Junior Commercial Finance Analyst

The Junior Commercial Analyst will support senior members of the commercial finance team in delivering high-quality financial services. This includes assisting with annual budget preparation, acquisition P&Ls, month-end analysis and reporting, monthly forecasting, profitability reviews and ad hoc internal and external reporting.

Key Responsibilities:

Forecasting & Budgeting

• Ensure accurate and timely delivery of budgeting and forecasting reports to stakeholders.
• Maintain an up-to-date publishing schedule of titles for budgeting/forecasting purposes.
• Liaise with publishing teams to collect necessary data for forecasts.
• Input collected data into the forecast system (currently Hyperion Planning) and ensure outputs reconcile accurately.
• Prepare summary schedules for review by the Commercial Director.
• Assist in preparing presentations for budget and commercial review meetings.
• Prepare investment cases for acquisitions for review by the Commercial Director.
• Maintain a detailed schedule of acquisition pipelines with financial details for future performance analysis.
• Conduct profitability reviews to assist publishing teams in decision-making regarding recontracts.

Month-End Accounting & Reporting

• Complete month-end tasks with increasing responsibility over time:
  • Prepare provisions for retrospective discounts
  • Calculate provisions for unearned advances.
  • Analyse overheads and prepare accruals.
• Ensure timely preparation of reports for monthly divisional executive meetings, including:
  • Month-end commercial reports.
• Provide explanations for variances in key P&L areas against expectations.
• Prepare monthly and biannual sales reports for external third parties.

Ad Hoc Financial Analysis

• Conduct financial analyses to support commercial decision-making within the division.
• Generate sales reports for key brand/author presentations with external partners.

Qualifications & Experience:
Essential:

• Demonstrated interest in pursuing an accounting qualification (e.g., ACCA or CIMA).
• Experience working in a fast-paced finance team or office environment involving budgeting, forecasting, or month-end reporting.
• Comfortable explaining financial concepts to non-finance colleagues.

Skills & Abilities:

• Quick learner who can understand processes and execute them accurately with minimal supervision.
• Strong organisational skills with effective time management.
• Proficient in Excel with good analytical skills to investigate trends or variances in data.
• High attention to detail.
• Familiarity with Power BI, Business Objects, or similar reporting tools.

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