle hypothetical scenarios involving risk assessment or financial forecasting. Bringing examples of relevant projects or coursework can emphasise your practical understanding of these concepts.
✨Highlight Flexibility and Adaptability
For a temporary role, showing that you can quickly pick up new processes and tools is crucial. Be ready to discuss previous experiences where you had to adapt to changing requirements or tight deadlines, as this will reassure Big Bus Tours that you’re a reliable team player.
✨Demonstrate a Willingness to Learn
In a temporary position, leaning into your eagerness to learn can really set you apart. Be prepared to share how you’re staying updated on industry trends or any additional training you've pursued. Employers appreciate candidates who are proactive about their development—even for short-term roles.
