At a Glance
- Tasks: Analyse player behaviour and develop models to forecast churn and retention.
- Company: Join a leading gaming company with a passion for innovation.
- Benefits: Hybrid work model, competitive salary, and opportunities for professional growth.
- Why this job: Make an impact in the gaming industry by driving player engagement and retention strategies.
- Qualifications: Strong Excel skills and a degree in Finance, Economics, or related field.
- Other info: Collaborate with cross-functional teams in a dynamic and data-driven environment.
The predicted salary is between 28800 - 48000 Β£ per year.
We are seeking a highly analytical and detail-oriented strategic Finance Associate to support the commercial finance team in understanding and forecasting player behaviour, with a particular focus on player churn and retention. The successful candidate will design, build, and maintain a robust Excel-based cohort model that quantifies churn dynamics, supports financial forecasting, and helps guide strategic decisions around player lifetime value, marketing ROI, and retention initiatives.
Location: Hybrid - 2 days a week in Jagex office (Cambridge)
Reports to: Director of Commercial Finance
Key Responsibilities
- Model Development & Maintenance: Design and build a dynamic Excel model to track and forecast player churn by cohort, incorporating key behavioural and financial metrics (e.g. acquisition date, spend, activity, retention curves). Maintain and update the model regularly with new data from finance and data analytics teams. Ensure the model is transparent, auditable, and scalable for future business needs. Support with the preparation of Board materials.
- Data Analysis & Insights: Maintain the ongoing partnership with the Games and Data teams to reflect changes to assumptions and game roadmaps. Support the creation of business cases to calculate and support ROI narrative. Analyse player lifecycle data to identify churn drivers, retention trends, and revenue impacts. Segment players into cohorts (e.g. by acquisition channel, geography, game title, or spend level). Work closely with marketing and product teams to quantify the impact of retention campaigns or game changes.
- Financial Forecasting & Reporting: Integrate churn assumptions into revenue and cash flow forecasts. Support budgeting and scenario modelling by providing insight into expected churn rates and lifetime values. Prepare and present findings to finance leadership and key stakeholders across the business.
- Collaboration & Cross-Functional Work: Partner with Data, Marketing, and Product teams to align definitions and data inputs. Collaborate with BI and data engineers to automate model inputs over time (e.g. via SQL or Power Query). Translate complex analytical outputs into clear, actionable insights for non-technical stakeholders.
Key Skills & Experience
Essential:
- Strong Excel skills, including advanced formulas, data modelling, Power Query, and data visualisation (PivotTables, Charts).
- Experience building financial or analytical models from scratch.
- Excellent quantitative and analytical skills with a keen attention to detail.
- Strong understanding of cohort analysis, churn modelling, or customer lifetime value (LTV) metrics.
- Ability to communicate insights clearly to senior non-technical audiences.
- Relevant degree in Finance, Economics, Mathematics, or related field.
- Experience relating to prior employment in Big 4, Investment Banking, Consulting, other Corporate Finance or similar / equivalent.
Desirable:
- Experience in gaming, entertainment, or subscription-based businesses.
- Familiarity with SQL or data extraction from BI tools (e.g. Looker, Tableau, Power BI).
- Exposure to Python, R, or other statistical tools for churn or retention modelling.
- Understanding of digital marketing metrics and player acquisition funnels.
Personal Attributes:
- Curious and data-driven with a proactive approach to problem solving.
- Comfortable managing large, complex datasets.
- Strong business acumen β able to link data insights to financial performance.
- Excellent communication and stakeholder management skills.
- Passion for gaming and understanding player behaviour.
Strategic Finance Associate employer: Jagex Ltd.
Contact Detail:
Jagex Ltd. Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice π€«
We think this is how you could land Strategic Finance Associate
β¨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to people in the gaming and finance sectors on LinkedIn. A friendly message can go a long way, so donβt be shy about asking for a chat or advice.
β¨Tip Number 2
Prepare for interviews by practising common questions related to churn modelling and financial forecasting. We recommend using the STAR method to structure your answers β itβll help you showcase your analytical skills effectively.
β¨Tip Number 3
Show off your Excel skills! Bring along a sample model or analysis you've done in the past to demonstrate your expertise. Itβs a great way to visually communicate your capabilities to potential employers.
β¨Tip Number 4
Donβt forget to apply through our website! Itβs the best way to ensure your application gets seen by the right people. Plus, we love seeing candidates who are genuinely interested in joining our team.
We think you need these skills to ace Strategic Finance Associate
Some tips for your application π«‘
Show Off Your Excel Skills: Since this role is all about building and maintaining Excel models, make sure to highlight your Excel expertise in your application. Share specific examples of how you've used advanced formulas or data visualisation techniques in past projects.
Be Data-Driven: We love candidates who are curious and analytical! In your application, mention any experience you have with cohort analysis or churn modelling. Show us how you've used data to drive decisions and improve outcomes in previous roles.
Tailor Your Application: Make your application stand out by tailoring it to the job description. Use keywords from the posting, like 'player behaviour' and 'financial forecasting', to demonstrate that you understand what we're looking for and how you fit into the picture.
Apply Through Our Website: We encourage you to apply directly through our website. Itβs the best way for us to receive your application and ensures youβre considered for the role. Plus, it shows us you're keen on joining the StudySmarter team!
How to prepare for a job interview at Jagex Ltd.
β¨Master Your Excel Skills
Since the role heavily relies on advanced Excel skills, make sure you brush up on your formulas, data modelling, and visualisation techniques. Practise building a simple cohort model before the interview to demonstrate your capability and confidence.
β¨Know Your Churn Metrics
Familiarise yourself with key concepts like churn modelling and customer lifetime value. Be ready to discuss how these metrics impact financial forecasting and player retention strategies. Having real-world examples or case studies in mind can really set you apart.
β¨Prepare for Cross-Functional Collaboration
This role involves working closely with various teams, so think about how you can showcase your collaboration skills. Prepare examples of past experiences where you successfully partnered with different departments to achieve a common goal.
β¨Communicate Clearly and Confidently
Youβll need to present complex data insights to non-technical stakeholders, so practice simplifying your explanations. Use clear, concise language and be prepared to answer questions that may arise from your findings. This will show your ability to bridge the gap between data and business strategy.