Financial Planning & Analysis Manager

Role Objective

This role will lead the financial planning & analysis functions for the Coillte Forest division, leading the budgeting and forecasting processes and supporting the strategic direction of the division.

Terms and Conditions

Reports to: Head of Finance

Contract: Permanent

Location: Newtownmountkennedy (or by Agreement)

Responsibilities

Financial Planning

• Contribute fully to the development and implementation of the Division’s strategy across all areas of the business, challenging assumptions and providing financial analysis and guidance on all activities, plans, targets and business drivers.
• Lead the annual business planning and budgeting process.
• Prepare rolling forecasts based on clear methodologies, highlighting key threats and opportunities to the achievement of the budget.
• Prepare rolling 5 year plans that set out the key deliverables and financial targets during that time frame, ensuring alignment with Divisional and Group objectives.

Reporting and Analysis

• Develop regular reporting and analysis, including variance analysis and key metric reports.
• Comprehensive review of business performance that analyses and highlights underperforming areas of the business that require attention by management.
• Actively drive process improvement within the planning and analysis area to encompass simplification as well developing and implementing new tools to support the planning processes.

Business Partnering

• Provide ongoing financial modelling and analysis expertise to business partners within the Division.
• Ensure capital expenditure opportunities have appropriate business cases, to allow optimum allocation of capital resources.
• Manage the relationships and financial processes around Forestry Partnerships managed by Coillte Forest.
• Form strong working relationships with partners in the Division and Group Finance to ensure that the requirements of both the Division and the Centre are fully met.
• Actively participate in or lead projects as required.

People, Leadership, Organisation and Culture  

• Create a culture of high performance and motivation by empowering, developing and coaching people.
• Simplify business processes to reduce complexity and allow our people to do their best work.
• Develop a strong culture of operational excellence and continuous improvement to eliminate waste and inefficiency.
• Contribute effectively to the leadership of the Division and the successful delivery of the Division’s strategy.
• Act as a visible role model for the Group’s value
• Provide support and back-up to the Head of Finance and Finance team as required.

Behavioral Competencies

• Drive for results: Ambitious and self-motivated with a drive to exceed goals and push self and others towards high levels of performance. Ability to work on own initiative providing sound financial advice and meeting tight deadlines.
• Communication/Collaboration: Excellent communication and inter-personal skills. Proven ability to build effective relationships and ability to influence at all levels.
• Innovative & Creative: A proactive problem-solver that is able to apply new concepts to existing processes to streamline and simplify.
• Customer/Commercial Focus: A good understanding and knowledge of our customers’ needs both internal and external, complimented by a strong business awareness and business focus.
• Decision-making and Delegation: Excellent critical thinking and strong analytical and problem solving skills with the capacity to make good decisions.
• Prioritisation/Ability to multi-task: Strong organisational, time management and prioritising skills with the ability to deliver on multiple tasks simultaneously to a high quality standard.
• Strategic Agility: The capacity to think big picture and be future oriented when driving the execution of the strategy.
• Managing Change and Ambiguity: Openness to change and the capacity to deal comfortably with risk and uncertainty.
• People Leadership & Teamwork: Ability to lead & motivate others to develop themselves within a culture and climate where people can work at their best.

Desired Technical / Professional Competencies

• Qualified accountant (ie. CIMA, ACA, ACCA)
• Minimum of 5 years post-qualification experience, preferably with commercial exposure
• People management experience
• Strong financial and analytical skills
• Excellent team motivational and leadership skills
• Ability to plan, organise and manage team work
• Proven experience of continuous development and improvement

Our Values

• Respect
• Simplicity
• Empowerment
• Outward Looking
• Responsible