Strategic Finance Partner β€” Global Esports & Live Events

Strategic Finance Partner β€” Global Esports & Live Events

Full-Time 49500 - 60500 Β£ / year (est.) Hybrid
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At a Glance

  • Tasks: Be the financial guru for our esports ecosystems, guiding teams through budgets and forecasts.
  • Company: Join BLAST, a leading global esports and live events company with a bold culture.
  • Benefits: Enjoy a flexible work environment, professional growth opportunities, and a vibrant team atmosphere.
  • Other info: Work in a dynamic setting with opportunities to innovate and improve financial processes.
  • Why this job: Make a real impact in the exciting world of esports while developing your finance skills.
  • Qualifications: Finance experience and strong analytical skills; studying towards a professional qualification is a plus.

The predicted salary is between 49500 - 60500 Β£ per year.

About BLAST

BLAST is a global competitive entertainment company working with some of the world's biggest game publishers, brands and entertainment properties to create world-class esports and live entertainment experiences.

We operate globally across multiple ecosystems, delivering everything from large-scale arena events and broadcasts to digital products and content.

Our values β€”

Make it Bold, Make it Together and Make it Happen

β€” shape how we work, collaborate and deliver.

The Role

We are looking for a Finance Business Partner to join our Finance team and take financial ownership of a portfolio of BLAST ecosystems and events.

This is a highly embedded and operational business partnering role.

You will work closely with Ecosystem Leads, Event Delivery, Production, Commercial and other teams throughout the full financial lifecycle of our products β€” from budgets and forecasts through procurement, event delivery, financial close and reconciliation.

You will be the primary Finance point of contact for your areas of the business, helping teams understand their financial performance, make informed decisions and maintain strong financial control in a fast-paced global environment.

You will also help improve the processes and systems connecting planning, procurement, accounting and reporting as BLAST continues to develop its Finance operating model and technology.

The role reports to the

Lead Finance Business Partner.

  • What you'll be doing
  • Business Partnering & Financial Ownership
  • Act as the primary Finance Business Partner for your assigned BLAST ecosystems, building strong relationships with ecosystem Leads, Event Delivery teams and budget owners.
  • Take end-to-end financial ownership of your ecosystems, understanding both their commercial model and underlying cost base.
  • Provide clear financial insight, constructive challenge and recommendations to support operational and strategic decision-making.
  • Identify financial risks, opportunities and efficiencies, translating financial information into clear actions for non-finance stakeholders.
  • Budgeting & Forecasting
  • Lead budgeting and forecasting for your assigned ecosystems, working with cost owners and senior stakeholders to build robust financial plans.
  • Own the accuracy and integrity of ecosystem WIPs and rolling forecasts, partnering with operational cost owners to ensure underlying estimates and commitments remain current., ensuring changes in scope, commitments, risks and opportunities are reflected promptly.
  • Analyse performance against budget and previous forecasts, clearly explaining key movements and challenging assumptions where appropriate.
  • Support wider company planning and reforecasting exercises.
  • Event & Project Finance
  • Maintain financial oversight throughout the lifecycle of BLAST events and projects, from planning through delivery and final close.
  • Work with Event Delivery and Production teams to ensure committed and anticipated costs are accurately captured.
  • Lead post-event financial reconciliation, ensuring actual costs are correctly captured, investigated and allocated.
  • Drive timely event close, resolving outstanding purchase orders, invoices, accruals and other financial items.
  • Provide clear visibility of final event performance and material variances against budget and forecast.
  • Procurement & Financial Control
  • Play a key role in BLAST's procure-to-pay process, ensuring expenditure is appropriately budgeted, approved and recorded.
  • Review and approve purchasing requests for your ecosystems in line with agreed approval frameworks.
  • Partner with budget owners to ensure purchase orders are raised accurately and on time.
  • Work closely with Accounts Payable, Financial Control and operational teams to resolve invoice, PO and coding issues.
  • Help maintain a clear connection between approved budgets, purchase commitments, accounting actuals and final payments.
  • Systems & Process Improvement
  • Help improve the systems and processes supporting budgeting, forecasting, procurement, accounting and financial reconciliation.
  • Identify opportunities to simplify manual processes, improve data quality and reduce duplication across Finance and operational teams.
  • Support the implementation and adoption of new Finance and ERP technology.
  • Help develop scalable processes, reporting and controls as BLAST continues to grow.

We are looking for someone who combines strong financial fundamentals with commercial thinking, curiosity and a willingness to get close to how the business operates.

You will have

  • Experience within finance, commercial finance, management accounting, FP&A or business partnering.
  • Experience supporting budgets, forecasts and financial performance management.
  • A professional accounting qualification (CIMA, ACCA, ACA or equivalent), or be actively studying towards one.
  • Strong analytical and Excel skills, with an interest in using technology, automation and new tools to work more effectively.
  • Strong communication skills and the ability to build trusted relationships with Finance and non-finance stakeholders.
  • The confidence to challenge constructively while remaining collaborative and solutions-focused.
  • Strong organisation and attention to detail, with the ability to manage multiple projects and deadlines.
  • A proactive mindset and willingness to take ownership in a fast-moving environment.

Experience within esports, gaming, entertainment, live events, media, production or another project-based environment would be advantageous but is not required. Experience working with

ERP, procurement, budgeting or data/reporting platforms would also be beneficial.

What success looks like

You become the trusted financial partner for the ecosystems you support β€” giving stakeholders clear visibility of financial performance and identifying risks before they become surprises.

Budgets and forecasts remain accurate as projects evolve, purchase commitments and actual costs can be traced back to the underlying budget, and events are financially reconciled and closed quickly and accurately.

Over time, you help make the way BLAST plans, spends, accounts for and reports money simpler, more scalable and more reliable

  • A unique opportunity to join a new esports organisation that has already achieved success – to be part of, and ensure, its growth.
  • Support across all areas of your role to further your development and enable you to contribute to the business to the best of your ability and potential.
  • A positive, flexible working environment.
  • A fantastic team whose background lies in a variety of fields across sport and entertainment.
  • #J-18808-Ljbffr

Strategic Finance Partner β€” Global Esports & Live Events employer: BLAST

BLAST is an exceptional employer, offering a dynamic and innovative work environment in the heart of the esports industry. With a strong emphasis on collaboration and personal development, employees are encouraged to grow their skills while contributing to exciting projects that shape the future of entertainment. The company's commitment to flexibility and a positive culture ensures that team members thrive both professionally and personally, making it a rewarding place to work.

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Contact Details:

BLAST Recruitment Team

StudySmarter Expert Advice🀫

We think this is how you could land Strategic Finance Partner β€” Global Esports & Live Events

✨Tip Number 1: Tap Into Professional Networks

The finance world loves a good connection, so jump into industry-specific groups on platforms like LinkedIn where you can find discussions on financial controlling. Engaging in these communities can expose you to hidden job leads that aren't openly advertised!

✨Tip Number 2: Attend Finance Events and Conferences

Make it a mission to attend finance-related events and conferences, even virtual ones! This is a golden opportunity to network face-to-face with people from companies like BLAST. You never know who might be your next boss or a crucial contact!

✨Tip Number 3: Showcase Your Expertise

Consider writing articles or sharing insights related to financial controlling or industry trends. Publish these on platforms like LinkedIn to establish yourself as a knowledgeable player in the field. This not only increases your visibility but also catches the attention of recruiters from BLAST.

✨Tip Number 4: Apply Directly on Company Websites

Since you're going for a full-time gig, don't forget to keep an eye on the careers page of companies you're interested in, like BLAST. Many companies prefer candidates who apply through their website as it shows genuine interest and makes your application stand out!

We think you need these skills to ace Strategic Finance Partner β€” Global Esports & Live Events

Financial Ownership
Business Partnering
Budgeting
Forecasting
Financial Performance Management
Analytical Skills
Excel Skills

Some tips for your application 🫑

Show Off Your Numbers Game:In financial controlling, detail is everything! Make sure your CV showcases your proficiency with numbersβ€”highlight any relevant experience in budgeting, forecasting, or working with financial software. Quantifying your past achievements will make you stand out, so don’t be shy about flaunting those impressive percentages or cost savings you've implemented.

Tailored Cover Letter is Key:Your cover letter is a chance to shine, especially for a full-time role. Use it to express your genuine interest in BLAST and the specific impact you hope to make in financial controlling. Mention any relevant qualifications or experiences that align with the company’s goals, and don’t forget to show that you're ready for a long-term commitment!

Certifications Matter:List relevant certifications such as ACCA or CIMA on your CV. These qualifications not only showcase your dedication to the field but also your technical competence in financial principles. If you have any ongoing training or courses, make sure to mention those as well to demonstrate your commitment to continual learning in financial controlling.

Don’t Overlook Soft Skills:While numbers are crucial, so are those soft skills! Financial controllers need strong communication and analytical reasoning abilities. We recommend embedding examples of these skills in your CV and cover letter, like how you’ve successfully delivered financial reports to stakeholders or collaborated with teams to improve processes. Let’s show BLAST how you can be a team player!

How to prepare for a job interview at BLAST

✨Brush Up on Technical Skills

Make sure you're comfortable with key financial concepts, especially around forecasting, budgeting, and variance analysis. Sometimes, interviewers may throw in technical questions or case studies, so practicing these types of scenarios will help you shine!

✨Showcase Your Financial Acumen

If you've had experience with specific financial software like SAP or Oracle, make it known! Be ready to discuss how you used these tools to improve processes or reporting, as this hands-on knowledge can really set you apart in a full-time role with BLAST.

✨Know Your Numbers

In full-time interviews, especially in financial controlling, be prepared for numerical reasoning tests or questions. Brush up on your mental maths and understand how to interpret and analyse financial statements on the spot, as this may come up during the assessment.

✨Connect with Company Goals

Familiarise yourself with BLAST's financial objectives and any recent developments. During the interview, try to weave your understanding of their business model and challenges into your answersβ€”this shows your genuine interest and alignment with their goals!