About CATS Global Schools
CATS Global Schools is a leading education group committed to inspiring the next generation of world shapers.
With a history dating back to 1899, but a focus on the future, our group brings together 16 institutions comprising independent boarding schools, an Arts University College, English language schools and a variety of summer programmes in the UK, US, Canada, and China. Each year, we provide 18,000 students around the globe with the education they need to develop real-life skills for the future. We are dedicated to academic excellence and our students benefit from our well-developed links to over 40 top global universities .We create a positive learning environment where every student is empowered to make a contribution to shape their world. This is made possible because of the commitment of our pioneering, persevering people who do the very best for our students.
The FP&A Team are responsible for conducting financial planning analysis and providing insight to the company on forward trajectory. Analytical and collaborative, we work hard to smash those deadlines but also get together regularly for socials or to discuss new projects. We operate a hybrid working style, 2 days in the office and 3 days working from home but offer flexibility where needed.
Role Overview
The role of the Assistant Finance Analyst is an important role within the FP&A Department. The role provides key support to the Finance Business Partner in the provision of financial reporting, cost tracking and financial analytics, ensuring a consistent approach to reporting is undertaken across the group.
This role will work closely with the Management Accounts team and Financial Analytics teams to assist with the co-ordination and production of the monthly management accounts for the CGS Group, and management reporting packs identifying key variances to budget. As part of this role, there is an opportunity to work with non-financial departments (in particular, the schools) to help improve their understanding of financial reporting and deliver insight to drive efficiencies.
Key working relationships
• FP&A Department
• Management Accountants
• School Principals
• Central Teams (Sales, Marketing, P&E, IT)
Reports to
You will be directly responsible to the Finance Business Partner.
Responsibilities
Key Responsibilities
• Assist with the production and collation of timely and accurate management accounts, providing an accurate financial representation of each business units’ financial
performance during the period.
• Support the Finance Business Partner with day-to-day work and ad-hoc analysis.
• Support budget holders and operational teams with accurate financial reporting and detailed budget reviews to ensure each budget owner has clarity on the current
position of monthly and year to date operational spend vs budget.
• To help in the provision of financial analysis for internal management accounts and FD review on a monthly basis, maintaining a quality output, clearly presented with
relevant commentary.
• Support the budget process and stakeholder communication during the budget setting process to ensure that costs and revenues are accurately forecasted and
recorded.
• Provide value-add advice to schools and department heads where appropriate to help improve financial performance based on sound data-driven analytical evidence.
• Project work as required, including partnering with Management Accounts to deep dive on financial results, support stakeholder’s requests and perform investigative
analysis on transactional reporting.
• Assist the Finance Business Partner in the development of detailed financial forecasting and forward planning models.
Other Responsibilities
• To strive for continuous improvement, constantly adapting and developing financial reporting for improved efficiencies or improved clarity.
• The role is expected to be approximately 50% communicating with the group; 30% analysis, report development; 20% challenging the way we do things and focusing on
process improvement.
