Channel 4’s Finance department acts as a trusted advisor to the business, supporting and informing decision making through insightful analysis, expert opinion and timely and accurate reporting. We aim to efficiently and effectively ensure the sustainability of Channel 4 through a strong system of financial control and compliance.
The role
A key role within the Management Accounts team, which is the team responsible for the production, analysis and reporting of the actual performance of the C4 organisation, including KPI’s and comparative analysis, as compared to the periodic budgets, forecasts, plans and prior year benchmarks.
Specifically, this role supports the Finance Manager – On-Screen and Senior Finance Manager - Accounting, as part of the centralised management accounts team, in completing all management accounting requirements required to deliver the above, across all close periods (month, quarter and year end), managing and maintaining data and reporting in accordance with the internal controls, policies and processes; contributing and supporting the development of the financial system and reporting tools, formats and deliverables to promote and improve the understanding of the C4 operating performance.
This role will provide financial support to the Commissioning and Commercial Affairs teams, acting as a conduit for budget holders regarding YTD actual performance, helping them track, understand and better manage their forward-looking forecasts and ensure all feedback/changes are incorporated in reporting and analysis, as well as supporting the wider Finance team to deliver operational reporting and produce additional analysis where necessary.
Key responsibilities
Management Information and Reporting
- Make relevant P&L and balance sheet postings to ensure content costs, stock and creditors are accurately recorded, including reconciliations between key financial systems and other control activities
- Manage overheads for the relevant business areas as required. Perform the month end process, ensuring all journals are posted and accounts reconciled to ensure a materially accurate result. Own detailed cost trackers and able to escalate any issues to the relevant Finance Manager, and ensure that risks or opportunities identified are reflected in updated budgets and reforecasts
- Produce standard departmental reporting packs and other reporting deliverables to ensure all numbers are in line with expectations and variances can be explained.
- Produce regular balance sheet reconciliations, and be able to reconcile most balances and post relevant journals to correct. Escalate issues to more senior team members for assistance.
- Where necessary, perform headcount reconciliations between the ledger and supporting breakdowns by individual. Understand and account for any differences between the two.
Business Support
- Work closely with Finance Manager – On-Screen and Management Accounts team(s) to build sound working relationships in relation to completion of all management accounts related deliverables, roles and responsibilities
- Develop understanding of the on-going operating performance of the business and be able to note, explain and understand trends, variances and comparables (on a Monthly, Quarterly, YTD and FY basis)
- Establish and maintain good working relationships with business budget holders, ensuring they are kept up to date and informed regarding the above in relation to the accounts or areas of the business you manage, and implications of key projects and/or negotiations they are involved in
- Assist in the preparation of annual budgets and quarterly reforecasts for overheads areas, including analysis and explanation of key movements, emerging trends and issues, to provide support and understanding for the integrity of these processes.
- Work with the FP&A team and respective Business Partners to aid understanding of actual YTD performance compared to targets, including variances drivers, manage and maintain the underlying data and projections in relation to the applicable area of the business supported, enabling the FP&A team to construct and deliver the consolidated forward looking projections of the business (forecasts, budgets, strategic plans) with a high level of accuracy
Other
- Assist with year end audit schedules and other ad hoc reporting as required
- Other responsibilities as required by the FM and SFM of the Accounting team
Essential experience and skills
- Part-Qualified accountant, or currently studying for a professional qualification (ACA, ACCA, CIMA)
- Experience of recognised financial information systems, preferably Oracle and/or Workday.
- Proven experience of building good working relationships with non-finance people.
- Excellent communication skills, both verbal and written.
- Intermediate to advanced Excel Skills, comfortable analysing and manipulating data
- Good PowerPoint skills and ability to prepare slides on a timely basis for ad hoc reporting
- Enthusiastic and self motivated team player with a strong desire to develop their knowledge
- Excellent attention to detail
- Flexible and able to work to tight deadlines
- Demonstrable ability to improve / give valuable contribution to improvement in systems and processes
