PFA Assistant Director - UKI

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UKI PFA Assistant Director

The manager is a member of a high performing and mixed rank Commercial Finance team led by the Markets Finance (MF) Lead. The Commercial Finance team are part of an extended internal global finance network and at the forefront of EY finance and business policies, tools and best practices to effectively support Client Servers (CS). This is a fantastic opportunity for you to join the Commercial Finance team at EY working with senior stakeholders.

The opportunity

The Commercial Finance manager will be aligned to a Service Line (SL), teaming with the Finance Managers and Finance Business Associate teams in order to meet the needs of the SL. They will have a deep understanding of the SL’s financial performance with a strong focus on margin, leveraging their insights to help shape initiatives and strategies that will lead to improved margin performance.

The Commercial Finance manager is Business Partner advising senior stakeholders and their teams, which optimizes margin at a Pursuit, Account or Engagement level where there is the complexity and materiality, drawing on strong commercial, financial and consulting skills.

They will also have proven coaching skills to help guide the Commercial Finance Supervising Associates (SA) aligned to their SL.

Your key responsibilities

Service Line level Expertise

• Provides business insight related to the Service Line’s [engagement level] margin, revenue recognition and inventory performance
• Focuses on Accounts, Clients and Engagements that are complex, unique and material in nature
• Provide Business Partnering to support the SL in pursuit of margin optimization
• Works closely with the Service Line MF Lead to shape solutions and/or drive adhoc projects that improve support and advice to CS

Teaming

• Teams with the SL’s Finance manager and Finance Business Associate’s to foster positive and collaborative relationships, knowledge sharing, agree priorities and shaping of strategies that will improve margin performance
• Works alongside the Service Line MF Lead to coach the SL Commercial Finance SAs through experiential learning and identification of stretch opportunities to help them to achieve their full potential

Drives continuous improvement

• Shapes new solutions, implement best practices and processes to optimise the SL’s financial performance
• Develop and maintain a SL network across the global Finance community to share and develop solutions and best practices
• Stay up to date with the firm’s latest policies, processes and tools and proposes recommendations where there is a need

Skills and attributes for success

• Strong financial, business and commercial acumen
  • Proven financial and commercial acumen of advising on complex and/or material scenarios
  • Ability to synthesize detailed knowledge into focused insights and actionable recommendations
  • Robust understanding of financial and commercial drivers and interdependencies

• Analytical/Decision Making Responsibilities
  • Analyse and consume significant levels of data to form and communicate a crisp view of margin performance, both historic and forward looking through Excel modelling and data visualization tools. E.g., Power BI
  • Provide financial modelling and advice to support pricing decisions which optimise margin in any given circumstances.
  • Ability to assess drivers of complex financial performance at either an engagement or Account level which help to pinpoint root causes with outcomes that derive opportunities for improvement

• Client focused
  • Drives credible interactions that quickly builds trust
  • Ability to look at issues from a client server perspective, understanding the commercial pressures they face
  • Strong awareness of leadership needs and focus to provide effective advice and recommendations to CS

• Communication
  • Strong stakeholder management skills
  • Presents and communicates clearly, concisely and persuasively through both verbal and presentation skills
  • Able to recognize and flex their personal style to influence and collaborate with stakeholders

• Continuous improvement
  • Developed and led the implementation of an initiative that has led to improved financial performance
  • Focus on how best to enable CS and stakeholders that results in business benefits
  • Demonstrates deep knowledge of the firm’s and/or SL tools, processes and policies and able to impart this knowledge in an effective manner

• Leadership
  • Proven leadership and coaching skills
  • Flexible to meet changing needs
  • Ability to maintain momentum and optimism when facing pressures and setbacks are encountered
  • Desire to share knowledge and enhance the skills of less experienced team members

To qualify for the role you must have

• Preference for minimum three to four years’ experience in a commercial and/or financial role
• Strong financial acumen with a proven ability to influence commercial drivers of business performance
• Excellent stakeholder management skills and ability to challenge mind sets and status quo with senior stakeholders and maintain resilience at all times

Ideally, you’ll also have

• A recognised global accounting qualification
• Experience of shaping and delivering training to junior finance team members

What we look for

You will be an experienced Trusted Business Partner with a passion for providing exceptional client service to your stakeholders with the ability to think on your feet to make innovative and informed decisions.

What working at EY offers

We offer a competitive remuneration package where you’ll be rewarded for your individual and team performance. Our comprehensive Total Rewards package includes support for flexible working and career development, and with FlexEY you can select benefits that suit your needs, covering holidays, health and well-being, insurance, savings and a wide range of discounts, offers and promotions. Plus, we offer:

• Support, coaching and feedback from some of the most engaging colleagues around
• Opportunities to develop new skills and progress your career
• The freedom and flexibility to handle your role in a way that’s right for you

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