Project Finance Analyst in Woking

Nomad Foods was formed in 2015 and with revenues of €2.9bn is the largest frozen food company in Europe. Nomad owns a portfolio of leading brands including Birds Eye, Findus and iglo, supplemented in 2018 with the purchase of Goodfellas Pizza and Aunt Bessie’s, and in 2021 with the purchase of Ledo and Frikom. We manufacture and distribute a range of branded frozen food products across 22 European countries with the United Kingdom, Italy, Germany, Sweden and France representing our five largest markets. The long-term goal of Nomad is to develop a global portfolio of best-in-class food brands by growing organically and through strategic M&A.

The Project Finance Analyst role is responsible for supporting the Project Finance Controller (‘PFC’) in providing financials and controls for all major Nomad projects (excluding Supply Chain), and for total Nomad Capex and Non-recurring spend. The number of qualifying projects is approximately 20-30 p.a.; total Capex and Non-Recurring spend p.a. is c€130m.

Responsibilities

• Project Financial Control:
• Project Governance: support the PFC in preparing materials for the Project Review Committee, ensuring that they are accurate, timely and insightful. Work with project teams to ensure Projects adhere to spend approval and other Nomad policy frameworks.
• Continuous Capability Improvement: support maintenance of central repository of Project finance processes and model with appropriate supporting documentation. Identify opportunities to simplify and automate Finance project models/processes.
• Project Accounting policies: work with Financial reporting team to ensure project accounting is per the Nomad accounting policy. Ensure in detail that project costs are correctly accounted for.
• Business Case preparation: work with PFC and project teams to ensure Project financial Business Cases prepared for Governance forums are: accurate, adhere to Nomad accounting policy, using prescribed metrics and templates, and are prepared in a timely manner.
• Budgeting and Forecasting: Maintain regular line of sight on in-year, outer year and total view of project costs & benefits, and that these visible to and aligned with stakeholders. Run models and process to capture, and give visibility to, this information. Ensure Project costs (Indirects, Capex and NR) are incorporated in a timely and accurate way into the Planning and Forecasting Nomad cycles (eg 3 year Strat Plan, next year Budget, and in-year monthly forecasts). Work with HO FP&A to ensure timings and outputs aligned to Nomad global process.
• Month End close: ensure Monthly actual costs for Projects are accurately accounted for and reported in core accounting systems, review numbers and verification of Actual spend, and preparation of journals and PO governance. Prepare variances versus budget/forecast with commentary. Ensure relevant Sox Controls are operated in timely and accurate manner. Address internal and external audit queries.
• Capex and Non Recurring, (Head office) Depreciation:
• Budgeting and Forecasting: Maintain regular line of sight on in-year, outer year and total view of Total Nomad Non recurring and Capex. Ensure updates are incorporated in a timely and accurate way into the Planning and Forecasting Nomad cycles (eg 3 year Strat Plan, next year Budget, in year monthly forecast, including Risks and Opportunities). Run models and process to capture, and give visibility to, this information. Review and challenge input assumptions provided by stakeholders.
• Capital Project Spend governance: support local HO teams to prepare Head Office capital approval requests, ensuring they are: accurate, adhere to Nomad accounting policy, based on assumptions that have been reviewed and checked for reasonableness, using prescribed metrics and templates, are aligned to approved budgets, and authorised in a timely manner. Administer the Head Office Capital Project approval process.
• Month End Close: Ensure Non Recurring and Capital spend reported in primary financial systems (SAP, BPC) is accurate and correct per accounting policy and expectation. Complete reconciliation of NR+Capex management accounting information to primary systems to ensure reporting accuracy.
• Other:
• (Head Office) Depreciation: responsible for preparing HO Depreciation forecasts provided for 3 year Strat Plan, next year Budget, in year monthly forecast. Run models and process to capture, and give visibility to, this information. Prepare variances and commentary of Actuals and latest view vs previous forecast.

Qualifications

• Essential:
• Part/fully qualified Accounting professional qualification.
• Min 3 years experience accounting, Financial Planning and Analysis, or Business Partnering.
• Previous experience working in a fast-paced environment.
• Strong planning and organisational skills.
• Attention to details and ownership for numbers.
• Senior Stakeholder management.
• Capex treatment.
• Strong numeracy, and Excel and PowerPoint skills.
• Link information from multiple sources for reporting purposes.
• Desirable:
• Previous experience with SAP ECC.
• Previous Project (accounting) experience.
• Audit / SOX compliance/ Controls.
• Presentation to senior stakeholders.

Competencies

• The ability and confidence to communicate and build effective business partnering relationships with people at all levels in both financial and non-financial management, distilling detailed information down into key clear messages.
• Able to work under time pressure and able to manage multiple priorities.
• Able to determine and apply the appropriate accounting treatment by analysing stakeholder communications, discussions, and supporting documentation.
• Maintain regular and proactive communication with multiple teams and stakeholders, providing timely updates on project progress, dependencies, delays, risks, and expected completion dates to ensure alignment and effective decision-making.