Finance Analyst

A cracking opportunity has arisen for a Finance Analyst to join a thriving organisation in Northampton, offering a salary of circa £45,000. This role is perfect for someone who thrives on working with large data sets and enjoys providing valuable financial insights across significant cost areas within the business. You will play a pivotal part in supporting supply chain operations, collaborating closely with senior stakeholders to drive efficiency and informed decision-making.

What you'll do:

• Collaborate closely with the Supply Chain team to analyse and report on a ~£50 million cost base, ensuring accurate month-end close down processes as well as robust budget preparation and forecasting.
• Partner with external third-party logistics providers by managing financial relationships, monitoring spend trends, and identifying opportunities for cost optimisation through detailed analysis.
• Support the General Manager by providing timely financial information, insightful commentary, and recommendations that enable effective operational decisions.
• Engage in challenging spend reviews by identifying variances, investigating underlying causes, and presenting findings in a clear manner to both finance and non-finance stakeholders.
• Work alongside the Fleet Director to manage a significant cost base, delivering run rate forecasting and supporting strategic initiatives aimed at improving efficiency.
• Take ownership of fulfilment cost-to-serve reporting by developing comprehensive reports that challenge operational teams constructively and drive continuous improvement.
• Assist in preparing forecasts that reflect current business realities while proactively highlighting risks or opportunities for further investigation.
• Contribute to cross-functional projects by sharing financial expertise and collaborating with colleagues from various departments to achieve shared goals.
• Maintain high standards of data integrity by ensuring all financial records are accurate, up-to-date, and compliant with internal controls.
• Continuously seek ways to enhance existing processes through automation or improved methodologies, demonstrating a keen attitude towards learning and development.

What you bring:

• Demonstrated experience working with large data sets in a finance-related capacity where attention to detail is paramount and accuracy is consistently maintained.
• A solid understanding of budgeting processes, forecasting techniques, and month-end close procedures gained through previous roles or relevant study.
• Excellent interpersonal skills that enable you to collaborate effectively with both finance professionals and operational colleagues across different levels of the organisation.
• A proactive attitude towards learning new concepts quickly—especially when dealing with nuanced operations such as supply chain or fulfilment—and adapting flexibly as requirements evolve.
• Strong analytical thinking abilities that allow you to identify trends within complex datasets and present actionable insights in an accessible format.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Excel (including advanced functions) along with familiarity using other financial reporting tools or ERP systems as required for efficient analysis.
• The ability to communicate technical information clearly so that non-financial stakeholders can understand implications for their areas of responsibility.
• Experience supporting or partnering with operational teams—such as logistics or fleet management—is advantageous but not essential; enthusiasm for developing this knowledge is highly valued.
• Progression towards a recognised accounting qualification (such as ACCA or CIMA) is desirable; being actively engaged on this journey demonstrates commitment to professional growth.
• A dependable nature combined with sensitivity towards others’ perspectives ensures you contribute positively within an inclusive team environment.

On offer here is a strong salary package of £45,000 per annum, plus a strong benefits package.

Hybrid working policy: 2-3 days.

Full job spec available.

Robert Walters Operations Limited is an employment business and employment agency and welcomes applications from all candidates