At a Glance
- Tasks: Manage financial controls for IT projects and support project managers with budgeting.
- Company: Join a leading company in the energy sector with a focus on innovation.
- Benefits: Enjoy a hybrid work model, competitive salary, and opportunities for professional growth.
- Other info: Dynamic role with excellent career advancement opportunities in a supportive environment.
- Why this job: Make a real impact by ensuring financial success across a diverse portfolio of projects.
- Qualifications: Experience in project cost accounting and strong Excel skills are essential.
The predicted salary is between 45000 - 55000 £ per year.
Work model: Hybrid, 2-3 days onsite in a week.
Role
The main purpose of the Portfolio Finance Analyst role is to maintain financial controls and systems, including budgeting for all IT project expenditure. Day-to-day activities will include working closely with project and programme managers, senior management and other stakeholders within IT to provide a project cost accounting function to a growing portfolio of over 100 projects.
Skills / Experience
- Knowledge of the Oracle Project Cost Accounting system (or similar) would be advantageous.
- An excellent understanding of Project Cost Accounting fundamentals.
- Study towards an accountancy or related financial qualification would be helpful but is not essential.
- Good understanding of end-to-end project lifecycle delivery.
- Highly proficient in Microsoft Excel.
Communication and Personal Attributes
- Ability to deliver under pressure whilst building relationships.
- Customer focused approach.
- Highly articulate with effective written and interpersonal skills.
- Strong attention to detail.
- Ability to thrive in a challenging environment and develop new skills.
Problem Solving, Analysis and Reasoning
- Excellent analytical skills.
Key Accountabilities
- Provide a professional finance function within the IT Portfolio Office to ensure the timely provision of project funding and effective financial control.
- Maintain financial controls enabling Project Cost Accounting for the portfolio including spend against budget, forecast spend and cost variance analysis.
- Manage the annual budgeting and roadmap process for IT projects.
- Provide financial management support for projects within the IT change portfolio, including budget development and monitoring, purchase order requisition and fulfilment, and reconciliation of projects and their close out.
- Ensure projects are managing their finances in line with the Transformational Change Governance Framework.
- Provide support and guidance to project managers in tracking their budgets.
- Monitor compliance with portfolio reporting / financial standards and intervene when this deviates or slips.
- Review funding requests to ensure they remain within approved project budgets.
- Participate in project review meetings to highlight finance related matters.
Experience
- Experience in annual budgeting process for projects or portfolios.
- Background in Portfolio Office functions or PMO functions, using collaborative skills in coaching others to complete required reports and managing financial reporting cycle on large projects.
- A demonstrable understanding of Client’s business areas, the Energy industry and IT.
- Knowledge of Client Transformational Change Governance Framework or an equivalent stage gate-based project governance process.
- Awareness of safety practices within high risk engineering environments.
- Awareness of information security practices within commercially sensitive environments.
Strategic IT Portfolio Finance Analyst (Hybrid) in Reading employer: Lorien
As a Strategic IT Portfolio Finance Analyst, you will thrive in a dynamic hybrid work environment that fosters collaboration and innovation. Our company prioritises employee growth through continuous learning opportunities and a supportive culture that values your contributions. With a focus on financial excellence within a diverse portfolio of IT projects, you'll be part of a team that not only drives organisational success but also champions your professional development.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Strategic IT Portfolio Finance Analyst (Hybrid) in Reading
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to folks in your industry on LinkedIn or at local meetups. We all know that sometimes it’s not just what you know, but who you know that can help you land that dream job.
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for those interviews by practising common questions and scenarios related to project finance. We recommend doing mock interviews with friends or using online platforms to get comfortable with your responses.
✨Tip Number 3
Showcase your skills! Create a portfolio or a presentation that highlights your experience with budgeting and financial controls. We want to see how you can bring value to the role, so don’t hold back!
✨Tip Number 4
Apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets seen by the right people. Plus, we love seeing candidates who are proactive about their job search.
We think you need these skills to ace Strategic IT Portfolio Finance Analyst (Hybrid) in Reading
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your CV:Make sure your CV speaks directly to the role of Strategic IT Portfolio Finance Analyst. Highlight your experience with project cost accounting and any relevant financial qualifications. We want to see how your skills align with our needs!
Craft a Compelling Cover Letter:Your cover letter is your chance to shine! Use it to explain why you're the perfect fit for this role. Mention your understanding of the project lifecycle and how you can contribute to our finance function. Let us know what excites you about working with us!
Showcase Your Excel Skills:Since proficiency in Microsoft Excel is key, don’t forget to mention any specific projects or tasks where you've used Excel to manage budgets or analyse data. We love seeing those analytical skills in action!
Apply Through Our Website:We encourage you to apply through our website for a smoother application process. It helps us keep track of your application and ensures you get all the updates directly from us. Plus, it’s super easy!
How to prepare for a job interview at Lorien
✨Know Your Numbers
Make sure you brush up on your financial knowledge, especially around project cost accounting. Be ready to discuss how you've managed budgets in the past and any experience you have with systems like Oracle Project Cost Accounting. This will show that you understand the core of the role.
✨Excel Like a Pro
Since proficiency in Microsoft Excel is key for this position, practice your skills beforehand. Familiarise yourself with functions, pivot tables, and data analysis techniques. You might even want to prepare a few examples of how you've used Excel to solve problems or streamline processes in previous roles.
✨Communicate Clearly
This role requires strong interpersonal skills, so be prepared to demonstrate your ability to communicate effectively. Think of examples where you've built relationships with stakeholders or resolved conflicts. Practising your responses can help you articulate your thoughts clearly during the interview.
✨Show Your Problem-Solving Skills
Be ready to discuss specific challenges you've faced in financial management and how you overcame them. Use the STAR method (Situation, Task, Action, Result) to structure your answers. This will highlight your analytical skills and ability to thrive under pressure, which are crucial for this role.
