Finance Analyst

Just Group plc; City of London; On-site; GBP 45,000 - 60,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading financial services company in London is seeking a Financial Analyst to ensure accurate expense accounting and support decision-making. You'll manage cost processes and contribute to financial reporting, with a focus on continuous process improvement. The ideal candidate is a qualified accountant with strong analytical and communication skills, ideally with experience in financial services. This role offers competitive compensation, benefits, and career development opportunities.

Benefits

Competitive salary

Pension scheme

Private medical cover

Generous bonus scheme

25 days annual leave

Qualifications

• Experience of budgeting, forecasting and management accounting best practice.
• Ability to handle and manipulate large amounts of raw data into relevant formats.
• Strong and confident communication skills – both written & verbal.

Responsibilities

• Posting expense accruals and adjustments into the general ledger.
• Produce and contribute to regular MI and reporting.
• Conduct independent reviews of the Functional cost base.

Skills

Cost accounting

Budgeting

Forecasting

Analytical skills

Strong communication skills

IT skills - Microsoft Office

Education

Qualified Accountant (ACA, ACCA, CIMA or equivalent)

Tools

Oracle

Job description

Financial Analyst

As the Financial Analyst you will ensure that the Group’s expenses are accounted for accurately, reported to key stakeholders to support decision making and that Forecasts and Plans are robust. You will ensure effective cost management processes and controls are maintained and improved upon where required.

About Just

We help people achieve a better later life. That’s our purpose and it’s the reason we exist. We are a fast-growing company helping customers enjoy the retirement they deserve. We do this through a variety of market leading, award-winning products and services, delivered by a diverse team of over 1,400 purpose-led colleagues who genuinely put the customer at the heart of everything we do.

This is a brilliant time to join our business. We are on an exciting growth journey to become the UK’s most loved retirement expert.

Key responsibilities

Month end

Posting expense accruals, prepayments and other adjustments into the general ledger, in line with relevant accounting standards and adhering to Group timetables. You will need to maintain strong relationships with the Finance Business Partners who will have insight into the cost base for different areas of the business. Prepare variance analysis to ensure outputs from month end processing as outlined above are as expected. Investigate discrepancies and produce commentary to explain variances. Provide supporting evidence for expense entries to external auditors.

Produce and contribute to regular MI and reporting

Ensure that MI answers the ‘so what’ and that variances are clearly explained. Proactively seek action from MI where there are undesirable variances and contribute. Ensure that processes by which cost information hits the ledger and MI is produced are robust and timely and improved where necessary to increase efficiency.

Ad hoc analysis

Conduct independent deep dive/reviews of Functional cost base to provide insight to business areas. Support project business cases and benefits appraisal.

Forecasting

Assist with maintaining regularly updated, rolling forecasts and deliver key inputs into the annual 5 year Plan process including projections of the staff cost base, key strategic development costs and 3rd party costs.

Continuous process improvement

Continuously look to challenge processes and reporting and provide suggestions for better ways of working for agreement within the team before implementing.

Strong business knowledge

Develop and maintain strong business understanding including key product lines, key strategic priorities and markets in which the business operates.

Review allocations

Assist in the periodic review of the allocations rules for cost centres as required. Understand how allocations flow through into key IFRS and SII financial performance metrics.

What we’re looking for

• Qualified Accountant (ACA, ACCA, CIMA or equivalent)
• Experience of cost accounting in a multi divisional and multi departmental organisation.
• Experience of budgeting, forecasting and management accounting best practice.
• Experience of working in an Insurance or other Financial Services environment is preferred.
• Experience in a Life Insurance environment would be advantageous.
• Working knowledge of IFRS 17 accounting principles would be advantageous.
• Knowledge of Oracle would be an advantage but not essential.
• Strong and confident communication skills – both written & verbal.
• Strong analytical skills.
• Ability to handle and manipulate large amounts of raw data into relevant and presentable formats. This will require very effective IT skills – Microsoft Office packages including Word, advanced Excel (including pivot tables, look ups), presentational packages (PowerPoint, PDF).
• Ability to present financial information in a clear and coherent manner suitable for presenting to senior management.

Our behaviours

At Just you’ll have the opportunity to develop your career, whilst making a difference to the lives of those around you. You’ll be part of a company with a strong and distinctive culture – we’re ambitious, curious and collaborative – and every decision we make centres around being Just and delivering the best outcomes for our customers.

What’s in it for you

• A competitive salary, pension scheme and life assurance.
• 25 days annual leave plus an additional day on us for your birthday.
• Private medical cover and income protection, just in case.
• A generous and highly achievable bonus scheme.
• Opportunities to progress your career in-role and within the company.
• Free access to the Headspace app, 24/7 employee assistance helpline and trained physical and mental health first aiders.
• A variety of employee funded benefits available via our online benefits portal.
• Plus, several additional purchase options available for you and your loved ones.
• Valuing diversity of thought and fostering a sense of belonging is critical to our business success, driving innovation and balanced decision making. Our work on DEIB (Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Belonging) aims to deliver a brilliant employee experience underpinned by a sense of belonging, where our people feel proud to work at Just.
• We remain committed to our publicly disclosed HM Treasury Women in Finance Charter and Race at Work Charter targets and support a wide range of employee network and events, championing issues including intergenerational working, social mobility and neurodiversity.

Please submit your CV using the ‘apply now’ button. Shortlisted candidates will be contacted regarding next steps which may include an initial phone interview and in‑person assessment.