Business Performance Assistant in Edinburgh

Location: Meadowbank Sports Centre, 139 London Road, EH7 6AE

Salary: £28,659 per year

Contract Type: Permanent

Position Type: Full Time

Hours: 35.75 hours per week

Work From Home: Hybrid

Are you a meticulous, numbers-savvy professional with a passion for driving business success through data? Do you enjoy working in a collaborative environment, supporting teams to make informed decisions? We are looking for a Business Performance Assistant to play a key role in ensuring our financial data empowers smart decision-making, helping us deliver exceptional customer experiences and sustainable growth.

In this dynamic role, you will support the Business Performance Manager and Department Managers by providing accurate and timely financial information and business insights to drive Edinburgh Leisure’s future success.

Key Responsibilities:

• Month-end processes – accurately summarise transactions, prepare and post journals and complete bank and balance sheet reconciliations to meet agreed deadlines.
• Produce and review allocated financial reports with precision.
• Analyse monthly department review packs, identifying anomalies for discussion with the Budget holders in advance of monthly meetings.
• Meet with Budget holders to review business performance, resolve discrepancies, and identify opportunities for improvement.
• Document findings, actions, and escalate key issues to the Business Performance Manager.
• Manage the annual budget process for allocated departments, assisting managers with preparation and review, ensuring alignment with timelines.
• Compile company-wide budget data as required.
• Investigate and resolve financial queries from monthly reviews, Budget holders or month-end tasks, escalating complex issues where necessary.
• Develop finance reports, analytics dashboards, and management information (e.g. within Techone) to make data more accessible for managers.
• Propose innovative ideas to streamline processes, improve budgeting accuracy, and enhance forecasting outcomes based on insights gathered.
• Build effective relationships with staff and suppliers, explaining financial concepts clearly to non-financial stakeholders.
• Effectively manage your time and prioritise tasks to consistently meet reporting deadlines.

Our ideal candidate will have:

• A relevant university degree or foundation-level accountancy qualification (AAT or similar).
• At least 3 years of work experience in management accounting or financial analysis, with the ability to apply management accounting principles and techniques.
• Strong analytical skills with a keen eye for detail and the ability to identify and investigate data anomalies.
• Excellent communication skills, with the ability to explain financial information to non-financial colleagues clearly and empathetically.
• Proven ability to meet deadlines while delivering accurate and high-quality work.
• Proficiency in financial systems and data manipulation tools.
• A collaborative mindset with evidence of working well in a team.

In return, we offer:

• Generous holiday allowance (32 days, rising with service up to 40 days)
• Company pension (with employee contributions matched up to 12%)
• Paid sick leave
• Free membership across all our centres with access to fitness classes, gyms, and swimming pools
• Opportunities for training, career growth and development
• Access to discounts with a huge number of retailers (saving money in cinemas, restaurants, clothing, and electronics shops, on insurance and healthcare and much more)

This is a hybrid role, with time split between our head office at Meadowbank Sports Centre and home working. You may occasionally visit other Edinburgh Leisure venues for meetings with budget holders.

Closing Date: 11th of June

Assessment Date: 24th/25th of June

We are proud members of the Disability Confident Scheme. We encourage applications from people with disabilities and will offer support with reasonable adjustments where required. We are committed to offering an interview to applicants with disabilities who meet the minimum criteria for the job.