Marks and Spencer Careers Near Me – Finance Analyst

About the job

Fully woven into the DNA of M&S, our Finance team plays a key role in setting the pace for our key business decisions, shaping our budgets, analysing our sales, managing costs and making sure our most vital statistics and data are absolutely accurate.

With a focus on contributing to all business areas by helping them make data-driven decisions and understand what is driving commercial performance – it’s our job to make sure the right tools, processes, governance and ways of working are in place to support this.

We are looking for a Finance Analyst who will provide control, insight and analysis across the Clothing & Home cost base. You will co-ordinate and collate monthly opex and capex performance commentary as well as be accountable for the analysis, forecasting and budgeting of support office costs, in particular staffing costs.

You will be working across multiple business partners (Finance and non-Finance) to ensure current and future performance is communicated simply, is well understood, and controlled.

We are looking for a problem solver who proactively seeks to improve processes, comfortable collaborating across the business and able to provide the Clothing & Home business unit with the tools and insight to allow M&S to continue its transformation in a controlled and cost effective manner.

Key accountabilities:

Business Partnering

• Working in partnership with the Senior Finance Managers in the cost teams to understand the staffing element of their cost base, track & challenge new FTE requests and ensure any arising risks or opportunities are embedded within the financial forecasts. You will be the key contact for all things payroll from a Clothing & Home support center perspective.
• Track the performance of Clothing & Home transformation programs and communicate outputs to both Finance and non-Finance business partners. You will be the bridge between the Transformation and Central Finance teams.
• Support the Senior Finance Manager (line manager) in coordinating the month-end cost performance analysis and monthly forecast position. Being visible, approachable, and proactive with the wider cost teams is key to the onward communication of performance.

Financial Planning

• Supporting the Senior Finance Manager to deliver accurate budgets, rolling forecasts and 3 year plans for the Clothing & Home cost base, supporting the delivery of Operating Profit targets. This includes outputs such as review packs for Clothing & Home Directors and Group Finance

Decision Support Analysis:

• Provide ad-hoc analysis on all elements of the Clothing & Home performance, understanding the drivers of the cost base and suggesting areas for cost efficiencies or improvements to processes
• Work with Group FP&A to simplify and streamline month-end process, alleviating difficulties for the wider Clothing & Home finance team.

Control

• Working with the wider Finance team to deliver the Clothing & Home cost period close
• Develop and embed a process to track the delivery and effectiveness of the Clothing & Home transformation programs
• Managing the Clothing & Home Support function staffing cost base, ensuring accuracy of reporting and ensuring costs are well understood and managed

Skills you will need:

• Qualified Accountant – CIMA/ACCA/ACA
• Excellent attention to detail
• Appetite to challenge and improve the status quo
• Inquisitive and curious mentality
• Strong analytical capabilities, comfortable working with and accurately manipulating data to provide accurate and insightful reporting
• Effective communication skills, both written and verbal
• Ability to maintain and further enhance controls and process and ability to implement change
• A great teammate but also happy to work independently on own initiative

Key Benefits:

• Flexible working approach, with a balance of being in the office and working from home
• Digital and Data Learning – join a growing data community
• 33 days holiday (including bank holidays) + 1 celebration day
• 20% discount on M&S products
• A range of wellbeing support (including free counselling and a virtual GP for you and immediate family)
• 25% off gym memberships, access to online fitness classes and discounts for complementary health services, such as nutrition and lifestyle coaching

M&S is ready to push boundaries to lead the industry into a greener, speedier, more inspiring digital era. That’s why we’re revolutionising how we work and offering our most exciting opportunities yet. There’s never been a better time to be part of our team. Marks & Spencer aims to be an inclusive organisation, trusted and admired by our colleagues, customers and suppliers. Join us and make an immediate impact. We are committed to an active Inclusion, Diversity and Equal Opportunities Policy, which starts with our recruitment and selection process, and we are happy to talk flexible working. We will ensure that individuals with disabilities are provided reasonable accommodation to participate in the job application or interview process. If you consider yourself to have a disability or learning difficulty which means you are unable to complete the application process online, please get in touch either by phone on 0345 300 3725 or by email [email protected] so we can make alternative arrangements for you.