At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead financial planning and reporting, partnering with senior stakeholders for strategic insights.
- Company: Join a dynamic organisation focused on educational excellence and financial integrity.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, professional development, and a supportive work environment.
- Other info: Opportunity for career growth in a collaborative and innovative finance team.
- Why this job: Make a real impact on financial strategies that shape the future of education.
- Qualifications: Qualified accountant with strong analytical skills and experience in FP&A.
The predicted salary is between 63000 - 77000 £ per year.
Role purpose
The Senior FP&A Manager – Central Functions is responsible for financial planning, management reporting and strategic insight across central functions and key strategic initiatives.
The role partners closely with the CFO, Head of FP&A, and senior stakeholders to drive high-quality decision-making, ensuring financial plans align with organisational strategy and delivering robust financial oversight of both operational and capital activity.
The role also leads and develops the Finance Business Partner for Trust Office, ensuring high standards of financial control, reporting and business partnering.
Key responsibilities
- Strategic Planning & Business Partnering
- Partner with CFO and Head of FP&A to develop robust financial models supporting strategic initiatives
- Lead financial input into business cases, ensuring alignment with strategic priorities and clear articulation of financial risks and opportunities
- Provide end to end financial support across the project life cycle, acting as key business partner advisor to project sponsors and embed into overall GDST planning and reporting
- Financial Planning
- Lead all central function budgeting, forecasting and five year planning
- Provide financial support and guidance to budget holders, ensuring plans are robust, aligned to strategy and appropriately challenged
- Prepare all analysis, papers and slide decks in relation to central functions, ensuring clear delivery of key messages, risks and opportunities
- Develop budgeting and forecasting models to improve efficiency, cost control and insights
- Financial Reporting & Control
- Lead the monthly close process, including production and review of management accounts for central functions and strategic projects, ensuring accuracy, timeliness and consistency across departments
- Review and challenge financial results, providing clear variance analysis and insight for senior stakeholders and highlighting poor operational performance
- Contribute to Executive and Board reporting, including high quality commentary insights
- Ensure strong financial governance, including oversight of accruals, prepayments and reconciliations
- Support the wider FP&A team with month end deliverables as required
- Capital Investment & Projects
- Partner with the Estates team to maintain the capital investment programme, ensuring accurate reporting of expenditure and forecasts
- Partner with the Accounting team to ensure accurate reflection of future spend in the cash flow
- Develop the existing capital appraisal model to ensure consistency and alignment across projects and schools
- Support decision-making through clear analysis of capital investment outcomes and risks, contributing to papers as required
- Systems, Data & Continuous Improvement
- Support and advise on the design and implementation of new planning and reporting systems
- Drive continuous improvements in data quality, governance, and integration across systems, supporting in the development of connections between a CPM, Data Cloud and dashboards
- Develop scalable and automated reporting solutions, including dashboards for senior stakeholders
- Champion continuous improvement and standardisation of financial processes
- Integration of reporting on core and growth strategic pillars
- People & Leadership
- Line manage and develop the Finance Business Partner, setting clear objectives and supporting their professional growth
- Foster a high-performance, business-partnering culture within the finance team
- Provide oversight and direction to ensure high-quality financial reporting, planning and stakeholder support
- Provide coaching and guidance to enhance financial insight, challenge and stakeholder engagement
- Act as a role model for collaboration, accountability, and continuous improvement
- Support and deputise for the Head of FP&A as required
- Any other duties that may be deemed reasonable from time to time
- Key Relationships
- Head of FP&A
- GDST ELT members including CFO
- Regional COO
- Estates Team
- Transformation project teams / PMO
- Accounting Team
- Data Team
- External project managers as required
- General Requirements
- Work towards and support the Trust’s vision and current objectives outlined in the GDST Strategic Development Plan
- Work within the Trust’s health and safety policy to ensure a safe working environment for staff and visitors
- Work within the GDST’s Diversity Policy to promote equality of opportunity for all staff, both current and prospective
- Maintain high professional standards of attendance, punctuality, appearance, conduct and positive, courteous relations with Trust Office colleagues, school staff, external contacts and visitors
- Engage actively in the performance review process, and training and development opportunities available
- Adhere to policies as set out in the GDST Council Regulations, Notes of
- Guidance and GDST circulars
- Undertake other reasonable duties as requested from time to time
Person Specification
- Qualified accountant (ACA, CIMA or ACCA)
- Extremely proficient in Excel and data modelling with excellent analytical skills
- Excellent skills in Office applications e. g. Word and Power Point and fully conversant with accounting software
- A proven track record within FP&A environment and teams
- Strong track record of preparing and analysing management accounts
- Extensive knowledge of Corporate Performance Mgmt (CPM) solutions
- Proficient user in BI tools (incl. Power BI)and Data Analytics
- Enthusiastic and energised to contribute to GDST vision
- Resilient, flexible and pragmatic
- Strong analytical skills and the ability to present financial information clearly and concisely
- Excellent interpersonal and communication skills including the ability to relate well to people on all levels and build good relationships
- Show initiative and be proactive in identifying and resolving issues
- Ability to effectively manage multiple workstreams and deliverables simultaneously, working to tight deadlines and ensuring high quality output
- Committed to high professional standards and providing an excellent service, working flexibly with an approachable manner
- Personal integrity, honesty, enthusiasm and dedication
Senior Financial Planning & Analysis Manager (Internal Applications Only) in London employer: GDST
Norwich High School, part of the GDST family, is an exceptional employer that prioritises the growth and development of its staff while fostering a supportive and collaborative work culture. With a focus on empowering students through innovative careers education, employees benefit from a competitive salary, flexible working arrangements, and opportunities for professional development, making it an ideal place for those passionate about shaping future generations.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Senior Financial Planning & Analysis Manager (Internal Applications Only) in London
✨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 GDST. 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 Senior Financial Planning & Analysis Manager (Internal Applications Only) in London
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 GDST.
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 GDST'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 GDST
✨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 GDST.
✨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 GDST 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 GDST 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.
