Financial Planning & Analysis Manager

ROLE DESCRIPTION

ROLE TITLE                              Financial Planning and Analysis Manager

LOCATION                                London

REPORTING TO                        Head of Finance - Agency [HOF]

DIRECT REPORTS                    None

OVERALL PURPOSE OF THE JOB

The Financial Planning and Analysis Manager will work closely with the Head of Finance [HOF] and Group Financial Director [GFD], leading all Agency (The Blair Partnership (‘TBP’) and The Blair Partnership LLP (‘LLP’)) Financial Planning and Analysis. There would be a particular focus on revenue for budget and all subsequent reforecasts, including developing any outputs required for the Business Leadership Team and/or the TBP Board.

They will support on ad hoc analysis, developing a deeper understanding of underlying performance of key areas such as Print Publishing, reviewing macro industry trends as well as underlying performance of agency titles.

SUMMARY OF DUTIES

Financial Planning and Analysis

Budget and reforecasts

• Own building the annual budget and subsequent reforecasts for Agency income across TBP and LLP


• Work closely with the Client Business Team to capture all new contractually agreed income (e.g. Author advances)


• For all JK Rowling titles, work with the HP Franchise Team to understand the revenue drivers and likely earnings for all types of income across all rights licensed to Warner Brothers, high priority print publishers and other partners


• Liaise with the other Finance Directors to capture the commission income due from Pottermore Limited, Bronte Film and TV Limited, and HPTP Limited


• For LLP, liaise with the Agents, helping them to develop their full year outlook, including developing a royalty calculation model, the outputs of which are used to generate the full year outlook


• Prepare the monthly management accounts to help reassess the forecast position where appropriate

Revenue analysis

Outside of the budget and reforecast cycle, lead the advancement of revenue analysis, including:

• Deepen understanding of print publishing sales performance for Harry Potter, Robert Galbraith as well as other clients


• Macro analysis of the publishing sector, identifying trends at a genre level


• Support the Publishing Team to understand their account(s) performance, as well as analysing proposed contractual renewal terms for all Harry Potter print titles


• Support as needed on P&L and Costs analysis as well as on revenue analysis for other businesses 

Presentations

• Own the files used to generate outputs for presentation to key stakeholders (internal and external) and identify ways to refine/evolve the files used


• Liaise with the other FDs to ensure that they are inputting their financial information into the correct format for the TBP Board reviews


• Prepare first draft of presentations to be reviewed by [HOF]

Ad hoc Analysis

Work close with the [HOF] to support all ad hoc analysis across the agencies, leading on various projects sponsored by the [GFD], including for example modelling new business ventures, and business plans

Strategic and Long-Range Planning

Partners with [HOF] to develop long range financial plans (three to five year outlook). Identify insights from the long-range plans which are used to set the strategic direction of the agencies.

Financial Systems & Processes

• Work with the [HOF] and the [Finance Systems and Data Manager (FSDM)] to become a subject matter expert with tools such as Sage Enterprise Intelligence and its Excel Add-In as well as Power BI and other tools, enabling better analysis of our data


• Work with the [HOF], [Client Business] and [FSDM] to pioneer reporting from new agency management system which will include sales, royalties and contract data to inform business decisions


• Super user on AI working group with focus on augmented intelligence & knowledge build through AI powered research

Personal Development

• Champion excellence in financial planning and analysis throughout the team acting as the go to internal consultant on any challenging areas


• Driving the team towards reporting deadlines by coordinating and task planning effectively across the group


• Work towards team success collaborating, sharing regular feedback and knowledge with the broader finance team and business contribute actively to meetings and contribute ways to achieve team goals


• Continue to learn by building knowledge of the group businesses and understanding the connections and the accounting implications of them


• Gain an understanding of the broader financial processes, systems and responsibilities to help guide the business teams through and be able to effectively represent the Finance Team as ambassador group wide.

General

Other ad hoc tasks as required (resolving queries, preparing reports and system implementation/updates).

PERSON SPECIFICATION

Experience, Technical knowledge and skills

• Background in a combination of practice (audit) and developing commercial models (either when working in practise or in industry)


• Accountancy qualification (e.g. ACA, ACCA, CIMA) with a minimum of [3] years PQE


• Dynamic team player with the ability to drive results across a diverse team in an entrepreneurial environment and not afraid to ‘get hands dirty’


• Excellent interpersonal & communication skills with ability to influence up and down and get the best out of a team


• Able to demonstrate a deep understanding of complex accounting and business models and external market conditions and be able to use this to inform business plans and ongoing operations. Finding the connections between diverse sources of data & information and the ability to present these in a cohesive and eloquent way, so they are understood by non-Finance people


• Super organised and able to manage a diverse portfolio of responsibilities, prioritise and meet tight & often changing deadlines calmly but ensuring that responses are timely and the team are onboard


• Thrives on an evolving environment and always looks for ways to improve


• Proven experience in developing and coaching individuals; strong influencer


• Advanced excel user with a data focussed approach and a keen interest in how financial data is processed and manipulated for successful reporting and insight. Experience with Power BI and other similar tools is helpful but not essential

What you can expect from us

• Competitive Salary


• Company Bonus Scheme


• 25 days holiday (plus 8 bank holidays) – with an additional day awarded every year after your 2-year anniversary with us, up to a cap of 30 days.


• Progressive and inclusive policies around Carers, IVF, Menopause, Pregnancy Loss, etc.


• Enhanced maternity leave (18 weeks at full pay) and paternity leave (2 weeks immediately after birth, and 10 additional days over the following 12 months, at full pay)


• Group Pension Plan where we contribute 5% and annual pensions workshops


• Life Assurance of 4 times salary


• Health Insurance (currently with Vitality)


• Medicash Cashback Plan – dental, optical, physio and wellbeing benefits and much more.


• Annual Creative Bursary to spend on the creative activity of your choice.


• 2 paid days off per year to spend volunteering and giving back to your favourite cause or community project.


• Monthly Lunch & Learn events – hearing great stories from colleagues, clients and external speakers


• Regular fundraising events to raise money for our charity of the year. 2026/7s charity is Velindre


• Seasonal company parties and team lunches


• Subsidised on-site massages