Finance Analyst

Finance Analyst

Full-Time 30000 - 40000 £ / year (est.) No home office possible
Wasabi Sushi & Bento

At a Glance

  • Tasks: Analyse financial performance and support profitability in the grocery sector.
  • Company: Join Wasabi, a thriving Asian food brand with exciting growth plans.
  • Benefits: Enjoy free sushi, discounts, and a supportive work environment.
  • Why this job: Be part of a dynamic team driving financial success in a growing company.
  • Qualifications: Finance graduate with FMCG experience and strong Excel skills.
  • Other info: Great career development opportunities in a vibrant workplace.

The predicted salary is between 30000 - 40000 £ per year.

Founded in 2003, Wasabi's vision is to lovingly create and serve delicious Asian food for a busy nation. Wasabi now has 42 thriving restaurants across London and major UK cities and 4 in New York. In 2019, we introduced Wasabi Home Bento, the grocery channel, launching exclusively in Sainsbury’s. Building on that success, the grocery business broadened its reach to Tesco in September 2022, followed by exciting launches in Co-op and Morrisons in 2024. Wasabi grocery has seen phenomenal growth and is now a £62m RSV brand. Wasabi proudly stands as the No. 2 chilled ready-meal brand in the market, consistently attracting new customers to the category through an innovative East Asian range.

Wasabi’s menu is celebrated for its unique character, exceptional freshness, and bold flavours. Our diverse range is designed to delight a wide audience, delivering both comfort and excitement with every bite. We have an ambitious 5-year growth strategy, focusing on new restaurants, franchise partnerships, and international expansion.

As we prepare for our next phase of growth and innovation, we have an incredibly exciting opportunity for a Finance Analyst – Grocery to join our Finance Team based in Park Royal.

The Role: This role is accountable for producing financial insight and analytical support to improve Grocery performance and profitability. The successful candidate will focus on managing and optimizing the Grocery P&L, to include analysing key performance drivers, supporting forecasting and budgeting processes, and evaluating the financial impact of menu, pricing, and operational decisions. The role involves close collaboration with the Grocery Commercial team, to ensure financial goals and operational KPIs are consistently achieved.

Key Responsibilities:

  • Analyse sales trends, product mix, and promotions to assess gross margin performance.
  • Monitor and analyse actual COGS against budget and standard costs.
  • Understand the impact of pricing, promotions, and product mix on margin by retailer.
  • Support the Food and Procurement teams with NPD/EPD costing and assess the financial impact of new or changed menu items.
  • Provide insight into key drivers of gross profit and support actions to optimise profitability at both item and restaurant level.

Performance Analysis:

  • Analyse core Grocery KPIs and identify opportunities to improve margin.
  • Deliver ad hoc analysis and deep dives to support operational decision-making.

Forecasting & Budgeting:

  • Assist in preparing monthly, quarterly, and annual forecasts and budgets.
  • Collaborate with stakeholders to gather inputs and challenge key assumptions.
  • Provide variance analysis with clear, concise commentary.

Month-End & Reporting:

  • Support the month-end close process, including journal preparation, accruals, and cost allocations.
  • Contribute to the key finance reporting decks for internal reviews and monthly management meetings.
  • Reconcile key accounts and ensure accuracy of reported P&L figures.

Our Requirements: The ideal candidate for this role will be a graduate in a finance related subject and have previous experience in an FMCG environment. Additionally, candidates will need to demonstrate:

  • High level of skill in Excel and other Microsoft products.
  • Excellent attention to detail.
  • Communication and presentation skills.
  • Planning, organisational, commercial and negotiation skills.
  • Experience in working with ERP systems like Microsoft Business Central or SAP.

A great working environment includes:

  • Refer A Friend Scheme.
  • Free Sushi or hot food (vegan options available).
  • 50% discount in our Branches.
  • Employee Assistant Programme.
  • Help@Hand (a service providing health and wellbeing support).
  • Long Service Awards.
  • Wagestream - a financial wellbeing benefit that lets you access your pay as you earn it in real time and manage savings.
  • Life Assurance.
  • Cycle To Work.
  • Free on-site parking.
  • A variety of discounts (shopping, food & drink, entertainment and health & fitness) through Perkbox.
  • The opportunity to develop your skills within a growing company.

Our people make us who we are. If you're looking for an exciting challenge and this sounds like the job for you please apply today as we can't wait to hear from you.

Finance Analyst employer: Wasabi Sushi & Bento

Wasabi is an exceptional employer that fosters a vibrant and inclusive work culture, offering employees the chance to thrive in a dynamic environment focused on growth and innovation. With a strong emphasis on employee development, competitive benefits such as free meals, discounts, and financial wellbeing support, Wasabi ensures that its team members feel valued and motivated while contributing to the success of a rapidly expanding brand in the FMCG sector.
Wasabi Sushi & Bento

Contact Detail:

Wasabi Sushi & Bento 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 industry, attend finance meetups, or even connect with current Wasabi employees on LinkedIn. A friendly chat can open doors that a CV just can't.

✨Tip Number 2

Prepare for interviews by diving deep into Wasabi's financials and recent growth. Show us you know your stuff about the grocery market and how you can contribute to our ambitious plans!

✨Tip Number 3

Practice your analytical skills! Brush up on Excel and be ready to discuss how you've used data to drive decisions in past roles. We love candidates who can turn numbers into insights.

✨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 Wasabi family.

We think you need these skills to ace Finance Analyst

Financial Analysis
P&L Management
Sales Trend Analysis
Cost of Goods Sold (COGS) Monitoring
Forecasting
Budgeting
Variance Analysis
Excel Proficiency
Communication Skills
Presentation Skills
Organisational Skills
Negotiation Skills
Experience with ERP Systems
Attention to Detail

Some tips for your application 🫡

Tailor Your CV: Make sure your CV is tailored to the Finance Analyst role. Highlight your experience in FMCG and any relevant skills, especially in Excel and financial analysis. We want to see how you can bring value to our Grocery team!

Craft a Compelling Cover Letter: Your cover letter is your chance to shine! Use it to explain why you're passionate about the role and how your background aligns with Wasabi's vision. Let us know what excites you about joining our team!

Showcase Your Analytical Skills: In your application, be sure to mention specific examples of how you've used your analytical skills to drive performance or profitability in previous roles. We love numbers, so show us what you've got!

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 this exciting opportunity. We can’t wait to hear from you!

How to prepare for a job interview at Wasabi Sushi & Bento

✨Know Your Numbers

As a Finance Analyst, you'll be expected to have a solid grasp of financial metrics. Brush up on key performance indicators relevant to the grocery sector, like gross margin and COGS. Be ready to discuss how you've used data to drive decisions in your previous roles.

✨Excel Skills are Key

Since high-level Excel skills are a must for this role, make sure you can demonstrate your proficiency. Prepare to talk about specific functions or tools you've used in past analyses, and consider bringing examples of your work to showcase your capabilities.

✨Understand the Business

Familiarise yourself with Wasabi's growth strategy and recent developments in their grocery business. Showing that you understand their market position and challenges will impress the interviewers and demonstrate your genuine interest in the role.

✨Prepare for Scenario Questions

Expect questions that ask you to analyse hypothetical situations related to pricing, promotions, or product mix. Practice structuring your answers clearly, using frameworks to guide your thought process, and be ready to explain your reasoning behind each decision.

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