Finance Analyst – Technology & Indirect Costs Support

The Finance Analyst – Technology & Indirect Costs Support will provide analytical and reporting support to the Senior Finance Business Partner covering technology operations and indirect cost base. This is an excellent opportunity for a part-qualified finance professional to develop their FP&A and business partnering skills in a dynamic publishing environment, working closely with Technology, IT, and Operations teams and gaining exposure to diverse cost structures including technology investment analysis, software licensing management, cloud services, IT infrastructure costs, and indirect cost management across facilities, professional services, and corporate overheads. Key Responsibilities Financial Reporting: Prepare accurate and timely monthly management accounts, variance analysis, and financial reports for technology cost centres (including software licences, cloud services, IT infrastructure, and digital platforms) and indirect costs, highlighting key trends and variances for stakeholder review. Budget & Forecast Support: Support the annual budgeting process and monthly forecasting cycles by gathering data from Technology, IT, and operational teams, preparing detailed cost centre budgets, and maintaining forecast models across all technology and indirect cost lines. Data Analysis: Conduct detailed analysis of technology costs (software subscriptions, cloud services, infrastructure spend, digital platform costs), facilities expenses, professional services fees, and corporate overheads, identifying trends, anomalies, and opportunities for cost savings or efficiency improvements. Performance Metrics: Maintain and report on key performance indicators including technology spend efficiency, cost per user, platform utilisation rates, software licence optimisation, cloud service consumption, and indirect cost management metrics, providing regular updates to the Senior Finance Business Partner. Variance Analysis: Prepare detailed variance analysis comparing actual costs to budget and forecast, investigating significant variances and working with Technology and operational teams to understand drivers and develop explanations. Cost Tracking: Monitor and track costs across technology projects, software implementations, cloud migrations, infrastructure upgrades, and indirect cost centres, ensuring accurate cost capture and allocation in the financial systems. Technology Investment Analysis: Support the analysis of technology investment business cases, including ROI calculations, benefit tracking, and post-implementation reviews, providing data to support decision-making on new platforms, system upgrades, and digital tools. Vendor & Contract Analysis: Support the analysis of technology vendor performance, software licensing arrangements, cloud service provider costs, and service contracts, providing data to support procurement negotiations and contract reviews. Indirect Cost Allocation: Assist with the allocation and reporting of indirect costs across the business, supporting transparent cost distribution methodologies and accurate product and customer profitability analysis. System & Process Improvement: Identify opportunities to improve financial reporting processes, automate routine tasks, and enhance the quality and timeliness of financial information related to technology and indirect costs. Ad Hoc Analysis: Respond to ad hoc requests for financial analysis and business case support from the Senior Finance Business Partner and Technology/operational stakeholders, developing analytical skills across diverse topics including digital transformation initiatives. Required Qualifications Education Requirements - Part-qualified accountant (ACA, ACCA, CIMA, or equivalent) – Essential - Actively studying towards full qualification with clear progression plan Professional Experience - Demonstrable experience in FP&A, commercial finance, management accounting, or business partnering roles - Experience with financial planning, budgeting, forecasting, or cost analysis - Exposure to working with operational or non-finance teams (desirable) - Experience in technology finance, IT cost management, or indirect cost analysis (desirable but not essential) Technical Skills - Strong proficiency in Microsoft Excel (pivot tables, VLOOKUP/XLOOKUP, formulas, data analysis) - Working knowledge of ERP systems (SAP, Oracle, or similar) - Familiarity with financial reporting and data visualisation tools (Power BI, Tableau, or equivalent) – desirable - Understanding of management accounting principles including cost allocation, variance analysis, and accruals - Strong numerical and analytical skills with high attention to detail Industry Knowledge - Interest in or awareness of technology operations, digital transformation, and IT infrastructure - Understanding of cost accounting and overhead allocation principles (desirable) - Familiarity with SaaS, cloud services, and software licensing models (desirable) Key Competencies and Skills Analytical Skills: Strong analytical mindset with ability to interpret financial data and identify trends. Excellent attention to detail and accuracy in financial analysis and reporting. Problem-solving approach to investigating variances and understanding cost drivers across technology and indirect cost areas. Technical Proficiency: Advanced Excel skills with ability to manipulate large datasets and build financial models. Quick learner with ability to master new systems and tools. Comfortable working with financial systems and business intelligence platforms. Communication: Clear written and verbal communication skills with ability to explain financial information to non-finance stakeholders, particularly technology professionals. Ability to present analysis in a structured and accessible format. Confident in asking questions and seeking clarification when needed. Curiosity & Continuous Learning: Intellectually curious with genuine interest in understanding technology operations, digital platforms, and how technology enables business strategy. Proactive in seeking to understand the business context behind the numbers. Asks insightful questions to deepen understanding and uncover opportunities for improvement. Commitment to completing professional qualifications and continuous professional development. Collaboration: Team player with ability to work effectively with colleagues across finance, Technology, IT, and operational teams. Willingness to support others and contribute to team success. Builds positive working relationships with stakeholders. Organisation & Time Management: Strong organisational skills with ability to manage multiple tasks and meet deadlines. Ability to prioritise workload effectively during busy periods (month-end, quarter-end, budgeting cycles). Proactive approach to planning and managing own workload. Commercial Awareness: Interest in understanding technology operations and commercial drivers. Developing awareness of how technology investments and financial decisions impact operational performance and business strategy. Adaptability: Flexible and adaptable approach to changing priorities. Resilient and positive attitude when facing challenges. Embraces opportunities to learn new skills and take on new responsibilities in a fast-paced technology environment.