Finance Analyst – Direct Costs Support

The Finance Analyst – Direct Costs Support will provide analytical and reporting support to the Senior Finance Business Partner covering key direct cost lines including editorial operations, marketing activities, production costs, manufacturing, inventory, and supply chain costs. 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 operational teams and gaining exposure to diverse cost structures including marketing ROI analysis, editorial cost management, and supply chain financial management. Key Responsibilities Financial Reporting: Prepare accurate and timely monthly management accounts, variance analysis, and financial reports for direct cost centres including editorial, marketing, production, manufacturing, inventory, and supply chain, highlighting key trends and variances for stakeholder review. Budget & Forecast Support: Support the annual budgeting process and monthly forecasting cycles by gathering data from operational teams, preparing detailed cost centre budgets, and maintaining forecast models across all direct cost lines. Data Analysis: Conduct detailed analysis of editorial costs, marketing expenditure, production costs, manufacturing expenses, inventory levels, and supply chain costs, identifying trends, anomalies, and opportunities for cost savings or efficiency improvements. Performance Metrics: Maintain and report on key performance indicators including marketing ROI, production costs per unit, manufacturing efficiency metrics, inventory turnover, and supply chain performance, 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 operational teams to understand drivers and develop explanations. Cost Tracking: Monitor and track costs across editorial activities, marketing campaigns, production projects, print runs, and manufacturing activities, ensuring accurate cost capture and allocation in the financial systems. Marketing & Editorial Analysis: Support the analysis of marketing campaign performance, author royalties, editor payments, and peer review costs, providing data to support investment decisions and ROI assessments. Supplier Analysis: Support the analysis of supplier and vendor costs across the value chain, providing data to support procurement negotiations and contract reviews. Inventory Reporting: Assist with inventory valuation, obsolescence analysis, and working capital reporting, supporting the optimisation of stock levels across print books and journals. System & Process Improvement: Identify opportunities to improve financial reporting processes, automate routine tasks, and enhance the quality and timeliness of financial information. Ad Hoc Analysis: Respond to ad hoc requests for financial analysis and business case support from the Senior Finance Business Partner and operational stakeholders, developing analytical skills across diverse topics 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 finance 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 marketing finance, editorial operations, manufacturing, production, or supply chain finance (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 publishing, marketing, or operations - Understanding of cost accounting and inventory management principles (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. 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. 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 publishing operations across editorial, marketing, and production. 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 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 business operations and commercial drivers. Developing awareness of how financial decisions impact operational performance. 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