At a Glance
- Tasks: Oversee financial planning for Rugby World Cups, managing budgeting and forecasting processes.
- Company: World Rugby is the governing body for Rugby Union, organising major international tournaments.
- Benefits: Offers hybrid working with flexible days in the Dublin and London offices.
- Other info: Role involves collaboration with senior leaders and cross-functional teams.
- Why this job: Play a vital role in financial insights for high-impact global sporting events.
- Qualifications: Qualified Accountant with at least 8 years PQE and strong event financial planning experience.
The predicted salary is between 65000 - 75000 £ per year.
World Rugby is the world governing and law‑making Body for the sport of Rugby Union. It is responsible for the regulation and governance of Rugby and, in addition, organises a number of international tournaments and events including the Rugby World Cup and World Rugby Sevens World Series. World Rugby wishes to appoint a Financial Accountant to join their team. The Financial Accountant role will have a strong focus on month‑end and year‑end close processes and will play a vital role in the efficiency and productivity of the Finance Team. This successful candidate will report into the Head of Financial Reporting and will work closely with the Director of Financial Control and Operations and be responsible for a number of entities within the World Rugby group.
Overview
The Senior Manager, FP&A oversees financial planning and analysis for all Rugby World Cups. These events are complex, multi‑year, multi‑entity programmes with significant commercial, operational and reputational impact. This position manages budgeting, forecasting, and provides insightful financial guidance for upcoming tournaments. Additionally, the role provides FP&A support for centrally managed areas of ongoing RWC operations, working closely with the Operating Company (OpCo) finance team.
Principal Accountabilities
- Act as the finance lead for all future Rugby World Cups (RWCs), overseeing the evaluation of bids through to OpCo establishment, providing comprehensive financial insights, scenario modelling and risk/opportunity analysis to support key decisions.
- Lead the budgeting, forecasting and reforecasting processes for tournament budgets relating to future RWCs.
- Oversee the budgeting, forecasting and reforecasting of centrally managed activities for ongoing RWCs in close collaboration with the OpCo finance team.
- Act as senior finance business partner to WREM leadership, OpCo Finance leaders and functional leads.
- Strengthen FP&A processes, reporting and tools, improving visibility, agility and control.
- Support governance forums and senior stakeholders with clear, concise financial analysis and recommendations.
- Working with finance colleagues, ensure all information reconciles to financial accounts on a monthly basis.
Qualifications & Experience
- Qualified Accountant with a minimum of 8 years PQE (ACA, ACCA, CIMA or equivalent).
- Strong experience in end‑to‑end financial planning for large events or projects, including budgeting, forecasting, reforecasting and post event reviews.
- Advanced financial modelling skills, including scenario analysis and risk/opportunity assessment to support bid evaluation and OpCo decisions.
- Excellent understanding of P&L, cash flow and balance sheet dynamics, and how tournament and central costs flow through the financial statements.
- Experience partnering with senior leaders and cross‑functional teams to shape budgets, challenge assumptions and support key investment and operational decisions.
- Comfortable working with complex, multi‑entity structures (e.g. WREM Central and OpCos), ensuring consistent treatment of costs and revenues.
Key Skills & Personal Attributes
- Highly effective finance business partner, able to build trusted relationships with WREM leadership, OpCo finance leads and functional heads in Finance.
- Strong communication skills, presenting complex financial information and scenarios in a clear, concise way for governance forums and senior stakeholders.
- Confident in challenging and influencing senior stakeholders, using evidence‑based analysis and well‑structured narratives to support recommendations.
- Proactive, ownership mindset, taking responsibility for the quality of insight and the robustness of information.
- Process‑minded, with a drive to improve FP&A processes, tools and reporting, increasing visibility, agility and control over time.
- Calm and resilient under pressure, especially around bid deadlines, budget cycles and key decision meetings.
Diversity, Equity & Inclusion
World Rugby is committed to building a diverse workforce and therefore strongly encourages applications from under‑represented groups. We are committed to equality and inclusion and welcome applications from all individuals, regardless of their background. We strive to be a diverse and inclusive workplace, which reflects the global sport we want to be and where everyone can be themselves and feel they belong.
Flexible Working
Most of our roles offer hybrid working. We ask colleagues to work: Three (3) days a week “out of home”. Two (2) “core” office days (Tuesday & Wednesday) and a third day of your choice to be with stakeholders. “Out of home” can mean working in a World Rugby office/hub, working from a venue or face‑to‑face meetings with partners/suppliers/agencies/teammates or other rugby family stakeholders. The remaining two (2) days are flexible to work from home (or the office). This applies to our Dublin & London offices.
Senior FP&A Manager (H/F) employer: World Rugby
World Rugby is based in Dublin and London, offering a commitment to diversity and inclusion. The team focuses on enhancing financial processes for major tournaments like the Rugby World Cup, ensuring a dynamic work environment.
