Logo of Huzzle

Finance Analyst

  • Job
    Full-time
    Junior, Mid & Senior Level
  • Liverpool, +20

AI generated summary

  • You must possess strong analytical skills, knowledge of financial reporting, proficiency in Excel, attention to detail, and a relevant degree or experience in finance or accounting.
  • You will analyze financial data, prepare reports, assist in budgeting, monitor expenditures, and support decision-making processes to optimize financial performance.

Requirements

  • Good presentation and communication skills and able to effectively communicate financial concepts to non-financial stakeholders
  • Ability to explain complex financial issues clearly & concisely and make recommendations for improvement
  • Strong analytical skills including advanced Excel functionality, and able to translate into actionable insights and support decision-making processes
  • A strong team focus, able to contribute effectively in a collaborative working environment
  • Ability to build strong relationships with relevant stakeholders and work collaboratively towards achieving common goals
  • Understands the business drivers and the environment in which it operates and applies this to deliver value
  • Ability to work at pace, to proactively identify and drive creative solutions
  • Solid understanding of operational performance metrics, KPI’s and operation’s systems and processes
  • Passionate about seeking out and delivering opportunity for personal improvement, resulting in the business being proud of its finance people
  • Preferable – studying towards accounting qualification

Responsibilities

  • Performance measurement & reporting
  • Reporting: Preparing business unit financial statements, management reports and regulatory reports. Providing commentary on actual and forecasted financial performance against budget
  • Performance measurement: Collaborating with business units (Treatment Delivery Managers/budget holders) to develop financial plans, budgets, and forecasts. This includes analysing historical financial data, identifying trends, and making projections to support strategic decision-making
  • Financial analysis: Monitoring and investigating variances in actuals / forecast (LBE) against budget and financial KPIs
  • Spend control reporting: Refresh monthly reports and conduct variance analysis on key discretionary spend areas ahead of Executive meetings
  • Record to Report
  • Financial recordkeeping: Maintaining accurate financial records, including posting journal entries, updating ledgers and reconciling accounts
  • Period-end close: Performing various period-end close activities including posting journals, performing reconciliations, adjusting accruals and preparing control accounts
  • Audit support: Supporting external audits by providing necessary financial information and assisting auditors in their review
  • Planning, Budget, Forecasting
  • Budgeting (CBP) / Forecasting (LBE): Engaging with TDMs/budget holders, consolidation of ZBB and RR templates, central review and challenge of cost driver assumptions and efficiency plans and ensuring alignment with overall organisational goals and strategies
  • Stakeholder collaboration: Working closely with TDMs/budget holders to gather financial information and align with business strategies
  • General
  • Work collaboratively with the Business Partnering Team to achieve common goals
  • To ensure continuous improvement by generating imaginative ideas for better ways of working
  • Ad-hoc requests as necessary

FAQs

What is the main purpose of the Finance Analyst role?

The main purpose of the Finance Analyst role is to provide financial analysis and support in the overall financial management process, including performance measurement, financial recordkeeping, and budgeting.

What are the key responsibilities related to performance measurement and reporting?

Key responsibilities include preparing business unit financial statements and management reports, providing commentary on financial performance against budget, collaborating with business units to develop financial plans and budgets, monitoring and investigating variances, and refreshing spending reports ahead of Executive meetings.

What tasks are involved in the Record to Report segment of the role?

The Record to Report segment involves maintaining accurate financial records, posting journal entries, updating ledgers, reconciling accounts, performing period-end close activities, and supporting external audits by providing necessary financial information to auditors.

How does the Finance Analyst contribute to budgeting and forecasting?

The Finance Analyst engages with Treatment Delivery Managers and budget holders to consolidate budgeting and forecasting templates, reviews cost driver assumptions, ensures alignment with organizational goals, and collaborates closely with stakeholders to gather financial information.

What skills are important for a Finance Analyst?

Important skills include strong analytical skills, advanced Excel proficiency, effective communication skills, ability to convey complex financial issues clearly, teamwork, understanding business drivers, and a proactive approach to identifying solutions.

Is there a requirement for accounting qualifications for this role?

While it is preferable for candidates to be studying towards an accounting qualification, it is not explicitly required.

What kind of collaborative work is expected from the Finance Analyst?

The Finance Analyst is expected to work collaboratively with the Business Partnering Team and relevant stakeholders to achieve common goals and to contribute effectively in a team environment.

How does the Finance Analyst support continuous improvement within the organization?

The Finance Analyst supports continuous improvement by generating imaginative ideas for better ways of working and proactively seeking opportunities for personal and professional development.

What flexibility is included in the role with regard to additional tasks?

The role includes the flexibility to handle ad-hoc requests as necessary, which may involve various financial analyses and support tasks as directed by management.

What is the importance of communication in this role?

Communication is crucial as the Finance Analyst must effectively convey financial concepts to non-financial stakeholders, explain complex financial issues in a clear manner, and make actionable recommendations for improvements.

Keep up to date with the latest news from across United Utilities

Energy
Industry
5001-10,000
Employees
1995
Founded Year

Mission & Purpose

United Utilities provides water and wastewater services to around seven million people in the North West of England supplying 3million households and 200,000 business premises. We manage the catchment land around our reservoirs to safeguard the quality of the raw water we collect and store. We then treat and deliver it to our customer's taps - around 1,500 million litres a day We also collect wastewater from our customers and surface water from roads and highways, treat it at our wastewater treatment works before returning it back safely to the environment. In order to do this we have: - 184 reservoirs - over 42,000 km of water pipes, from Cumbria to Cheshire - over 72,000 km of sewers - over 1,400 km of aqueducts - 100 water treatment works - 575 wastewater treatment works - 57,000 hectares of catchment land