Business Planning & Analysis Associate (Temporary Fixed-Term Contract)

Job description

Band Level 3 Job Description Summary The BPA Associate is responsible for supporting business performance management through financial planning, forecasting, reporting, and analysis activities. The role provides insights and decision support to management through sales and business performance reporting, financial analyses, forecasting processes, and strategic planning exercises. Working closely with cross-functional stakeholders, the BPA Analyst ensures the accuracy of commercial and financial data, identifies risks and opportunities, supports business decision-making through analytical recommendations, and maintains compliance with finance processes, controls, and reporting requirements. This position is offered as a 15-month fixed-term contract to support BPA activities. Job Description Key ResponsibilitiesSales & Performance ReportingPrepare monthly sales reporting and management reports. Conduct sales versus forecast and budget analyses. Perform customer and SKU performance analyses. Provide variance explanations and performance insights. ForecastingSupport Latest Outlook, rolling forecast, budget, and strategic planning submissions. Consolidate inputs from relevant stakeholders. Perform reasonability checks and validate assumptions. Business PartneringCoordinate inputs from Sales, Marketing, Market Access, Supply Chain, and FRA teams. Identify and flag inconsistencies in business and financial inputs. Collaborate across functions to support planning and performance management activities. Financial AnalysisPrepare business cases and profitability analyses. Support investment evaluations and financial assessments. Conduct ad-hoc financial simulations to support decision-making. Data Quality & ValidationReconcile commercial and financial data from multiple sources. Challenge unusual movements and variances. Ensure accuracy and integrity of data prior to submission. Risk & Opportunity ManagementIdentify gaps versus sales and forecast expectations. Highlight business risks and opportunities. Escalate issues proactively with quantified business impact. Reporting & Process ManagementMaintain recurring BPA reports and reporting tools. Support process improvements and automation initiatives. Simplify manual reporting and analytical processes where possible. SAP & Excel AnalysisExtract, reconcile, and analyze financial information. Maintain robust Excel-based analytical models. Support SAP-related BPA activities and reporting requirements. Controls & ComplianceEnsure analyses and submissions comply with finance controls and processes. Adhere to reporting timelines and deadlines. Support governance and compliance requirements. Management SupportPrepare analyses, commentary, and supporting materials for management discussions. Support local and regional business review meetings. Provide high-context information and insights for senior management decision-making. Experience / Professional Requirements3-5 years of prior relevant experience in FP&A / BPA teams working on business performance measurement, forecasting, corporate finance, and financial analysis. Excellent analytical and problem-solving skills. Ability to communicate and provide high-context information to senior management and regional offices. Experience collaborating in a cross-functional team environment. Background in Finance with good knowledge of finance controlling and accounting processes. EducationBachelor’s degree or equivalent 5-year university degree, preferably in Finance or a related field. NOTE: This position is offered as a 15-month fixed-term contract to support BPA activities. Skills Desired Artificial Intelligence (AI), Controls Compliance, Critical Thinking, Database Normalization, Data Cleansing, Data Reporting, Data Visualization, Employee Engagement, Financial Management, Give Feedback, Insight Generation, Interpersonal Relationships, Key Driver Analysis (KDA), Managing Ambiguity, Market Understanding, Planning Analysis, Problem Solving, Process Optimization, Stakeholder Influence