Commercial Finance Manager, The Observer

What’s the job?

Commercial Finance Manager

Where do I work?

The Observer newsroom, London (22 Berners Street) plus some flexibility to work remotely 1 day per week.

What are we for?

The Observer’s promise is in the name. The Observer bears witness; the best of journalism being curious minds at work. It loves the arts and ideas, both for their own sake and because they can change lives. It’s proudly progressive, but has no party allegiance. It’s open to different arguments and its editorial independence is non-negotiable. We are building a new Observer across print, audio and digital. We’re here to build journalism that lasts.

About the role

Reporting to the CFO, the Commercial Finance Manager will provide information on financial performance, and anticipated financial performance, to a wide range of stakeholders, covering all the Profit & Loss Account, and with a particular focus on revenue.

They will play a crucial role in supporting revenue growth, developing internal financial reporting strategy, and ensuring ongoing accuracy of company forecasting and budgeting.

This is an exciting opportunity for a newly qualified chartered accountant to take on a commercially focused role with exposure to multiple revenue streams, several internal commercial teams across both editorial and commercial, and much of the Senior Leadership Team, including the CFO and the co-CEOs

The ideal candidate will have a strong commercial acumen, excellent Excel modelling skills, an interest in financial analysis, as well as excellent communication and relationship-building skills.

Responsibilities

• Preparation and ongoing ownership of short term and long-term forecasting including re-building the current 5-year forecast model.
• Supporting the CFO in partnering with all commercial teams to ensure ongoing accuracy of forecasts.
• Preparation of annual budget models and related business partnering for the annual company budgeting process.
• Development of appropriate ROI analysis to aid effective decision-making and building a culture of financial discipline.
• Support the CFO to manage the Senior Finance Assistant on a day-to-day basis and support with the month-end close process.
• Preparation of monthly financial reporting packs (including developing new dashboards and reporting packs) to the Board, Senior Leadership Team and other stakeholders.
• Help to further develop the breadth, quality and effectiveness of regular financial reporting.
• Preparation of ad hoc analysis and financial modelling to support Senior Leadership Team decision-making and commercial strategy.
• Preparation of reporting to support internal commercial meeting structures and develop a culture of revenue accountability.
• Support the CFO on cash flow forecasting on an ongoing basis.

Required skills

• ACA/ACCA or other chartered accountancy qualification.
• 1-2 years’ experience post-qualification, preferably in a media environment.
• Highly proficient in MS Excel and modelling.
• Able to effectively communicate financial information to a range of stakeholders, including non-financial audiences.
• Proven experience in managing multiple projects and stakeholders.
• Incredibly meticulous and pay careful attention to detail.
• Creative thinking and ability to present complex financial information in a clear and effective way.

About you

• You are highly organised and able to calmly prioritise projects, being mindful of key deadlines while maintaining a view of the big picture.
• You are able to efficiently and comfortably manage and present data of varying size and complexity.
• You are an independent self-starter who pro-actively takes the initiative and anticipates potential questions, challenges and next steps.
• You have the ability to communicate effectively and build relationships across all levels of the organisation.
• You are passionate about making a positive impact and have existing experience within the media or similar industries.

Salary and Benefits

• Competitive salary & bonus scheme
• 30 days annual leave plus bank holidays
• Private Healthcare
• Group Income Protection
• Group Life Assurance
• Pension
• Cycle to work scheme
• Interest-free season ticket loans
• Free snacks and drinks in the newsroom

Working with us

We are a progressive business with a diverse, motivated team. We are committed to equal opportunities and creating an inclusive environment for all our employees, and we welcome applicants regardless of ethnic origin, national origin, gender, race, colour, religious beliefs, disability, sexual orientation or age.

To apply please send a covering letter and a PDF of your CV to [email protected]. You should include the name of the job that you are applying for in the email subject.