Group Senior FP&A Analyst in Bury St Edmunds

Responsible to: Group FP&A Manager

Department: Group Finance

Location: JD Sports Fashion PLC, Edinburgh House, Hollinsbrook Way, Pilsworth, Bury, BL9 8RR

Role Overview

This is an opportunity for a qualified accountant to join the Group finance team in a fast-paced FTSE 100 PLC. We are looking to recruit an experienced Senior FP&A Analyst to join the Group Financial Planning & Analysis team. Reporting to the FP&A Manager, the role will be a key driver in producing annual budgeting, rolling Group forecasts and the Group’s five-year business plan; together with weekly and ad hoc analysis and reporting to support senior management decision making. We are looking for an individual who has significant previous FP&A experience, preferably from a retail background. You will have a proactive friendly approach, highly numerical and critical mindset. You will have the ability to work independently, to challenge, and build trusted working relationships with colleagues across the team and the wider business.

What does the job involve?

• Drive and own the creation of allocated segments of the Group budget and reforecasting process, leveraging strong Business Partnering relationships with business segments across JD Group globally.
• Drive and own allocated segments of the Group’s annual business planning process and the development and evolution of the five-year business plan.
• Create and distribute the Monthly Flash and be responsible for Month End Reporting analysis and commentary accuracy.
• Create and present reports to the senior management, and preparation of reports for the Board.
• Communicate with departmental teams on financial matters, such as KPIs and MI.
• Supporting the harmonisation of KPI definitions across the group.
• Proactive ad hoc analysis to support decision making across the business, producing reports and projections based on the appropriate analysis conducted, including relevant commentary.
• Develop complex financial models that address complex issues, handling large data sets & drawing out insightful high-quality reporting.
• Consolidate weekly outturn trackers for allocated business units, highlighting key risk and opportunities.
• Enhance data quality and reporting through automation and leveraging system capabilities.
• Build strong relationships with Group Reporting, Treasury, and Commercial Finance to ensure planning assumptions are aligned and robust.
• Act as a mentor to graduate analysts, supporting development of financial modelling, analysis, and presentation skills.

What You'll Bring

• Fully qualified accountant (ACA, CIMA or ACCA or equivalent) with substantial commercial finance experience, ideally in a retail or FMCG environment.
• A ‘can do attitude’ with the ability to work with people across different departments and at all levels within the business.
• Significant business planning and forecasting experience.
• Highly proficient in Microsoft Office (Excel and PowerPoint at an advanced level).
• Very strong mathematical, financial analysis and critical thinking skills.
• Very strong financial modelling skills.
• Very strong organisational skills and excellent attention to detail.
• Awareness of macroeconomic variables and how they impact business performance.
• Ability to simplify the complex.
• IBM Planning Analytics Experience highly desirable.

The role will be hybrid with 4 or more days in our Bury campus.