Lead Finance Analyst

Lead Finance Analyst
£40,000 - £50,000 plus great benefits (Work level 6A) 
Manchester city centre, in this role you’ll work in a hybrid way splitting your time between home and the office (find out more about our hybrid working policy at https://jobs.coop.co.uk/hybrid-working-policy).

We’re looking for a Lead Finance Analyst to join our Finance team at Co-op, and help us deliver clear, insightful financial planning and performance reporting. In this role, you’ll work closely with colleagues across the business to support decision-making, spot risks and opportunities, and help shape our financial future.

You’ll play a key part in building and maintaining financial models, telling the story behind the numbers, and supporting our wider Finance team with accurate, timely reporting.

Why this role matters

At Co-op, we believe in doing business differently, putting our values into action and making a positive difference in our communities. As a finance analyst, you’ll help us to make sure that we’re making the right decisions with our resources, supporting our long-term goals and helping us invest where it matters most. Your work will help us stay financially strong, so we can continue to champion a fairer world through co-operation.

What you’ll do

•    Build financial plans using proven techniques and modelling methods
•    Build assumptions for forecasts, budgets and strategic plans
•    Consolidate reporting inputs and bring performance stories to life
•    Own monthly performance reporting for your area
•    Analyse results and explain key variances across financial statements
•    Provide regular reconciliation and variance analysis across business areas to drive data led insights with business partners
•    Build strong relationships with stakeholders across the business
•    Support continuous improvement of forecasting and reporting processes
•    Champion the use of our planning and reporting tools

What you’ll bring

•    A recognised accountancy qualification (ACA, CIMA, ACCA or equivalent)
•    Experience working with budgets, forecasts, P&Ls, balance sheets, and cash flow
•    Strong IT skills, including Excel (VLOOKUPs, advanced formulas) and planning tools
•    Great attention to detail and the ability to prioritise in a fast-paced environment
•    Confidence in presenting data and insights to financial and non-financial audiences
•    A proactive mindset and a passion for continuous improvement

If you’re looking for a role where you can grow your skills, work with brilliant people, and help build a stronger Co-op, we’d love to hear from you.

Why Co-op?

At Co-op, we’re owned by our members. And because we’re owned by you, we can do right by you. So when you join us, you’re not just taking a job, you’re joining a movement. We’re an organisation that puts people and communities first, and we’re powered by purpose. We want this to be a place where you can thrive, so you’ll also receive:

•    An annual bonus (based on personal and business performance)
•    28 days holiday (rising to 32 with service) plus bank holidays 
•    A pension with up to 10% employer contributions 
•    Access to a subsidised onsite gym (at our Manchester HQ) 
•    30% discount on Co-op products and 10% off other brands 
•    Stream – early access to a percentage of your pay as you earn it 
•    Virtual healthcare including GP appointments, mental health support, nutrition and fitness advice 
•    24/7 colleague support service 
•    Training and support for your development and career progression
•    Cycle-to-work scheme

A place you’ll belong

We’re building diverse and inclusive teams that reflect the communities we serve.
We welcome applications from everyone and are committed to creating a workplace where colleagues can feel like they belong, supported by our inclusive policies and the ways we work.

We’re proud to be part of the Disability Confident scheme and offer interviews to disabled candidates who meet the minimum criteria for a job. If you need any adjustments during the recruitment process, we’ll support you.

Learn more about our recruitment process at jobs.coop.co.uk/apply-process and our inclusion commitments at jobs.coop.co.uk/diversity-inclusion

Please note that we may close applications for this role early.

As part of your application, you'll need to complete an online assessment. This assessment typically takes up to 50 minutes. If you're a current Co-op colleague, this does not need to be completed.