Lead Finance Analyst

Lead Finance Analyst - Proagrica - London/Sutton

We are currently recruiting for the position of a Lead Finance Analyst in RSG's Finance Business Partnering team, supporting the Proagrica business unit. Proagrica is a global division of RELX specialising in the agriculture industry in Europe, Australia, South Africa and the US. Proagrica employs around 400 people globally. The role will be based in the United Kingdom. There may be an occasional requirement to travel to other offices including international locations.

This role involves supporting the ongoing Finance Business Partnering to the business. This is a highly commercial and operational finance role, working closely with business managers at a range of levels. You will work closely with the business to define revenue performance metrics, create revenue forecasts, provide revenue analysis and track revenue performance against the forecast. You will also provide cost analysis, create costs forecasts, review and describe variances against forecast, identify cost exposure and where necessary recommend cost saving opportunities. There will additionally be wider month end deliverables and reporting requirements. The role acts as a key liaison between the business and RSG's Reporting and Accounting teams.

The role will report to the Proagrica Senior Finance Business Partner, based in Sutton.

Key Accountabilities/Responsibilities:

• Support budget and forecasting processes, ensuring a rigorous and accurate process with appropriate challenge, understanding and communication of risks and issues.

• Produce and interpret regular financial reports and ad-hoc analysis with focus on key performance metrics, helping to drive profitable revenue growth and ensure that decisions are made based on actionable insight.
• Identify and embed the use of common key performance metrics and leverage analytics to provide insight that drives action. Communicate with key decision-makers inside and outside of finance to help ensure the business operate more effectively with a focus on key business drivers.
• Support, review and assess business projects to make preliminary assessments based on report results. Liaise with senior business executives to ensure plans/projects are commercially strong and financially viable. Ensure ongoing support and tracking of projects including providing effective challenge on deliverables & milestones.
• Engage in research to support findings as directed by manager and take initiative to check against other reports and data sources to ensure accuracy. Provide/communicate findings of research to key stakeholders.
• Partner closely with the wider Finance team, including Accounting Services, Reporting & Analysis, and the Global Transaction teams and ensure effective and efficient processes are in place between the teams supporting Proagrica.
• Support an effective control environment and safeguard the company's assets.

Key skills required

While the role does not directly involve posting journals, core accounting skills and technical knowledge is essential for success. Equally, an ability to communicate financial concepts to people outside Finance will be needed on a daily basis.

To be successful in this role, the candidate will need the following key personal attributes:

• Highly numerate, with an ability to analyse data, spot outliers and follow up to gain a full understanding
• Displays initiative, curiosity and challenges the status quo in pursuit of continuous improvement
• Ability to constructively challenge colleagues, including some who will be more senior
• Skilled at influencing others, and driving impact both through their own actions and others
• Ability to work in flexible and fast-paced environment
• Strong collaboration and team-working skills
• Highly organized with great attention to detail

Qualifications / Experience

• Degree-level qualification (subject area is less important than level of rigour)
• Qualified with a major accountancy body (CPA / ACA / ACCA / CIMA)
• Advanced Excel skills
• Experience in international blue-chip organisation is preferred but not essential

Previous experience will include:

• Focus on accounting, preparation of monthly financials, review of control accounts
• Preparation and delivery of reporting to business managers
• Ownership of a budgeting and forecasting process. The size of budgets is less important than degree of ownership

About Risk Solutions Group (RSG)

RSG provides information and online data services to business professionals worldwide. Customers have access to our high-value industry data, analytics, information and tools. Our strong global products and services hold market-leading positions across a wide range of industry sectors including banking, petrochemicals, agriculture and aviation where we help customers make key strategic decisions every day.

RSG is an equal opportunity employer and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, colour, religion, sex, national origin, disability status, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law.

At Lexis Nexis Risk Solutions Group having diverse employees with different perspectives is key to creating innovative new products for our global customers. We have 35 diversity employee networks globally and prioritise ensuring inclusive leadership is part of our culture. Our aim is for every employee to be the best version of themselves. We would actively welcome applications from candidates of diverse backgrounds and underrepresented groups.

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