Finance Analyst – Specialist Businesses (Travel) in Lichfield

Finance Analyst – Specialist Businesses (Travel) in Lichfield

Lichfield Full-Time 35000 - 45000 £ / year (est.) No working from home possible
Chelmsford Star Co-operative Society

At a Glance

  • Tasks: Analyse financial data and provide insights to drive business performance in the travel sector.
  • Company: Join the UK's largest independent co-operative Society with a strong community focus.
  • Benefits: Enjoy competitive salary, discounts, paid volunteering, and personalised learning opportunities.
  • Other info: Flexible work environment with excellent career growth and wellbeing support.
  • Why this job: Make a real impact on strategic decisions while developing your finance skills.
  • Qualifications: ACCA/ACA/CIMA qualification or working towards it, with strong Excel skills.

The predicted salary is between 35000 - 45000 £ per year.

As a key member of our Commercial Finance team, you’ll be providing insightful analysis and meaningful recommendations that help drive business performance and support strategic decision‑making. Working closely with the travel function, you’ll partner with a variety of stakeholders, delivering high‑quality financial insight that enables the business to achieve its objectives and identify new opportunities for growth.

You’ll be responsible for producing regular financial reporting, including weekly performance dashboards, management information, KPIs and commercial analysis. By interpreting financial and operational data, you will provide clear commentary on current business performance, highlighting trends, risks and opportunities. A strong focus of the role will be on continuously improving and automating reporting processes, ensuring stakeholders have access to accurate, timely and actionable information.

You’ll analyse period‑end results, providing detailed insight into PTD and YTD performance against budget and forecast. You’ll review monthly management accounts to ensure accuracy and consistency, while helping to maintain a single source of truth across multiple data systems. Where applicable, you’ll also evaluate the effectiveness of retail offers and promotions, assessing their impact on membership conversion and commercial performance.

This role will provide you with the opportunity to contribute to key planning activities, including quarterly forecasts, annual budgeting and long‑term strategic planning. You’ll support the delivery of business initiatives through financial modelling, performance tracking and the identification of key risks and opportunities, helping to shape future strategy and investment decisions.

Alongside your regular responsibilities, you’ll provide financial support for a range of ad hoc projects and work collaboratively with our Finance Managers to deliver commercial insight, continuous improvement and outstanding financial support to the wider business.

We are looking for someone who is either a professionally qualified Accountant (ACCA/ACA/CIMA) or who is working towards the completion of their qualification. Bringing a strong commercial and financial acumen, you’ll be confident in your ability to develop an understanding of the key drivers of the business area. Essential to this role will be your advanced excel skills together with your experience in manipulating large data quantities. You’ll feel comfortable in challenging current practice and processes with a drive for continuous improvement.

As well as being able to work collaboratively with both cross functional and finance colleagues, you’ll also demonstrate the ability to work independently, using your own initiative, as well as demonstrating a proactive approach to issue resolution. Due to the nature of this role, it will be essential that you can bring strong organisation skills and time management skills and be confident in your ability to deliver to deadlines. Preferably, you’ll bring experience of forecasting and modelling using excel or other bespoke systems.

In addition to our competitive salaries, our colleagues also benefit from:

  • Fantastic colleague discount - Reward ££’s and discounts across our Retail and Funeral businesses.
  • Retail discounts - our hub offers colleagues access to hundreds of exclusive retail discounts, savings on days out and holiday discounts.
  • Colleague Dividend - We pay a share of our profits to eligible colleagues as a thank you for their contribution to our success.
  • Colleague recognition - we celebrate our colleague’s achievements both personally and professionally.
  • Personalised learning and development - with easy access to a wide range of training programmes.
  • Paid time for volunteering - we encourage our colleagues to spend three days per year taking part in volunteering, fully paid for by us.
  • Enhanced family friendly policies - to help you feel fully supported during any significant life events.
  • Annual health check kit and virtual GP - Finger prick blood test kit, that is sent to Square Healthcare for your personal healthcare report, and access to a virtual GP 7 days a week 8am to 8pm for you and your family.
  • Colleague assistance programme - to support you and your family when you need it the most.
  • Healthcare Cashplan - your wellbeing is important, so you’ve got the opportunity to contribute into a voluntary plan that helps pay towards a range of healthcare expenses.
  • Company sick pay - We offer company sick pay to colleagues so that you can focus on getting better and returning to work in full health.
  • Life Assurance - after an initial qualifying period, you’ll get free life assurance cover, that pays your nominated beneficiary if you die while you’re working for us.
  • Give as you earn - helping you support charities which mean something to you.
  • Financial Wellbeing - iTrent Financial Wellbeing (Wagestream) - offers something for all our colleagues, whether you want to track your finances, save some money, or access up to 50% of your earned pay flexibly in a way that suits you.
  • The Money Co-op - Free access to support all aspects of your financial wellbeing, such as savings and loans at competitive rates.
  • Salary Sacrifice schemes: Electric Vehicle scheme - Option to purchase your EV through salary sacrifice.
  • Share Incentive Plan (SIP) - option to buy shares within the Society, where they will attract interest and £10 worth of matching shares.
  • Cycle to Work scheme - Option to purchase your bicycle and accessories through salary sacrifice.
  • Holiday buy - colleagues can buy up to a week extra of annual leave each year.
  • Company Pension - you can access a company pension scheme with us as well as access to Pension wellbeing information.

OurCoop is the UK’s largest independent co‑operative Society, with more than one million Members and 13,000 colleagues operating in communities nationwide. It was formed by bringing together Central Co‑op, The Midcounties Co‑operative and Chelmsford Star Co‑op to create a stronger, member‑owned organisation rooted in shared co‑operative values.

Finance Analyst – Specialist Businesses (Travel) in Lichfield employer: Chelmsford Star Co-operative Society

OurCoop is an exceptional employer that prioritises the well-being and development of its employees, offering a vibrant work culture where every team member can thrive. With a strong commitment to community engagement, flexible working hours, and a comprehensive benefits package including discounts, health support, and opportunities for personal growth, you will find meaningful and rewarding employment here. Join us in making a difference while enjoying a supportive environment that values your contributions and encourages your aspirations.

Chelmsford Star Co-operative Society

Contact Details:

Chelmsford Star Co-operative Society Recruitment Team

StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫

We think this is how you could land Finance Analyst – Specialist Businesses (Travel) in Lichfield

Tap into Campus Networks

If you're still in uni, don’t forget to engage with your campus's career services and attend finance-related events. Banks often do presentations and recruitment drives on campus, so put yourself out there and make use of these opportunities to show off your passion for the field.

Get Certified

Consider pursuing relevant certifications like the CFA or ACCA while you’re job hunting. They not only beef up your CV but also connect you with professional bodies which can lead to networking opportunities and even job openings in banking and financial services.

Connect on Professional Platforms

Join finance-focused groups on platforms like LinkedIn and engage in discussions. This can really help you stand out from the crowd, allowing potential employers to see your knowledge and interest in industry trends. Plus, you might stumble upon job postings shared exclusively within the group.

Apply Directly and Be Proactive

Don’t shy away from reaching out directly to firms like Chelmsford Star Co-operative Society. Use their websites and apply through them, but also consider following up with a polite email to express your enthusiasm. Being proactive can make a huge difference in getting noticed in the competitive financial services sector.

We think you need these skills to ace Finance Analyst – Specialist Businesses (Travel) in Lichfield

Financial Analysis
Reporting Skills
Data Manipulation
Excel Proficiency
Forecasting
Budgeting
Commercial Acumen

Some tips for your application 🫡

Show Off Your Numbers!:In the banking and financial services world, quantifiable achievements are key. Make sure your CV highlights your grades in relevant subjects, any financial certifications you hold, and specific projects where you've delivered measurable results. Employers love to see how your skills translate into real-world success.

Tailor Your Cover Letter to the Role:When applying for a full-time position, your cover letter should make a direct connection between your experience and the job description. Don't just state your enthusiasm for finance—dive into how your background in banking or financial analysis sets you apart. Let your passion shine through while being specific about what you can bring to Chelmsford Star Co-operative Society.

Include Relevant Financial Software Experience:If you've worked with financial modelling tools or software like Excel, SAP, or specific analytical tools during your studies or internships, bring that up! Highlighting your proficiency can really make your application pop and show you're ready to hit the ground running in a full-time role.

Research and Reflect:Before hitting that 'apply' button on Chelmsford Star Co-operative Society's website, do a little digging. Look up their recent projects, values, and culture. Reflecting their ethos in your application can make a huge difference and show you’re genuinely interested in being part of the team!

How to prepare for a job interview at Chelmsford Star Co-operative Society

Brush Up on Financial Analysis Skills

Make sure you're well-versed in financial concepts and analytical techniques relevant to banking and financial services. Get comfortable with tools like Excel for modelling or financial forecasting, as technical questions in this area are common during interviews with Chelmsford Star Co-operative Society.

Prepare for Case Studies

Expect to tackle case studies that demonstrate your problem-solving skills in real-world banking scenarios. Familiarise yourself with the types of problems you might face—think risk assessments or investment evaluations—and be ready to articulate your thought process clearly.

Show Your Passion for Finance

Since this is a full-time position, employers at Chelmsford Star Co-operative Society will be keen to see your genuine interest in finance. Be prepared to discuss recent industry trends or news articles that excite you, showcasing your enthusiasm and engagement with the field.

Network with Industry Professionals

Before your interview, reach out to current or former Chelmsford Star Co-operative Society employees on platforms like LinkedIn. They'll offer unique insights into the company's culture and the interview process, which can give us a delightful edge in showcasing a good fit for the team.