At a Glance
- Tasks: Prepare performance reports and support budgeting and forecasting for regional finance.
- Company: Join a dynamic company focused on commercial finance and business performance.
- Benefits: Enjoy competitive salary, hybrid working, flexible hours, and generous holiday allowance.
- Other info: Great opportunities for career growth and personal development.
- Why this job: Develop your finance skills while making a real impact in a fast-paced environment.
- Qualifications: Partly qualified accountant with strong Excel skills and a proactive mindset.
The predicted salary is between 35000 - 45000 £ per year.
What you’ll be doing:
- Performance Reporting: Own the preparation and distribution of weekly and monthly regional performance reports, covering sales, margin, channel profitability, and promotional performance. Produce margin decomposition analysis, clearly breaking down performance by channel, customer, and product to support commercial conversations. Track and report on stock impacts on sales and margin, providing timely updates to the Finance Lead for inclusion in commercial reviews. Present analysis clearly in Power BI and Excel, ensuring outputs are accurate, well‑formatted, and ready for stakeholder use with minimal rework.
- Forecasting & Budgeting: Support the Finance Lead in building and submitting regional forecasts and budgets, taking ownership of the data gathering, model population, and consolidation work that underpins each submission. Maintain and update rolling forecast models, ensuring assumptions are current, traceable, and consistent with IBP inputs. Prepare variance analysis comparing actual results to forecast and budget, identifying and clearly documenting the key drivers for the Finance Lead to review and communicate. Collate and challenge inputs from budget holders to support improved forecast accuracy, flagging inconsistencies or gaps to the Finance Lead.
- Commercial & Margin Analysis: Build and maintain customer profitability models, pulling together revenue, trade investment, cost‑to‑serve, and margin data to give a clear view of performance by customer. Support the analysis of promotion ROI, markdown activity, and pricing changes, providing the data and modelling work that enables the Finance Lead to make clear recommendations. Assist in building scenario and what‑if models to support commercial planning and strategic trade‑off discussions, including price elasticity, channel mix, and assortment scenarios. Contribute to the analysis of functional cost variances, helping the Finance Lead provide greater transparency on what is driving spend against budget.
- Data, Systems & Process: Maintain and develop financial models in Excel to a high standard, ensuring they are well‑structured, clearly documented, and easy for others to use and audit. Use Power BI and SAP to extract, manipulate, and present data, developing your technical capability in these tools over time. Support the Finance Lead in coordinating with Central Commercial and DTC FP&A to ensure reporting definitions and planning inputs are aligned, flagging discrepancies and helping to resolve them. Continuously look for opportunities to improve the efficiency and quality of recurring reporting processes, bringing suggestions to the Senior Finance Business Partner.
What you’ll bring:
- Partly qualified accountant (CIMA, ACCA or ACA) with up to 3 years of post‑qualification experience.
- Strong grounding in financial reporting, forecasting and variance analysis, with a desire to develop commercial finance skills in a business partnering environment.
- Advanced Excel skills, including financial modelling and the ability to build clean, well‑structured models from scratch.
- Experience with, or strong interest in developing skills in, Power BI and SAP for data extraction and reporting.
- High attention to detail and a commitment to accuracy, with the confidence to sense‑check work and ask questions when something does not look right.
- Good communication skills and the ability to present analysis clearly to finance and non‑finance stakeholders.
- Curious, proactive mindset with a genuine interest in the commercial drivers of business performance.
- Comfortable working in a fast‑paced environment, managing multiple tasks and deadlines without compromising quality.
Perks & Benefits: We offer a competitive salary, discretionary bonus, hybrid working, flexible start and finish times, generous holiday allowance, product discounts, sample sales, enhanced family‑friendly policies, healthcare support, gym and fitness discounts, cycle to work scheme and electric car scheme. You can find full details of our benefits and perks on our UK Benefits page.
Finance Analyst - DACH, WE and NS&E EMEA employer: Pentland Brands Limited
As a Finance Analyst at our dynamic company, you will thrive in a supportive work culture that values collaboration and innovation. We offer a competitive salary alongside a range of benefits including hybrid working options, generous holiday allowances, and opportunities for professional growth, all within a fast-paced environment that encourages your development in commercial finance. Join us to be part of a team that not only values your contributions but also invests in your future success.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Finance Analyst - DACH, WE and NS&E EMEA
✨Tap into Campus Networks
If you're still in uni, don’t forget to engage with your campus's career services and attend finance-related events. Banks often do presentations and recruitment drives on campus, so put yourself out there and make use of these opportunities to show off your passion for the field.
✨Get Certified
Consider pursuing relevant certifications like the CFA or ACCA while you’re job hunting. They not only beef up your CV but also connect you with professional bodies which can lead to networking opportunities and even job openings in banking and financial services.
✨Connect on Professional Platforms
Join finance-focused groups on platforms like LinkedIn and engage in discussions. This can really help you stand out from the crowd, allowing potential employers to see your knowledge and interest in industry trends. Plus, you might stumble upon job postings shared exclusively within the group.
✨Apply Directly and Be Proactive
Don’t shy away from reaching out directly to firms like Pentland Brands Limited. Use their websites and apply through them, but also consider following up with a polite email to express your enthusiasm. Being proactive can make a huge difference in getting noticed in the competitive financial services sector.
We think you need these skills to ace Finance Analyst - DACH, WE and NS&E EMEA
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Off Your Numbers!:In the banking and financial services world, quantifiable achievements are key. Make sure your CV highlights your grades in relevant subjects, any financial certifications you hold, and specific projects where you've delivered measurable results. Employers love to see how your skills translate into real-world success.
Tailor Your Cover Letter to the Role:When applying for a full-time position, your cover letter should make a direct connection between your experience and the job description. Don't just state your enthusiasm for finance—dive into how your background in banking or financial analysis sets you apart. Let your passion shine through while being specific about what you can bring to Pentland Brands Limited.
Include Relevant Financial Software Experience:If you've worked with financial modelling tools or software like Excel, SAP, or specific analytical tools during your studies or internships, bring that up! Highlighting your proficiency can really make your application pop and show you're ready to hit the ground running in a full-time role.
Research and Reflect:Before hitting that 'apply' button on Pentland Brands Limited's website, do a little digging. Look up their recent projects, values, and culture. Reflecting their ethos in your application can make a huge difference and show you’re genuinely interested in being part of the team!
How to prepare for a job interview at Pentland Brands Limited
✨Brush Up on Financial Analysis Skills
Make sure you're well-versed in financial concepts and analytical techniques relevant to banking and financial services. Get comfortable with tools like Excel for modelling or financial forecasting, as technical questions in this area are common during interviews with Pentland Brands Limited.
✨Prepare for Case Studies
Expect to tackle case studies that demonstrate your problem-solving skills in real-world banking scenarios. Familiarise yourself with the types of problems you might face—think risk assessments or investment evaluations—and be ready to articulate your thought process clearly.
✨Show Your Passion for Finance
Since this is a full-time position, employers at Pentland Brands Limited will be keen to see your genuine interest in finance. Be prepared to discuss recent industry trends or news articles that excite you, showcasing your enthusiasm and engagement with the field.
✨Network with Industry Professionals
Before your interview, reach out to current or former Pentland Brands Limited employees on platforms like LinkedIn. They'll offer unique insights into the company's culture and the interview process, which can give us a delightful edge in showcasing a good fit for the team.
