Assistant Finance Manager

Assistant Finance Manager to support the financial management of the Audit capability. Working closely with the Finance Business Partner, this role will provide financial analysis, reporting, forecasting, budgeting support and cost control across a range of operational and strategic activities.

The role will be responsible for producing high-quality financial information, supporting month-end activities, monitoring costs and partnering with stakeholders to ensure informed decision-making and effective financial management.

Key Responsibilities:

• Support the monthly accrual and prepayment process, identifying costs requiring adjustment and preparing supporting schedules.
• Assist with detailed reviews of operating expenditure, providing analysis on cost trends and variances.
• Investigate cost variances, miscoded expenditure, recharge queries and unbudgeted costs, escalating issues where required.
• Prepare monthly management reports and financial commentary for key stakeholders.
• Support ad hoc analysis and reporting requests from finance and business stakeholders.

Forecasting and Budgeting:

• Support monthly forecasting and quarterly reforecasting processes.
• Assist with the preparation and input of annual budgets, including headcount and cost modelling.
• Maintain forecasting models and update assumptions based on operational and resource planning changes.
• Track forecast performance and assist in identifying opportunities and risks.

Business Partnering:

• Build effective working relationships with Audit and wider business stakeholders.
• Support the Finance Manager in providing financial insight and challenge to operational teams.
• Assist budget holders in understanding financial performance and managing expenditure.
• Contribute to discussions on financial implications of projects, operational changes and investment decisions.
• Act as a point of contact for routine finance queries within assigned areas.

Skills and Experience:

Essential:

• Part-qualified or fully qualified accountant (ACA, ACCA, CIMA or equivalent).
• Experience in management accounting, financial analysis, budgeting or forecasting.
• Strong analytical skills and attention to detail.
• Advanced Excel skills and confidence working with large data sets.
• Understanding of accruals, prepayments and month-end accounting processes.
• Ability to communicate financial information clearly to non-finance stakeholders.
• Strong organisational skills and ability to manage multiple deadlines.

Desirable:

• Experience within professional services, audit, consulting or transformation environments.
• Experience using SAP, Power BI or similar reporting systems.

Personal Attributes:

• Proactive and solution-focused.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills.
• Collaborative with a customer-focused approach.
• Comfortable working with a wide range of stakeholders.
• Highly organised with strong attention to detail.
• Eager to learn and develop within a finance business partnering environment.