Finance Analyst

Location: New Scientist Headquarters – London
Position: Permanent 

Package Description

In return for their energy and ideas we ensure our people are well rewarded. Our benefits package increases the longer you’ve been with us. Here’s what to expect:

• 29 days’ holiday
• Upon joining you will be automatically enrolled onto the Pension Plan at the minimum level of 5% employee contribution, 4% Company contribution. 
• Life cover under the Pension Plan of up to 4x your basic salary. 
• DMGT Discounts - for discounts on online shopping, vouchers and reloadable cards
• Subsidised canteen
• Onsite gym 
• Onsite nurse and GP clinics 
• Our Employee Assistance Programme
• Discounted dining cards
• Private Medical Insurance – Bupa
• Flexible Working policy
• Free gym membership at Northcliffe House Gym
• Eye care assistance
• Family Friendly policies
• Employee Assistance Support
• Access to the magazine
• Access to newscientist.com, New Scientist app
• Invites to NS Events

Plus many other benefits….

Job Introduction

About Us

Over more than 60 years, New Scientist has developed into an iconic, world-leading brand. It covers the big ideas and developments from all areas of science and technology through a respected and influential weekly magazine and widely read website and app. Increasingly, face-to-face events such as lectures and our New Scientist Live festival have added to our impact. Offering the latest news, ideas and opinions, New Scientist is an authoritative voice on the social and cultural impacts and consequences of scientific and technological discovery, not just the underlying science.

Role Purpose

• Support the Commercial Finance Manager in managing the accounting and finance operations to deliver weekly/monthly/quarterly/annual reporting commitments
• Responsible for implementing robust financial processes to enable timely and accurate financial reporting
• Become an integral business partner to the relevant budget holders to ensure the finance team are involved in key decision making around budgets, forecasts and expenditure.
• Be able to articulate financial performance through analysis of KPI’s and wider industry performance
• Continuous improvement – look for ways to improve and increase efficiency in current ways of working

Main Responsibilities

Management Accounts

• Full ownership of revenue recognition for display, recruitment, CoLab, events & discoveries (accrued & deferred income), newstrade
• Preparation of cost accruals & maintenance of cost trackers including direct costs & overheads
• Support with the analysis and commentary of monthly results compared to budget/forecast
• Preparation of monthly balance sheet reconciliations and other supporting schedules, including investigating any anomalies
• Assist with the preparation of the budget & quarterly forecasts
• Support the preparation of the VAT (IOSS & MOSS) and GST returns

Business Partnering

• Partnering with the commercial & events teams to prepare budget/forecast numbers, meeting monthly/quarterly as needed
• Working alongside the commercial & events teams to understand and articulate the various factors impacting business and financial performance, proactively identifying risks based on planned actions
• Preparation of the commercial & events numbers for the weekly dashboard
• Work with the commercial & events and editorial team to streamline data and processes to ensure accurate information accessible and useable to both departments
• Maintenance of overhead cost trackers (technology, facilities, professional fees, insurance), meeting with budget holders monthly/quarterly as necessary
• Ad hoc analysis as required by Commercial Finance Manager, CFO, commercial & events team

Treasury Assistance 

• Preparation of the monthly AP/AR bank reconciliations

Financial Accounts 

• Assist in the preparation of both consolidated and individual entity statutory financial statements as required by the shared service finance function
• Assist the Commercial Finance Manager with the preparation of the audit file

Other Finance Support 

• Ad hoc analysis, project and other work as required by the Commercial Finance Manager /CFO
• Develop, maintain and constantly look to streamline processes to create efficiencies
• Assist the wider business with finance related queries

Person Specification

Competencies (Core and Technical)

• Demonstrate both an interest in and experience of developing and improving systems and processes and will constantly look for more efficient ways of working.
• Organisation and planning skills with the ability to deal effectively with both short-term imperatives and long-term planning are essential.
• They will be numerate, articulate, and able to work with colleagues across the business at all levels and be proactive in developing relationships with our external stakeholders.
• Exhibit strong commercial awareness and show understanding of how financial data and reports relate to the business.
• The Finance Analyst will be a finalist/ newly qualified (ACA/ ACCA/CIMA), ideally with experience of working within a commercial organisation. Strong Excel skills are imperative.

Key Tasks/Objectives:

This is the ideal role for a part-qualified or finalist accountant wanting to move into a more rounded finance role where you will be exposed to all elements of the finance function.

• You will cover both management and financial accounting as well as business partnering and will report directly to the Commercial Finance Manager with a dotted line to the Senior Finance Analyst.
• You will have regular interaction with the Company’s executives and main departments such as commercial, events, discoveries, editorial, finance shared service and some of the Company’s key external stakeholders.
• The right candidate will be self-motivated and organised.
• Take ownership of the broad range of tasks within their remit and quickly develop an in-depth understanding of the business of New Scientist.
• You will work with the broader company and Commercial Finance Manager and CFO to meet goals and deadlines, taking on extra responsibilities if ad hoc or project work arises.

We are New Scientist 

In a world where true facts are in short supply, there has never been a greater need for a trusted, impartial source of information about what’s going on in the world – or a greater need for inspiration through great ideas. From artificial intelligence to climate change, from the latest innovations in health and the human mind, New Scientist (NS) covers the ideas and innovations that matter.

Our Commitment

We are committed to increasing diversity and maintaining an inclusive workplace culture. We welcome applications from all qualified candidates regardless of their ethnicity, race, gender, religious beliefs, sexual orientation, age, marital status, or disability. We are Disability Confident Committed. Please let us know if you require any recruitment documentation in other formats or if you require reasonable adjustments to be made during the recruitment process. Please be assured that any such information will be held separately to your recruitment application and will not be considered as part of the selection process.