In 2025, Outcomes First Group were officially certified as a ‘Great Place to Work’ for the sixth year running.
Group FP&A Analyst – Reporting & Insights
Location: Manchester
Working Pattern: 37.5 hours per week | Hybrid (1 - 2 days in the office)
Salary: Up to £55,000 per annum
Contract: Permanent
Please note: UK applicants only | No sponsorship available
About us
Outcomes First Group is the UK’s largest independent provider of specialist education and care. We deliver personalised, research-led support that helps every child thrive.
As a growing organisation, we continue to invest in our people and services to deliver high-quality outcomes across our sites.
About the Role
This role sits within the Group FP&A function and is responsible for supporting the development and delivery of high-quality reporting, performance analysis and business insight across the Group.
The role combines strong analytical capability with excellent communication skills to provide meaningful insight, support decision-making and help translate financial and operational performance into clear, actionable recommendations.
The successful candidate will have experience developing reporting that not only explains what has happened, but tells the story behind the numbers and highlights the opportunities and risks that matter most to the business.
Key Responsibilities
Reporting & Performance Insights
- Lead the production of weekly, monthly and quarterly Group reporting packsAnalyse financial and operational performance against budget, forecast and prior year
- Identify key performance drivers, risks and opportunities, communicating these clearly to stakeholders
- Develop concise, insightful commentary that explains performance and highlights key actions required
- Monitor and report on Group KPIs, ensuring consistency, accuracy and relevance
- Work with regional finance teams to promote consistency in reporting methodologies, assumptions and KPI definitions
Reporting Development & Automation
- Develop and enhance reporting packs, dashboards and scorecards across the Group
- Work closely with Business Intelligence teams to automate reporting and improve accessibility of data
- Create new reporting outputs that improve visibility of business performance and support better decision-making
- Continuously improve reporting processes and visualisation standards to ensure reporting remains insightful and aligned to business priorities
Presentations & Financial Storytelling
- Prepare high-quality PowerPoint presentations for Finance Leadership and Executive stakeholders
- Support the preparation of Board, Executive and Investor reporting packs
- Translate complex financial and operational information into clear and engaging narratives
- Support budget, forecast and performance review presentations
- Develop meaningful visualisations that focus stakeholder attention on key business issues
Stakeholder Engagement & Insight
- Build strong working relationships across Finance, Business Intelligence and operational teams
- Support senior stakeholders with reporting and analysis requirements
- Communicate complex information clearly and confidently to both finance and non-finance audiences
- Promote accountability through robust reporting, analysis and performance insight
Budgeting, Forecasting & Planning Support
- Support annual budgeting, quarterly forecasting and long-range planning processes
- Monitor actual performance against forecast and plan, identifying key variances and trends
- Assist with maintaining planning and forecasting models used across the wider Group FP&A team
- Support ad-hoc analysis and business performance reviews
Experience, Skills & Qualifications
Essential
- Experience within FP&A, commercial finance, management reporting or performance analysis within a fast-paced environment
- Advanced Excel skills, including large dataset manipulation, reporting and performance analysis
- Strong PowerPoint and presentation skills
- Experience producing monthly reporting packs and performance analysis
- Excellent written communication skills with the ability to tell the story behind the numbers
- Ability to present complex information in a clear, engaging and commercially focused manner
- Strong analytical mindset with excellent attention to detail
- Excellent stakeholder management and communication skills
- Hands-on, proactive approach with the ability to thrive in a growing and evolving business
Desirable
- Experience in a multi-site or multi-entity organisation
- Experience with ERP systems, Power BI or similar reporting and visualisation tools
- Professional finance qualification (e.g. CIMA, ACCA) or actively working towards qualification
- Experience supporting reporting automation and dashboard development
Why Join Us?
You'll be joining a growing Group Finance team operating at the centre of the organisation. This role offers exposure to Executive Leadership, Board-level reporting and strategic decision-making, while providing the opportunity to shape how performance is reported and understood across the Group.
Our divisional brands include Acorn Education, Options Autism, Blenheim Schools, and Momenta Connect.
By joining our central teams, you'll help drive reporting excellence, enhance business insight and support better decision-making across a growing organisation renowned for quality, impact and innovation. We value collaboration, professionalism and curiosity, offering the opportunity to influence change at scale while staying true to our core values of care, aspiration and inclusion.
Benefits
- Life Assurance
- Pension scheme with flexible contribution options
- “Your Wellbeing Matters” – mental and physical health support
- Family Growth Support, including enhanced maternity and paternity leave
- Flexible benefits via Vista (Cycle to Work, Electric Car Scheme, discounts, critical illness cover, and more)
We are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people. All applicants will be subject to social media checks and successful applicants to a fully enhanced DBS check.
We are an Equal Opportunities Employer.
We reserve the right to close the vacancy early if a high volume of suitable applications is received. Outcomes First Group is committed to a fair, thorough, and efficient recruitment process in line with Keeping Children Safe in Education. While we aim to keep applicants informed, we do not accept liability for any loss of earnings or costs incurred due to delays or changes in compliance processes. All stages are subject to safeguarding checks and statutory requirements, which may affect timescales.
