Assistant Director - FRM - UK Finance Support

Assistant Director - Finance Relationship Owner

The Finance Relationship Owner (FRO) serves as a key member of the Global Controlling Decision Support Finance team supporting the Global Entities in managing financials end to end and achieving financial objectives. Serving as a key member of the Global Controlling team the FRO teams with stakeholders in the business and various Finance support structures to provide analytical support, functional expertise, reporting solutions, transaction processing and sharing of best practices.

The opportunity

This role acts as a single point of contact providing financial information and analysis to stakeholders within a Global Function or Service Line. The FRO communicates with executive level business leaders and is expected to demonstrate an implicit understanding of their clients’ needs.  In addition to Function/Service Line Executives, key customers are CFOs, their Deputies and teams who are involved in managing budgets. FROs interface and manage relationships between the Function/Service Line Team and Global Controlling.

Your key responsibilities

• Communicates regularly with Function/Service Line Teams on financial operating performance and is responsible for identifying issues and supporting resolution of same.
• Monitors and tracks financial results against goals and historical performance leveraging reports from the Reporting Center of Excellence (COE).
• Explains critical upcoming Finance activities (Annual Financial Plan, Forecasting, Month/Year end closing).
• Works with Functions/Service Lines to develop budgets, taking overall ownership of this budget process. Liaises with Sub Function/Service Line Leaders to define targets for Sub Function/Service Lines. Challenges, reviews and consolidates annual budgets and forecasts/projections for Functions/Service Lines. 
• With the support of their designated GDS based Analyst, manages all aspects of Global Entity engagement codes. This includes engagement code set up and maintenance, AP invoices, PO’s, billings, management of accruals, identifying time booked by people that are not in the budget, challenging and proposing corrective actions.
• Provides technical financial advice, knowledge and counsel to Function/Service Line customers.
• Manages the relationship with the Function/Service Line CFOs and their deputies on behalf of the Controlling function.
• Drives key methods and processes at the direction of Global Controlling (e.g. financial planning).
• Synthesizes, provides insight and communicates a clear and concise view of financial performance to Function/Service Line Leadership.
• Advises on expected financial performance vs. plan/forecast based upon analytics such as trend analysis and modelling of forward-looking scenarios.
• Assesses the drivers of financial results with a constant focus on improvement and rapid course correction where necessary.

Skills and attributes for success

• Preferred candidates will have a bachelor’s degree in finance, economics, business administration or similar combined with minimum of 7+ years of relevant financial planning & analysis experience is required to perform this position.
• Be able to work in a virtual global organization respecting international cultures and speaking/writing English fluently
• Focused on analysis, advice and solutions that drive the continuous improvement of financial performance.
• Have a deep understanding of the external services offered by the firm and the overall area/regional markets landscape would be beneficial. 
• Forms and communicates a clear and concise view of financial performance. Has a deep understanding of the drivers of financial performance and applies constantly to analyze and advise on progress against targets.
• Synthesizes and communicates detailed financial information in support of effective decision making.
• Able to analyze large volumes of data and spot where there is greatest financial opportunity and risk.
• Utilizes sound financial practices and seeks leading practices to support operational excellence.
• Demonstrates exceptional commercial awareness with respect to EY's position and ambitions in the marketplace will make a valued leader

What we look for

We’re interested in hiring a professional with excellent finance knowledge. The ideal candidate will be an analytical thinker, comfortable taking initiative in situations where thought leadership is either absent or unclear.The success of this role also depends on the FRO successfully teaming with and leveraging other members of the Function/Service Line teams, other FROs and the Global Controlling Leadership Team.

Requirements:

• Experience:
  • A minimum of 7+ years of relevant financial planning & analysis experience is required to perform this position.
  • A deep understanding of the external services offered by the firm and the overall area/regional markets landscape would be beneficial. 
  • Professional services experience is preferred.

• Leadership and coaching:
  • Able to work in a self-sufficient manner, operating across multiple projects and priorities.
  • A successful track record of implementing and leading key business change initiatives.
  • Effectively manages and coaches a small team of GDS based staff.
  • Demonstrates the ability to challenge assumptions and decisions in an appropriate manner.

• Client service:
  • Able to embed ECS (Exceptional Client Service).
  • Focused on analysis, advice and solutions that drive the continuous improvement of financial performance.
  • Drives interactions that build trust and manages expectations with all stakeholders.
  • Collaborates and teams with finance colleagues and other functions to enhance service to clients, and to leverage leading practices.

• Analysis, modelling & advice:
  • Forms and communicates a clear and concise view of financial performance. Has a deep understanding of the drivers of financial performance and applies constantly to analyze and advise on progress against targets.
  • Synthesizes and communicates detailed financial information in support of effective decision making.
  • Able to analyze large volumes of data and spot where there is greatest financial opportunity and risk.
  • Utilizes sound financial practices and seeks leading practices to support operational excellence.
  • Must be an analytical thinker, comfortable taking initiative in situations where thought leadership is either absent or unclear.

• Understanding of the business:
  • Understands the Firm’s strategy and applies constantly to analyze and advise on financial performance
  • Knowledgeable of EY capabilities and services.
  • Demonstrates exceptional commercial awareness with respect to EY's position and ambitions in the marketplace will make a valued leader.
  • Demonstrates appreciation and respect of varying cultures – both corporate and geographical.