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Financial Analyst


Ref
UKLHR1640
Region
UK - Heathrow
Location
London - Heathrow, London - Heathrow - Waterside
Category
Corporate Services

Job Description

Closing date: 22nd March 2013  
 
A fantastic opportunity to join the dynamic Finance and Performance team within the BA Group. The role allows you the opportunity to manage the finances of an individual BA business unit, providing financial information and recommendations, enabling you to maximise your professional expertise and finance qualification, whether that’s CIMA, ACCA or equivalent.
 
As a Finance Analyst in BA’s Finance and Performance team, you will be a key member of the relevant business unit’s management team and will also interface with the Financial Manager and Financial Controller of the area. You will be responsible for developing relationships with your business unit, communicating financial results to colleagues at differing levels, whilst challenging them and holding them accountable for delivery of demanding financial targets.
 
Candidates will need good business awareness, commercial accumen, management accounting and analytical experience. However, customer focus and an enthusiastic approach will really make the successful candidate stand out.
 
In return, you can look forward to superb benefits, which include travel concessions across our extensive network and other airlines, plus unlimited discounted airfares for your friends and family. There’s also a contributory company pension scheme, employee share scheme, discounted gym membership, subsidised staff restaurants and discounts at selected car hire, hotels and retail stores.
 
From a professional perspective BA provides comprehensive study support for ACCA and CIMA. It is also a Platinum approved ACCA employer, a CIMA Quality Training Partner and a CIMA Development Partner.

Job Purpose

Proactive provision of comprehensive information and recommendations relating to BA’s financial performance of the relevant business unit, to support the Finance Manager/Financial Controller to drive the business to achieve its financial and related productivity targets, ensure compliance with all corporate governance requirements and maintain an adequate level of internal control. 

Job Dimensions
 
The job dimensions of the role will be specific to the BA business unit that the role supports and will include:
  • Revenue (BA and Third Party)
  • Operating Expenditure
  • Capital Expenditure
  • Manpower

Principal Accountabilities

  • Carry out analysis of unit cost and productivity measures, linking operational and financial performance, to identify areas for focus/change
  • Identify and recommend opportunities for cost reduction and/or revenue improvement
  • Present complex information in an accessible and meaningful way
  • Production of business cases which facilitates key investment decisions and robust tracking to ensure project control and delivery
  • Prepare and track Business Plans, Financial Plans (includes budgeting, planning and forecasting) and Local Targets using appropriate modelling techniques where required
  • Provide comprehensive financial accounting, management accounting and reporting to the business. Includes: balance sheets, manpower, capital, revenue and expenditure
  • Adhere to all corporate, statutory and regulatory requirements including BA Standing Instructions, BA Financial Standing Instructions, Financial Reporting Standards and International Accounting Standards
  • Identify opportunities for process improvements via automation and standardisation and support or manage the implementation of any changes
  • Work within and promote BA’s internal audit controls environment:, implement control mechanisms, monitor, review and report against them and relevant statutory requirements. Ensure the efficient and effective implementation of appropriate actions and recommendations
  • Provide information, support and liaison where required to internal and external Auditors
Key interfaces
  • BA Management team and colleagues in relevant business unit
  • BA Finance Manager, BA Financial Controller or equivalent
  • BA Procurement and other BA Finance departments
  • BA internal and external Auditors

The Individual

Skills
  • Analytical and problem solving skills including ability to manipulate, analyse and interpret financial and business data
  • Able to build and maintain strong relationships
  • Proactive, taking the initiative to explore issues and to generate new ideas and approaches
  • Flexible in approach, responding positively to change
  • Able to deal with ambiguity
  • Strong team player with ability to promote good team working and cooperation
  • Good oral and written communication skills
  • Takes responsibility for managing and prioritising own work with the resilience to work under pressure and deliver results to deadlines
Qualifications
  • Full  or part professional finance qualification such as CIMA/ACCA/ACA or equivalent. 
Experience
  • Business awareness and commercial acumen developed through the application of finance knowledge and experience
  • Management accounting and analytical experience desirable
Expertise
  • Good understanding of finance theory and good level of practical finance experience in:
    • Management accounting
    • Financial accounting
    • Internal controls
  • Numerate and accurate
  • Good IT skills and experience of finance systems including:
    • Excel
    • Hyperion (Essbase)
    • Business Objects
    • Word
    • PowerPoint

Application Process

All applicants are required to submit their CV and answer the following questions. Please prepare your answers in advance. 
  • As a Finance analyst, you will be joining British Airways in a dynamic and challenging time. In no more than 300 words, please:
    • (a) Describe the challenges currently facing the airline
    • (b) Describe what attracted you to this role and British Airways
    • (c) What attributes, experience and skills you can bring to the role
  • In no more than 250 words describe a time when you identified a significant financial saving that could be made for the business. Please describe the analysis, recommendations and the actions you took to ensure the saving was made