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- Tasks: Support FP&A team with financial analysis and insights for business development.
- Company: WHSmith is a dynamic retail company focused on finance beyond just numbers.
- Benefits: Enjoy 25 days holiday, an annual bonus, and perks like birthday off and early Friday finishes.
- Why this job: Join a fast-paced environment where your decisions directly impact the business and drive improvement.
- Qualifications: Ideal candidates are numerate, analytical, and have advanced Excel skills; CIMA/ACMA/ACA qualifications preferred.
- Other info: Located near Liverpool Street station, our new office offers a vibrant atmosphere with local shops and restaurants.
The predicted salary is between 43200 - 72000 £ per year.
Job Description
About WHSmith
If you’re looking for a Finance job that’s more than just numbers, WHSmith adds up. Our FP&A Finance teams are the engine room of the business; everything depends on the overall trading environment and our competitors. It’s fast-paced and you never know what will happen next.
We’re now looking for a Senior Finance Analyst on a permanent basis, reporting into the Senior Finance Manager. If you’re looking to build on your finance journey with a company equally as ambitious as you are, then WHSmith could be right for you!
Purpose of the Role
We are looking for someone who can support our existing FP&A team in delivering timely and actionable insights to both finance and non-finance teams via detailed analysis of the company’s financial performance. The successful candidate will be a key business partner to the Business Development team, supporting in investment appraisals and forecasting for new stores and partnerships.
What you’ll be doing:
- Senior Business partner to the Business Development and Partnerships team, building business cases with P&Ls and KPIs for new tenders and partnerships, and working closely with the team on their forecasts of new stores, impacts and closures.
- Sales Analysis (SPP/ ATV/ PAX/ benchmarking/ Mix) as well as in depth understanding of cost lines to build an accurate business case, business partnering Commercial/ Operations/ Space & Format team.
- Creating and Presenting Post Investment Reviews with variance analysis for new stores vs Board paper and forecast to understand performance and drive actionable insights.
- Full P&L forecasting (Budget/ 3YP/ FC1/ FC2) of our New Stores/ Closures/ refits and Disruptions, ensuring the forecast is an accurate reflection of business cases and impact assumptions.
- Run Latest View Forecasts, with an understanding of risks and opps to Budget and ways of mitigating profit impacts.
- Taking ownership of store profitability, providing the business with in-depth understanding of key KPIs and drivers, allowing strategic decisions to be made.
- Creating P&Ls for our total store estate on a monthly (and ad hoc) basis.
- Understanding true profitability of our various store formats and partnerships, both existing and future store proposals.
- Weekly Sales Reporting of New Business vs Forecast.
- Support in the Finance Transformation Programme, automating monthly and annual P&Ls by store and unit.
- Ad hoc FP&A analysis and support for the rest of the team.
What we are looking for:
- We are looking for someone highly numerate with an analytical background, ideally within Retail FMCG.
- Advanced Excel is essential.
- Part or newly qualified (CIMA/ACMA/ACA), or with significant Commercial Finance experience.
- Someone with P&L modelling experience would be a plus.
- You should have strong interpersonal skills to build key relationships within the Business Development and Partnerships teams.
- Confidence to articulate the output of your analysis and challenge both the approach and results when necessary.
- Most importantly we are looking for someone with a proactive approach and the initiative to identify opportunities to drive improvement.
What you’ll get in return:
You’ll be at the hub of an incredibly fast-moving function and you’ll be trusted to make decisions that benefit the business. It’s a serious responsibility – which will seriously motivate you. You’ll thrive on the freedom and the chance to use your skills and will be supported with plenty of training and development opportunities. What’s more, you can expect some fab rewards, including an achievable annual bonus, 25 days’ holiday (and the option to buy more), contributory pension plus the perks of your birthday off, an early finish on Fridays, and lots more! Our new Aldgate head office is only a 5 minute walk from Liverpool Street station and close to a variety of shops, bars and restaurants. #J-18808-Ljbffr
Senior Finance Analyst employer: WH Smith
Contact Detail:
WH Smith Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Senior Finance Analyst
✨Tip Number 1
Familiarize yourself with WHSmith's business model and recent developments in the retail FMCG sector. Understanding their current strategies and challenges will help you tailor your insights during the interview.
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare to discuss specific examples of how you've used advanced Excel skills in previous roles. Highlight any experience you have with P&L modeling or financial forecasting, as these are crucial for the Senior Finance Analyst position.
✨Tip Number 3
Showcase your interpersonal skills by preparing to discuss how you've successfully built relationships with cross-functional teams in the past. This will demonstrate your ability to be a strong business partner within the organization.
✨Tip Number 4
Be ready to articulate your proactive approach to identifying opportunities for improvement. Think of specific instances where your initiative led to positive changes in financial performance or operational efficiency.
We think you need these skills to ace Senior Finance Analyst
Some tips for your application 🫡
Understand the Role: Make sure you fully understand the responsibilities and requirements of the Senior Finance Analyst position at WHSmith. Tailor your application to highlight how your skills and experiences align with their needs.
Highlight Relevant Experience: Emphasize your analytical background, particularly in Retail FMCG, and any experience with P&L modeling. Use specific examples from your past roles to demonstrate your ability to deliver actionable insights and support business decisions.
Showcase Your Skills: Mention your advanced Excel skills and any relevant qualifications (CIMA/ACMA/ACA). Highlight your strong interpersonal skills and your proactive approach to identifying opportunities for improvement.
Craft a Compelling Cover Letter: Write a cover letter that not only summarizes your CV but also expresses your enthusiasm for the role and WHSmith as a company. Discuss why you are excited about the opportunity to contribute to their FP&A team.
How to prepare for a job interview at WH Smith
✨Showcase Your Analytical Skills
As a Senior Finance Analyst, your analytical abilities are crucial. Be prepared to discuss specific examples of how you've used data analysis to drive business decisions or improve financial performance in previous roles.
✨Understand the Business Environment
Familiarize yourself with WHSmith's business model and the retail FMCG sector. Demonstrating knowledge about current trends and challenges in the industry will show that you're proactive and engaged.
✨Prepare for P&L Discussions
Since the role involves P&L forecasting and modeling, be ready to discuss your experience with these processes. Bring examples of past P&L analyses you've conducted and be prepared to explain your approach and findings.
✨Build Rapport with Interpersonal Skills
Strong interpersonal skills are essential for this role. Practice articulating your thoughts clearly and confidently, and think about how you can build relationships with the Business Development and Partnerships teams during the interview.
