Financial Planning Manager

Big Bus Tours is the world’s largest operator of open-top sightseeing tours, fuelling the spirit of adventure in 27 world-famous cities across four continents. Beginning its journey almost 30 years ago with a fleet of only three buses, Big Bus Tours has swiftly expanded to a global fleet of over 400 hundred open-top buses, turning 5 million tourists into explorers, every year. Each open-top bus tour provides a hop-on, hop-off facility at a variety of interesting locations, with complimentary additions to enhance the visitor sightseeing experience.

In February 2015, private equity firm Exponent purchased Big Bus Tours, with a shared vision to make Big Bus Tours the number 1 thing to do in each world-famous city.

The business is looking to strengthen its Global Finance team with a commercially minded and analytically strong FP&A Manager on a 12-month fixed-term contract. Reporting directly to the Group Financial Controller, you will play a key role in driving financial planning, forecasting, reporting, and performance analysis across the Group.

This role offers broad exposure across the business, partnering closely with senior leaders to provide commercial insight, challenge assumptions, and support strategic decision-making. It is an excellent opportunity for an ambitious finance professional who enjoys working in a fast-paced environment and influencing business performance through data-driven analysis.

The individual will work within the Global Finance team, partnering with stakeholders across the Group.

Key stakeholders include:

• Group Financial Controller
• Senior Leadership Team
• City General Managers
• Operational and Commercial Leaders
• External stakeholders, including banking partners

If you want to get onboard, check out the vacancy below:

Overview of Duties & Responsibilities:

Business Partnering

• Provide Senior Leaders with analysis and insight to optimise business performance and support delivery against targets.
• Act as a trusted finance business partner, delivering meaningful financial analysis, KPI reporting, and performance insights.
• Support stakeholders in understanding key financial drivers, risks, and opportunities across the business.

Budgeting and Forecasting

• Lead the annual budgeting process, strategic planning cycles, and rolling forecasts across the Group.
• Conduct detailed variance analysis, identifying and explaining differences between actual performance, budget, and forecast.
• Prepare and maintain accurate weekly liquidity forecasts, challenging assumptions and ensuring the quality of forecast inputs from stakeholders.
• Support ad hoc forecasting, scenario planning, and financial modelling as required.

Reporting

• Manage month-end consolidation, reporting, and analytical review processes.
• Deliver timely and accurate reporting of month-end results to the Senior Leadership Team.
• Maintain and enhance monthly management reporting packs for the Group.
• Prepare Board reporting packs for presentation to shareholders and external stakeholders.
• Support Facility Agreement reporting requirements.
• Assist with Group statutory accounts preparation, including going concern and impairment assessments.

Analytics and Decision Support

• Deliver financial and operational analysis to support strategic and commercial decision-making.
• Conduct cost efficiency reviews and benchmarking exercises to optimise business performance.
• Analyse monthly results and report on key variance drivers and performance trends.
• Partner with City General Managers to identify opportunities to improve profitability and operational efficiency.
• Report on key Group operational metrics to internal and external stakeholders, including banking partners.

Special Projects

• Prepare business cases and financial feasibility studies for new initiatives and investment opportunities.
• Support strategic projects and conduct post-implementation reviews to assess business outcomes and value delivery.

Qualifications & Experience:

Education

• Strong academic record (degree level qualification).
• Qualified accountant (ACA/ACCA/CIMA) including membership of the relevant accredited professional body.

Experience

• Previous experience working within FP&A or a similar commercial finance role.
• 2+ years post-qualified experience preferred.
• Experience working closely with senior stakeholders and business leaders.
• Previous experience within the travel, leisure, hospitality, or retail sectors is advantageous but not essential.
• Experience with budgeting, forecasting, financial modelling, and management reporting.

Skills & Knowledge:

• Strong understanding of management accounting, budgeting, forecasting, and cash flow management.
• Knowledge of IFRS and statutory reporting requirements.
• Experience developing and maintaining financial models.
• Understanding of business performance analysis and KPI reporting.
• Strong relationship-building and communication skills.
• Advanced Microsoft Excel skills and strong PowerPoint capability.
• Ability to manage large volumes of data with accuracy and attention to detail.
• Highest standards of accuracy and precision; highly organised.
• Highly efficient with the ability to prioritise several tasks at once.
• Ability to think creatively, analytically, and commercially.
• Highly driven, self-motivated, and comfortable managing multiple workstreams simultaneously.
• Ability to present complex financial information clearly to non-financial stakeholders.

Competencies:

• Personal resilience and self-awareness, with a passion for continuous improvement and development.
• Effective communication skills underpinning strong relationships and collaboration across the business.
• Results-driven with a commercial mindset and focus on delivering business outcomes.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills, capable of identifying trends, risks, and opportunities from complex data.
• Confident influencing and challenging stakeholders at all levels of the organisation.
• Strategic thinker with the ability to balance short-term priorities and long-term objectives.
• Comfortable operating in a fast-paced environment and adapting to changing business needs.
• Able to manage confidential information with discretion and professionalism.

Other Information:

• 12-month fixed-term contract
• Monday to Friday
• Hybrid working – currently 2 to 3 days in the office and the remainder at home, subject to change in the future
• Office based in Victoria, London
• Flexibility to work outside agreed working hours when required

Benefits:

We are proud to offer all our colleagues a competitive benefits package (pro-rata for fixed-term contracts), which includes:

• 25 Days Holiday + Bank Holidays, Increasing to 30 with L.O.S
• Employee Assistance Programme
• Performance Bonus Scheme
• BUPA Cash Plan
• Enhanced Maternity & Paternity Pay
• Aviva DigiCare+ (Remote GP & 2nd Medical Opinion)
• Death in Service
• Cycle to Work Scheme
• Complimentary Big Bus Tickets
• Merlin Attractions Discounts
• 5% Employer Pension Contribution
• Sick Pay Scheme
• Season Ticket Loans
• Employee Referral Scheme

Next Steps:

To apply for this role please click ‘Apply’. There is no lengthy application form and cover letters are optional. Once submitted, your application will be reviewed by the hiring manager(s).

Due to the volume of applications our vacancies regularly receive, please allow up to 2 weeks from the closing date to hear back regarding your application, although our team will endeavour to contact every applicant as soon as practicable.