Finance Analyst

Finance Analyst

MISSION

The Finance Analyst will be part of Commercial Finance team with a close working relationship with the Commercial Finance Controller and Finance Business Partner.

They will champion financial discipline across all areas and levels of the business and drive process efficiencies through high challenge.

Business partner to budget holders, driving strong cost controls to deliver forecasts and budgets whilst identifying opportunities for cost efficiencies.

Provide clear analysis / explanations for variances to budgets / LY on a monthly basis and ensure the provision of timely and accurate management reporting.

ABOUT SHISEIDO

Founded in 1872 in Japan, Shiseido Group is within the Top 5 leading cosmetics companies in the world and aims to inspire a life of beauty and culture. Operating in 120 countries with 42,000 employees and 70 nationalities, Shiseido offers a unique selection of Skincare, Makeup and Fragrance brands with a projected £6.8bn turnover in 2021. Celebrating 150 years of heritage in 2022, Shiseido constantly creates high-quality, safe and innovative cosmetics and develop brands deeply loved by people from all over the world, in line with our mission: Beauty Innovations for a Better World.

Did you know that Shiseido is the most awarded company in terms of innovation with a record 26 FSCC Awards?

Shiseido UK & Ireland plays a central role in the EMEA region, leading the Digital acceleration agenda thanks to a team of local experts, but is also constantly reinventing its Retail footprint in this buoyant market.

To deliver our strong Growth & Profitability ambitions, we will follow 4 strategic streams

1. Leverage our unique portfolio of premium Beauty brands across all 3 categories

2. Stay agile and capture new retail opportunities

3. Customer-driven decisions

4. Create a great place to work in Beauty

Our first strength is Make-up, led by NARS, the No 8 brand in the UK market with incredible success globally. Skincare is a key priority for expansion, with Shiseido having huge growth potential in UK&I, and also the spectacular launch of Clé de Peau Beauté in Harrods and H-Beauty. Drunk Elephant joined our portfolio at the beginning of 2021 bringing its unique tone of voice together with its amazing formulations.

We are also growing fast in Fragrance with brands such as Dolce & Gabbana, Issey Miyake, Narciso Rodriguez and Serge Lutens.

Our clients include high-street retailers such as department stores, drugstores & chains as well as online pure players and specialty stores. We also have 5 boutiques and 2 direct e-commerce websites.

ABOUT SHISEIDO

Recently voted as No5 most trusted brand in Health & Beauty worldwide, Shiseido has defined the concept of beauty and spread its knowledge and power across the world. Heralding an army of devoted followers, we feel that by inspiring empathy, beauty can become a positive force in the world, and guide the next generation boldly into the future.

ABOUT CLE DE PEAU BEAUTE

Clé de Peau Beauté, the premier luxury skincare and makeup brand from Shiseido Cosmetics, was founded in 1982 as the ultimate expression of elegance and science. Forever guided by exquisite aesthetics and intelligence, Clé de Peau Beauté has instilled its products with modernity, enchantment, and dynamism to emerge as an industry leader in delivering radiance so remarkable, it emanates from within.

ABOUT DRUNK ELEPHANT

We are committed to using only ingredients that either directly benefit the health of the skin or support the integrity of our formulations. We never take into account whether something is synthetic or natural, instead choosing ingredients based on biocompatibility.

ABOUT NARS

Created in 1994 in New York by visionary makeup artist François NARS, NARS Cosmetics is one of the leading and most respected brands in the world of makeup artistry.

ABOUT DESIGNER FRAGRANCES

Shiseido Group’s fragrance brands are a collection of luxurious and exciting fragrance brands, which are amongst the leaders in the UK market. From the sensual and effortless delicacy of Narciso Rodriguez; the intriguing mix of natural and sophistication in Issey Miyake to the unique, innovative collection from the extraordinary perfumer, Serge Lutens.

ORGANISATION

Reports to: Finance Business Partner

Job Location: London

Contract type: Permanent

MAIN RESPONSIBILITIES

Business Partnering:

• Be an active partner to the Finance team and rest of the organisation driving Brand financial performance
• Champion financial discipline across all areas and levels across the business
• Constantly challenge how we work, and look to improve processes to ensure that we can spend more time on adding value
• Business partner with budget holders to ensure strong cost controls, identify risks and opps and look at ways to optimise spend.

Budgeting and Forecasting:

• Supporting the creation and monitoring of budgets and forecasts
• Supporting in producing the Presentation Deck & all associated backing templates
• Creating a “high challenge, high support” culture whereby the analyst acts as the key business partner and commercial support to budget holders
• Identify issues impacting delivery of the forecast, across all aspects of the P&L, and work with both the business and the Finance Business Partner to identify mitigation plans

Reporting/P&L Management:

• Working closely with the financial control team and budget holders to support month end close which includes preparing accruals, validating financial records and timely follow up on queries
• Analysis and presentation of monthly and YTD variances to budget/prior year on all P&L lines
• Provide accurate, timely value add management reporting, highlighting any trends and performing variance analysis to ensure action is taken to address if necessary
• Develop detailed knowledge of revenue, costs and drivers – use to challenge budget holders and drive efficiencies

Ad-hoc:

• Work closely with the Finance Business Partner in providing key insight and identifying emerging trends on business performance
• Develop a business mindset and act as sounding board to the Finance Business Partner and other members of the business outside of finance.
• Streamline and harmonise processes and reporting to free up time to analyse performance
• Supporting stakeholders across the business with analysis to help decision making. Must be able to explain clearly the analysis provided, in a way non-finance individuals will understand and take action from.

PROFILE

• Part Qualified accountant (ACMA, ACCA, ACA) preferable
• Excellent excel skills and experience of complex analysis in a commercial business environment
• Exceptional organisation skills and ability to manage multiple priorities
• Combine attention to detail with broader business understanding
• Team player who enjoys working in a dynamic environment
• Experience of building strong and successful relationships across multiple functions within a business
• Experience of working in a financial planning and analysis environment
• Alignment with the group’s « Trust8 » working principles: Think Big, Take Risks, Hands on, Collaborate, Be Open, Act with Integrity, Be Accountable, Applaud Success

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