Cima jobs

Job title: Financial Planning and Analysis Manager
Contract type: 16-month fixed-term contract
Location: Manchester
Salary: £60,000 to £65,000
Working arrangements: Hybrid working, with at least two days each week in the Manchester office. Monday is the team anchor day.

Lead financial planning and analysis in a growing and increasingly complex group environment.

This is an opportunity to help AQA ensure that every pound we invest delivers the greatest possible impact for education, while leading FP&A through an exciting period of growth and change. We're looking for someone with FP&A expertise alongside a structured, supportive and accountable approach to leadership. As Financial Planning and Analysis Manager, you'll maintain a clear and accurate view of AQA's financial position, risks and opportunities. You'll turn complex financial information into clear recommendations, helping senior leaders make informed decisions about spending and investment.

You'll report to AQA's Group Financial Controller and work closely with the Head of Commercial Finance, with regular exposure to the Chief Operating Officer and other senior and executive stakeholders. You'll also help embed new ways of working, improve financial processes and progress the effective use of Workday and Adaptive Planning, supported by specialists within the team.

AQA is a charity, so effective financial planning helps ensure that every pound is used wisely and that any surplus can be reinvested in education.

Success in this role will mean delivering accurate planning and management information to agreed deadlines, strengthening the team's operating rhythm and progressing the effective use of Adaptive Planning.

In this role, you'll be responsible for:

• Leading medium-term financial planning, budgeting and forecasting across a group with a number of entities and group turnover exceeding £300m
• Producing accurate and insightful monthly management accounts and presenting a clear view of financial performance, risks and opportunities
• Delivering group-level consolidation, including the effective treatment and elimination of intercompany transactions
• Translating financial information into clear analysis and recommendations for finance and non-finance stakeholders
• Leading and developing a specialist FP&A and finance systems team, with three direct reports and wider responsibility across the team structure
• Working collaboratively with Finance Business Partners, Financial Control and senior stakeholders to deliver consistent reporting and financial messaging
• Improving planning, reporting and systems processes, including the continuing development of Workday and Adaptive Planning models

You'll thrive in this role if you have:

• You'll bring technical financial expertise alongside a structured, supportive and accountable approach to leadership.
• A full professional accounting qualification, such as ACA, ACCA, CIMA or an equivalent qualification
• Demonstrable FP&A experience in a group finance environment, including group consolidation and intercompany eliminations
• Experience of leading, coaching and developing people, including managing performance and supporting different development needs
• The ability to translate complex financial information into clear analysis and recommendations for senior and non-finance stakeholders
• Demonstrable planning and organisational skills, with experience of coordinating complex financial cycles and delivering to fixed deadlines
• Experience of Workday, Adaptive Planning or another financial planning system would be useful, but it is not essential. You'll work alongside specialists within the team who provide systems and reporting expertise.

What's in it for you?

• This role offers the opportunity to contribute to an organisation with a clear educational purpose while gaining experience in a developing group finance environment.
• Exposure to a growing and increasingly complex group structure, including acquisitions and consolidation
• The opportunity to lead and develop a specialist team within a wider Finance function of 48 colleagues
• Scope to improve planning processes and influence the continued development of Adaptive Planning
• A 35-hour working week with flexible, hybrid working
• 25 days' annual leave, plus Christmas closure days
• A benefits package including up to 11.5% pension contribution, Bupa healthcare support, wellbeing programmes and volunteering opportunities

Diversity and Inclusion Statement

At AQA, we're committed to creating a workplace where everyone feels they belong and can do their best work. We value the different perspectives, experiences and backgrounds our people bring, knowing they strengthen our culture, decision-making and impact. We foster an inclusive environment where everyone is treated with respect, has access to opportunities to grow and contribute, and feels able to be themselves. We welcome applications from people of all backgrounds and lived experiences

Due to the nature of the contract, the successful candidate is expected to join AQA from mid-December 2026.

What's Next?

Applications will open on Friday 2 October 2026 and close at 23:59 on Sunday 18 October 2026.

To apply, please submit your CV and answer the 3 role specific application questions.

The selection process is expected to include:

First stage: Teams interview during October 2026

Final stage: Face-to-face interview in Manchester during the week commencing 2 November 2026, including a presentation

We will be reviewing applications regularly and will close once the role has been moved to final interview.

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