At a Glance
- Tasks: Support budgeting, forecasting, and performance analysis for Group Services.
- Company: Join the UK's largest water and wastewater company, Thames Water.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, 26 days holiday, generous pension scheme, and health perks.
- Why this job: Make a real impact on communities while developing your finance skills.
- Qualifications: Part qualified accountant with strong analytical and communication skills.
- Other info: Flexible working arrangements and meaningful career opportunities await you.
The predicted salary is between 43200 - 72000 £ per year.
This role will support the FP&A Manager / Group Services Finance Business Partner across multiple areas within Group Services, providing budgeting, forecasting, and performance support while acting as a constructive and trusted challenge to stakeholders. It also plays a key part in driving continuous improvement within the Finance team, contributing to the development and embedding of standard operating procedures for local FP&A, and supporting enhancements to reporting, insight generation, and operational efficiency.
What you’ll be doing as a Financial Planning Analyst:
- Delivering high‑quality budgeting, forecasting, and performance insight for Group Services areas, acting as a trusted partner who provides constructive challenge and clear financial guidance.
- Support delivery of financial plans through relevant and accurate analysis and reporting – highlighting trends, analysing causes and impact of unexpected variances.
- Gain clear understanding of the business units finance proposals, including cost drivers, KPIs and outcomes expected.
- Contribute to the enhancement of FP&A reporting through improved automation, self‑serve capabilities, and standardisation, either by delivering changes directly or by supporting SMEs to drive these improvements.
- Driving continuous improvement across FP&A processes, helping to develop, refine, and embed standard operating procedures to strengthen local FP&A capability.
- Produce ad-hoc financial analysis as required.
Base Location: Reading – Hybrid Working Pattern or hours: 36 hours.
What you should bring to the role:
- Part qualified accountant.
- Strong analytical, Excel and PowerPoint skills.
- Strong attention to detail.
- Strong communications experience – presenting financial analysis to senior management.
Additional skills and experiences would be great to have/bring:
- Qualified accountant.
- Extensive experience in FP&A function with a proven track record in ‘adding value’.
- System experience with SAP, SAC Reporting, PowerBI and HFM preferable.
What’s in it for you?
- Competitive salary from up to £60,000 per annum, depending on experience.
- Annual Leave - 26 days holiday per year increasing to 30 with the length of service (plus bank holidays).
- Performance-related pay plan directly linked to company performance measures and targets.
- Generous Pension Scheme through AON.
- Access to lots of benefits to help you take care of you and your family’s health and wellbeing, and your finances – from annual health MOTs and access to physiotherapy and counselling, to Cycle to Work schemes, shopping vouchers and life assurance.
Who are we?
We’re the UK’s largest water and wastewater company, with more than 16 million customers relying on us every day to supply water for their taps and toilets. We want to build a better future for all, helping our customers, communities, people, and the planet to thrive.
Working at Thames Water is a unique, rewarding, and diverse place to work, where every day you can make a difference, yet no day is the same. As part of our family, you’ll enjoy meaningful career opportunities, flexible working arrangements and excellent benefits.
If you’re looking for a sustainable and successful career where you can make a daily difference to millions of people’s lives while helping to protect the world of water for future generations, we’ll be here to support you every step of the way.
We’re committed to being a great, diverse, and inclusive place to work. We welcome applications from everyone and want to ensure you feel supported throughout the recruitment process. If you need any adjustments, whether that’s extra time, accessible formats, or anything else just let us know, we’re here to help and support.
When a crisis happens, we all rally around to support our customers. As part of Team Thames, you’ll have the opportunity to sign up to support our customers on the frontline as an ambassador. Full training will be given for what is undoubtedly an incredibly rewarding experience.
Disclaimer: due to the high volume of applications we receive, we may close the advert earlier than the advertised date, so we encourage you to apply as soon as possible to avoid disappointment.
Financial Planning Analyst - Reading, Berkshire employer: Thames Water
Contact Detail:
Thames Water Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Financial Planning Analyst - Reading, Berkshire
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to current employees at Thames Water on LinkedIn or through mutual connections. A friendly chat can give you insider info and might just get your foot in the door.
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for the interview by practising common FP&A questions. We recommend using the STAR method to structure your answers, showcasing your analytical skills and how you've added value in past roles.
✨Tip Number 3
Show off your Excel and PowerPoint skills during the interview! Bring examples of reports or presentations you've created that highlight your financial insights and attention to detail.
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets seen by the right people. Plus, it shows you're genuinely interested in joining the Thames Water family.
We think you need these skills to ace Financial Planning Analyst - Reading, Berkshire
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your Application: Make sure to customise your CV and cover letter for the Financial Planning Analyst role. Highlight your relevant experience in budgeting, forecasting, and performance analysis, as well as your strong analytical skills. We want to see how you can add value to our team!
Showcase Your Skills: Don’t forget to emphasise your Excel and PowerPoint skills! These are crucial for this role, so give us examples of how you've used them in previous positions. We love seeing candidates who can present financial analysis clearly to senior management.
Be Clear and Concise: When writing your application, keep it straightforward and to the point. Use bullet points where possible to make it easy for us to read. We appreciate clarity and attention to detail, especially in financial roles like this one.
Apply Through Our Website: We encourage you to apply directly through our website. It’s the best way to ensure your application gets to us quickly and efficiently. Plus, you’ll find all the details about the role and our company culture there!
How to prepare for a job interview at Thames Water
✨Know Your Numbers
As a Financial Planning Analyst, you'll need to demonstrate your analytical skills. Brush up on key financial metrics and be ready to discuss how you've used data to drive decisions in previous roles. Prepare examples that showcase your ability to analyse trends and variances.
✨Master Excel and PowerPoint
Since strong Excel and PowerPoint skills are essential, practice creating financial models and presentations. Be prepared to explain your thought process behind your analyses and how you can present complex information clearly to senior management.
✨Understand the Business
Familiarise yourself with the company’s financial proposals, cost drivers, and KPIs. Research Thames Water's operations and challenges in the water sector. This will help you provide relevant insights and show that you're genuinely interested in contributing to their goals.
✨Showcase Continuous Improvement Mindset
Highlight any experience you have with process improvements or automation in FP&A. Be ready to discuss how you've contributed to enhancing reporting or operational efficiency in past roles, as this aligns with the company's focus on continuous improvement.