At a Glance
- Tasks: Support financial analysis and planning while collaborating with various teams.
- Company: Join a dynamic company focused on shaping financial performance in the Rail Gourmet business.
- Benefits: Enjoy employee discounts, health support, hybrid working, and award-winning training.
- Why this job: Make a real impact on business decisions and drive success across the UK.
- Qualifications: Bright, motivated individual with strong Excel skills and commercial awareness.
- Other info: Inclusive workplace with opportunities for growth and development.
The predicted salary is between 36000 - 60000 £ per year.
About The Role
The Commercial finance department provides business partnering to various stakeholders by bringing financial objectivity, challenge and insight to proactively support the business. A highly commercial and operational role you will support the finance manager in providing financial analysis and planning as well as assisting the business development manager on appraising new business opportunities and capital expenditure.
Your key stakeholders will include the UK operations team, commercial marketing team, the group finance team as well as working closely with the wider UK finance team both in our head office in Camden and shared service centre in Birmingham.
What You'll Be Doing
- Work with the finance manager to produce the monthly management accounts, providing insights into variances to plan, trends and future risks / opportunities. Also working closely with the shared service finance team on understanding and tracking spend on other operating expenses.
- Assisting in the production of Annual budgets and monthly / quarterly forecasting by liaising with key stakeholders to forecast passenger numbers and consequently delivering weekly sales, Gross Profit and labour costs in line with the UK and groups strategy profitability plans.
- Working closely with the operations team to fully understand the profitability of their part of the business and advising on and quantifying future risks and opportunities.
- Support the Business development finance manager in evaluating capital expenditure and appraising new business opportunities as well as providing analysis for post investment reviews.
- Create effective excel models that help improve efficiency and accuracy within the finance team.
- Complete any adhoc analysis required by the senior leadership team to assist in effective decision making.
- Manage submissions to the group finance consolidation and reporting system (ALEA).
Essential
To be successful in this role you will need:
- Bright, energetic, and highly motivated individual with ambitions to progress within the business.
- Excellent Excel modelling skills. Adept at analysing and manipulating large volumes of data with the ability to present information in a clear and concise manner.
- Commercially minded individual who can see the bigger picture and have the confidence to talk through analysis and pull-out key themes/insights.
- Strong communication and interpersonal skills with ability to work consultatively but also challenge stakeholders in constructive manner.
- Determination and drive to succeed, someone who can work well under pressure.
- Excellent organisational skills, meticulous and highly productive individual.
- High focus on quality/strong completer finisher skills.
- Enjoys and thrives in a fast paced highly commercial business environment.
Desirable
Retail/FMCG Industry Experience
Why Join Us
- Employee Discounts across our brands (over 400 locations).
- Friends and Family Discount App.
- Award-winning training, apprenticeships and development programmes.
- Health & Wellbeing support.
- Hybrid working model with flexibility for work–life balance.
- Inclusive and diverse workplace with employee networks and communities.
Ready to start the best part of your journey? Join us at SSP and play a key role in shaping the financial performance of our Rail Gourmet business — where your insight, collaboration, and ownership will help drive our success across the UK and beyond. At SSP, we value diversity and are committed to building a team that reflects a range of backgrounds, skills and perspectives.
Finance Analyst employer: SSP UK & Ireland
Contact Detail:
SSP UK & Ireland Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Finance Analyst
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to people in the finance industry, especially those who work at SSP or similar companies. A friendly chat can lead to insider info about job openings and even referrals.
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for interviews by practising common finance-related questions. Think about how you can showcase your Excel skills and your ability to analyse data. We want to see you shine!
✨Tip Number 3
Don’t underestimate the power of follow-ups! After an interview, drop a quick thank-you email to express your appreciation. It keeps you on their radar and shows your enthusiasm for the role.
✨Tip Number 4
Apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets seen. Plus, you’ll find all the latest roles that match your skills and ambitions right there.
We think you need these skills to ace Finance Analyst
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your CV: Make sure your CV is tailored to the Finance Analyst role. Highlight your Excel modelling skills and any relevant experience in financial analysis or budgeting. We want to see how you can bring value to our team!
Craft a Compelling Cover Letter: Your cover letter is your chance to shine! Use it to explain why you're passionate about finance and how your skills align with our needs. Don’t forget to mention your ability to work under pressure and your commercial mindset.
Showcase Your Communication Skills: In finance, communication is key! Make sure to demonstrate your strong interpersonal skills in your application. We love candidates who can present complex data clearly and engage with stakeholders effectively.
Apply Through Our Website: We encourage you to apply directly through our website. It’s the best way for us to receive your application and ensures you’re considered for the role. Plus, it shows you’re keen on joining our team!
How to prepare for a job interview at SSP UK & Ireland
✨Know Your Numbers
As a Finance Analyst, you'll be expected to handle data like a pro. Brush up on your Excel skills and be ready to discuss how you've used data analysis in previous roles. Prepare examples of how you've identified trends or insights from financial data.
✨Understand the Business
Familiarise yourself with the company’s operations and the retail/FMCG industry. Be prepared to discuss how financial decisions impact business performance. Showing that you understand the bigger picture will impress your interviewers.
✨Communicate Clearly
Strong communication skills are key for this role. Practice explaining complex financial concepts in simple terms. Think about how you can convey your insights effectively to stakeholders who may not have a finance background.
✨Prepare for Scenario Questions
Expect questions that assess your problem-solving abilities. Prepare for scenarios where you might need to analyse financial data or evaluate a new business opportunity. Think through your thought process and how you would approach these challenges.