Assistant Finance Analyst - 12 month FTC

Licensed sponsor Leicester Contract Posted 1 hour ago

Job Description

The Role

NEXT’s Commercial Finance team is looking to recruit an Assistant Finance Analyst on an initial 12-month fixed-term contract.

In this role, you’ll support a range of overhead functions across NEXT, working closely with both finance and non-finance stakeholders to drive effective cost management and maximise profitability. You’ll play a key role in understanding cost drivers, identifying opportunities for savings and providing meaningful financial insight to support business decisions.

Working alongside cost centre managers and the wider finance team, you’ll help improve visibility of spend, ensure costs are accurately recorded and support the delivery of budgets and forecasts. This is a great opportunity to develop your commercial finance experience within a fast-paced retail environment, while contributing to continuous improvements in reporting, processes and cost control.

What You Will Take On

Manage the month-end accounting process for allocated cost centres, including accruals, prepayments and balance sheet reconciliations.
Oversee cost allocations across NEXT’s Retail, UK Online, Label and International divisions, working closely with Group Finance and cost centre owners.
Manage cost recharges to Total Platform clients, ensuring accurate and timely supporting reports.
Prepare monthly financial reports, complete variance analysis and provide insightful commentary on key performance drivers, risks and opportunities.
Compile monthly forecasts and seasonal budgets, supporting effective financial planning and expenditure control.
Build strong relationships with cost centre managers and stakeholders across multiple overhead functions to improve spend visibility and ensure costs are accurately captured.
Attend monthly cost reviews with cost centre managers and the Finance Manager, providing financial insight and responding to ad hoc queries.
Review supplier accounts to ensure key supplier payments are up to date.
Reconcile information across multiple datasets, maintaining the accuracy and integrity of financial reporting.
Drive improvements in cost management through Power BI reporting, enhanced processes and improved financial analysis.
Respond to audit requests and provide accurate supporting information as required.
Support wider team activities, manage competing priorities and proactively raise any issues or concerns with your line manager.

What You Will Bring

Part-qualified accountant status, such as studying towards ACCA or CIMA.
Strong Excel skills and a high level of IT literacy, ideally with an interest in Power BI and reporting improvements.
Excellent analytical skills, with the ability to interpret financial and operational information and identify the key drivers of performance.
The ability to assimilate and analyse large volumes of data, maintaining accuracy and attention to detail.
A logical, solutions-focused approach to problem-solving, with the confidence to identify trends, investigate variances and highlight opportunities for improvement.
Strong communication skills and the ability to explain financial information clearly to both finance and non-finance stakeholders.
The ability to build and maintain effective working relationships across a wide range of teams and functions.
A proactive and organised approach, with the ability to work at pace, manage deadlines and maintain accuracy under pressure.
A collaborative mindset, a willingness to take ownership and the confidence to raise issues and contribute ideas.

If you’re commercially curious, enjoy working with data and want to make a real impact on cost management and business performance, this is an exciting opportunity to join NEXT’s Commercial Finance team.

About Us

You know Next, but did you know we’re a FTSE-100 retail company employing over 44,000 people across the Next group. We’re the UK’s 2nd largest fashion retailer and for Kidswear we’re the market leader. At the last count we have over 450 stores, plus the Next Online and it’s now possible to buy on-line from over 80 countries around the world! So we’ve gone global!

About The Team

25% off most NEXT, MADE*, Lipsy*, Gap* and Victoria's Secret* products (*when purchased through NEXT)
Company performance based bonus
Sharesave scheme
On-site Nursery available; OFSTED outstanding in all areas
10% off most partner brands & up to 15% off Branded Beauty
Early VIP access to sale stock
Access to fantastic discounts at our Staff Shops
Restaurants with great food at amazing prices
Access a digital GP and other free health and wellbeing services
Free on-site parking
Financial Wellbeing - Save, track and enhance your financial wellbeing
Apprenticeship - Grow and develop on the job whilst gaining a qualification
Direct to Work - Discount online and instore, collect your items the next day for free from your place of work or local store
Support Networks - Access to Network Groups to empower and celebrate each other
Wellhub - Discounted flexible monthly gym memberships, with apps, PT sessions and more

Conditions apply to all benefits. These benefits are discretionary and subject to change.

We aim to support all candidates during the application process and are happy to provide workplace adjustments when necessary. Should you need support with your application due to a disability or long-term condition, feel free to get in touch with us by email headoffice_careers@next.co.uk (please include 'Workplace Adjustments' in the subject line), or call us on 0116 284 2486 and leave a voicemail.