Group Commercial Finance Analyst (Manchester)

Were reimagining work/life balance and you could be part of it.

At OFG, we\’re proud to be part of the 4-Day Working Week trial a bold step toward giving our teams more time to recharge, refresh, and enjoy life outside of work.

That means you could be working 80% of your usual hours, while still earning 100% of your pay.

If the trial proves successful, well roll out the 4DWW across the Group making now the perfect time to join #TeamOFG and help shape the future of work.

Job Title: Group Commercial Finance Analyst

Location: Remote (Travel to Manchester office 1-2 days a week)

Salary: Up to 60,000 per annum

Hours: 37.5 hours per week, Monday to Friday, 9:00am to 5:00pm

ABOUT US:

At Outcomes First Group, we believe every child can thrive when given the right environment for success. As one of the worlds leading providers in our sector, we deliver exceptional, research-led education tailored to each individual, with smaller class sizes and personalised learning plans.

Our vision is to empower every child with a world-class education that nurtures potential and inspires lifelong learning, our mission is to unlock that potential through personalised learning and opportunity, and our promise is simple: we listen, we work together, and we are accountable to one another to make the remarkable happen.

JOB PURPOSE

As Outcomes First Group (OFG) expands in the UK and new international markets, the Group Commercial Finance Analyst will play a pivotal role in supporting this growth through robust financial insight, modelling, and strategic analysis.

This role will focus on partnering with Group and in-country teams to assess market opportunities, develop business cases, model potential returns, and establish scalable financial frameworks. The successful candidate will combine strong analytical capability with commercial awareness to guide key decisions around international expansion, helping to build a financially sustainable platform for growth.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Partner with the Group Finance Business Partner and Financial Leadership Team to assess new UK and international market opportunities through detailed financial modelling and scenario planning.
• Support business development initiatives by evaluating commercial viability, pricing strategies, and investment requirements across both new and existing markets.
• Develop and maintain dynamic financial models to assess performance and risk profiles of UK & international ventures, acquisitions, and growth projects.
• Provide financial leadership and insight during market entry, go-live, scale-up, and UK expansion phases, ensuring clarity on revenue, cost, and margin expectations.
• Collaborate with UK and in-country teams to build budgets and forecasts that align with Group financial targets and growth plans.
• Analyse actual performance against plan, highlighting key variances and providing actionable insights for UK and international teams.
• Identify opportunities to improve efficiency, streamline processes, and embed robust financial controls as part of both new market and domestic growth activities.
• Deliver regular reporting and analysis to senior leadership, enabling effective decision-making and agile course correction.
• Provide financial input into market entry and UK growth strategies, including regulatory, commercial, and operating model considerations.
• Act as a critical friend to UK and in-country teams, challenging assumptions and ensuring data-driven, realistic planning.
• Stay abreast of UK and international market dynamics, economic indicators, and cost environments to inform strategic financial planning.

EXPERIENCE, SKILLS & QUALIFICATIONS:

ESSENTIAL

• Experience in a finance business partnering, commercial finance or business analysis role within a fast-paced, multi-entity environment.
• Proven track record of supporting business growth and/or international expansion through financial insight and modelling.
• Strong Excel and financial modelling skills, with the ability to develop clear, flexible models for decision-making.
• Analytical mindset with strong attention to detail, balanced with the ability to see the bigger picture.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, with confidence in engaging stakeholders at all levels.
• Commercially astute, able to interpret and present data in a meaningful way to drive decisions.
• Hands-on and adaptable, with the ability to thrive in a scaling, fast-moving environment.

DESIRABLE

• Experience with ERP systems, Power BI or similar tools is advantageous.
• Professional finance qualification (e.g., CIMA, ACCA) preferred but not essential.

Why join Outcomes First Group?

About the Group

Outcomes First Group is the largest independent provider of high quality special needs education and care. We are a vital part of local communities in England, Scotland and Wales with a renowned reputation for quality and positive outcomes for the people we educate and care for.
We are really proud to say that in 2024, Outcomes First Group were officially certified as a Great Place to Work for the fifth year running.
Our divisional brands include Acorn Education, Options Autism, Blenheim Schools and Momenta Connect.

Our Vision

Empower every child, whatever their ability, with a world-class education that nurtures potential, inspires lifelong learning, and equips them to thrive in a diverse and evolving world.

Our Mission

We commit to unlocking our pupils potential through personalised learning, innovation, and opportunity, supporting growth and aspirations.

OurPromise

We Listen.
We never assume.

We work together.
To make the remarkable happen.

We are accountable.
To each other and for one another.

Benefits

Your health and wellbeing are important to us, so youll get an exceptional reward package including:

• Life Assurance
• Pension scheme with options to increase your contributions
• Your Wellbeing Matters access to a wide range of first-class mental health support services and physical health checks
• Family Growth Support – inclusive benefits package covering enhanced maternity and paternity leave, along with paid fertility treatment support.

And a market-leading benefit offering through our Flexible Benefits Platform, Vista, enables you to choose the package thats right for you, including:

• A wide range of health, wellbeing, and insurance benefits
• 100s of discount options valid in the UK and abroad
• Cycle to Work Schemes
• Electric Car Purchase Scheme
• Critical illness cover

We are committed tosafeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and we expect all employees to share this commitment and undertake appropriate checks.

All applicants will be subject to social media checks and successful applicants to a fully enhanced DBS

We are an Equal Opportunities Employer.

Please note: 4DWW is subject to successful completion of your probation period and is not a contractual benefit.

We reserve the right to close the vacancy early if we receive a high volume of suitable applications.

Outcomes First Group is committed to carrying out a fair, thorough and efficient recruitment process in line with Keeping Children Safe in Education. Whilst we aim to keep applicants informed throughout, Outcomes First Group does not accept liability for any loss of earnings or other associated costs incurred by applicants as a result of delays or changes in the compliance process. All stages of the compliance process are subject to necessary safeguarding checks and compliance with statutory requirements, which may affect timescales.