Finance Analyst in Retford

We are seeking a highly skilled and commercially minded Finance Analyst to join our newly formed Financial Strategy Team. Reporting directly to the Head of Financial Strategy, this is a high-profile Financial Planning & Analysis (FP&A) role, offering the opportunity to influence major strategic decisions and play a key role in the successful delivery of a nationally significant programme.

This is an exciting opportunity for an analytical finance professional who enjoys solving complex challenges, influencing stakeholders, and translating financial insight into strategic action.

The Role

As Finance Analyst, you will provide sophisticated financial modelling, forecasting, business partnering, and investment analysis to support the STEP Programme. You will be responsible for transforming complex financial and operational data into meaningful insights that drive decision‑making at senior leadership level. You’ll work closely with programme leaders and finance colleagues to ensure robust financial planning, effective resource allocation, and strong governance across a multi‑billion‑pound programme.

Key Responsibilities

Financial Modelling & Analysis

• Develop, maintain and enhance complex financial models to support strategic decision‑making, investment planning, and long‑term programme delivery.
• Produce integrated forecasts across profit and loss, balance sheet and cashflow positions.
• Conduct detailed scenario planning and sensitivity analysis to assess financial risks and opportunities.
• Perform investment appraisals, including NPV and IRR analysis, for major capital projects and strategic initiatives.
• Analyse programme expenditure, budgets, forecasts and key performance metrics, identifying trends and providing actionable recommendations.

Planning, Budgeting & Forecasting

• Support and coordinate annual budget setting, long‑range planning and forecasting processes.
• Partner with stakeholders to ensure budgets align with strategic objectives and funding requirements.
• Develop and improve driver‑based forecasting methodologies to enhance financial planning accuracy and efficiency.
• Challenge assumptions and provide robust financial scrutiny to support effective decision‑making.

Strategic Business Partnering

• Act as a trusted finance partner to the Head of Financial Strategy and senior programme leaders.
• Provide forward‑looking financial insight and recommendations to mitigate risks and maximise opportunities.
• Support the development and implementation of the financial strategy for both UKFE and the STEP Programme.
• Translate complex financial information into clear and compelling narratives for senior audiences.

Reporting & Governance

• Prepare high‑quality management reports, presentations and financial papers for executive committees, boards and external stakeholders.
• Ensure compliance with financial governance frameworks, public sector reporting standards and funding requirements.
• Support transparency, accountability and continuous improvement across financial processes.

Essential

• A relevant accounting qualification (e.g., ACA, ACCA, CIMA) or a degree in Finance, Economics, or a related quantitative.
• Proven experience (e.g., 2+ years) in a dedicated FP&A, Commercial Finance, or Strategy role.
• Exceptional financial modelling skills using Excel (or similar tools), with demonstrable experience building robust, dynamic, and complex models from scratch.
• Strong analytical capabilities, attention to detail, and a proactive approach to problem‑solving.
• Excellent communication and presentation skills, with the ability to clearly articulate complex financial information to non‑financial stakeholders.
• Effective interpersonal and communication skills, able to build credibility with non‑financial colleagues and IPT leaders.

Beneficial

• Experience working within a large‑scale programme, infrastructure, or government environment.
• Familiarity with UK public sector financial standards and budgetary processes.
• Experience using finance and project management systems such as Unit4, ThinkProject, PowerBI or equivalent.
• Experience working in a matrix environment, balancing multiple priorities and stakeholders.

We welcome applications from under‑represented groups, particularly women in STEM and individuals from British Black and ethnic minority backgrounds, and individuals with disabilities. Our Executive team, supported by our "Equality, Diversity and Inclusion" (EDI) Partner and Inclusion Ambassadors, actively promotes EDI and takes steps to increase diversity within our organisation. We reinforce best practices in recruitment and selection and evaluate approaches to remove barriers to success.

UKFE is committed to being accessible. Please email talent@ukifs.uk if you have any questions or require help or adjustments to compete on a fair basis, for example, changes to the way we interview or share information.

This role requires employees to complete an online Baseline Personnel Security Standard (BPSS), including the Disclosure & Bar