The FP&A Analyst will support the Finance Business Partner – Business Services in delivering high-quality financial insight, reporting and analysis across Shoosmiths’ central functions, including IT, HR, Business Development, Property, Risk and Finance. The role will play an important part in budgeting, forecasting, performance reporting and cost analysis, helping stakeholders to understand financial performance and make informed decisions.
This is an excellent opportunity for a developing FP&A professional to build strong commercial insight and business partnering capability within a complex professional services environment, with exposure to senior stakeholders across Business Services.
Key Responsibilities will include:
Financial Reporting & Analysis.
Produce timely and accurate management information for Business Services functions, including monthly reporting, variance analysis and clear commentary
Analyse cost trends, drivers and performance against budget and forecast across assigned central functions
Support the development and tracking of KPIs and performance metrics to improve visibility of Business Services performance
Budgeting & Forecasting
Support the annual budgeting and periodic reforecasting processes for assigned Business Services functions
Work with budget holders and functional leads to gather inputs, challenge assumptions and ensure consistency with firm-wide planning
Maintain forecast models, supporting schedules and planning assumptions for Business Services areas
Business Partnering Support
Act as a key finance contact for Business Services teams on day-to-day financial queries and reporting support
Support the Finance Business Partner in preparing materials and analysis for stakeholder meetings with Business Services Directors and senior managers
Help translate financial data into clear, meaningful insight for non-finance stakeholders and support effective decision-making
Decision Support & Projects
Assist with investment appraisals, business cases and cost-benefit analysis to support prioritisation and decision-making
Support ad-hoc analysis for strategic initiatives, transformation projects and efficiency opportunities across Business Services
Contribute to continuous improvement of FP&A processes, reporting, planning and controls across Business Services
Systems & Data
Ensure accuracy and integrity of financial data used for reporting, forecasting and analysis
Help improve the use of finance systems, planning models and reporting tools to strengthen insight and efficiency
Document processes and support greater standardisation across FP&A and Business Services reporting activities
Skills & Experience
Essential
Part-qualified or newly qualified accountant (ACA / ACCA / CIMA), or equivalent relevant FP&A / commercial finance experience
Strong analytical skills with the ability to interpret financial information and turn it into clear, actionable insight
Good Excel and financial modelling capability, with confidence working with data and reporting tools
Clear communication skills and the ability to work effectively with non-finance stakeholders across central functions
Experience in an FP&A, management accounting or commercial finance role
Desirable
Exposure to budgeting, forecasting and performance reporting processes
Experience in a legal, professional services or other complex people-cost-led environment would be advantageous
Personal Attributes
Curious, proactive and keen to understand the drivers behind financial performance
Comfortable working with detail while maintaining awareness of the wider commercial context
Well organised, collaborative and able to manage competing priorities in a fast-paced environment
Eager to learn, build business partnering capability and develop within FP&A
The firm
Shoosmiths is the law firm clients choose for excellent service, incisive thinking and above all for our ability to focus on what matters. From offices across the UK and Brussels, we support some of the world’s most exciting and ambitious businesses; amazing clients making an impact. We empower our people to be their authentic selves and deliver together in supportive teams committed to excellence and innovation. The first top 50 law firm to achieve ‘Platinum Standard’ Investors in People, our values and culture are not just words on our website but are the heartbeat of the firm.
We have an outstanding benefits package to complement our competitive remuneration system. In addition to the competitive salaries, great working environment and high-quality work, we believe that all staff should be rewarded for their commitment to the continued success of the firm through a comprehensive and flexible range of benefits.
Shoosmiths is proud to be a Disability Confident Employer. Disability Confident is a government scheme designed to encourage employers to recruit and retain disabled people and those with long term conditions. The Disability Confident scheme replaced the Two Ticks Positive about Disabled People scheme. We had been accredited as a two tick employer for many years - Disability Confident broadens and develops that original commitment, and demonstrates we have adopted a proactive approach to employing disabled people and developing their abilities.
As part of our accreditation, we commit to interviewing any applicants with a disability who meet the essential criteria for each vacancy. In some circumstances we may only be able to interview those that best meet the essential criteria due to the volume of applications received.
Further information on the Disability Confident scheme is available at https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/disability-confident-campaign
We are committed to ensuring our recruitment process is inclusive and accessible to and usable by everyone. If you have a disability or long-term condition and would like to receive information in a different way, or need us to make any adjustments, changes or do anything differently during the recruitment process, please get in touch with the Talent Acquisition team on [email protected]. We can consider your needs and requirements, and how we can assist you to apply for our roles. For example we can provide a copy of our application via email so that you can complete it using your own accessibility software.
