Finance Assistant - Central Costs

Come and join the number one food service company in the country....
With a turnover of over £2.6bn, Brakes Group is a leading supplier to the foodservice industry in the UK, Ireland, France and Sweden. The group comprises a family of specialist businesses which are able to deliver everything the caterer needs, including their very successful own brand ranges developed specifically for chefs.

1. Job purpose
Providing support for all aspects of financial control across the UK fixed costs, by working with Central Finance team. This role will aid in the preparation of monthly recharges to the UK, tracking of actual costs vs budget, review of monthly control accounts, building & delivering budgets / forecasts with variance analysis of fixed costs. Reviewing current processes with a view to improve.
2. Dimensions
Providing support to the Central/Shared service team. Control of actual/budget costs of the fixed costs incurred for the UK
3. Role context
The role will be working full time in Enterprise House within the Central Finance function. The main challenges this role faces is that you will need to be able to understand the key variances in the actual costs vs budget and have an understanding of the impact of these variances to the UK P&L`s, challenge and pressure faced by both internal and external parties, juggling supporting multiple priorities. The environment is also highly controlled as we are entering a SOX financial control environment it will become even more important to ensure compliance.
4. Principal accountabilities

- Support in preparation of the monthly fixed costs recharges and ensuring both P&L and balance sheet have been prepared in accurately and in a timely manner.
- Posting accounting adjustments in accordance with financial reporting standards.
- Understanding and commenting on key variances versus budget in the controls
- Support for preparation of the annual fixed costs budgets, forecasts and delivering in an accurate and timely manner.
- Working with shared service team to prepare an annual budget which is accurate and realistic
- Responsible for fixed costs balance sheet controls
- Ensuring that the balances on the fixed costs controls are understood and accurate
- Managing and ensuring compliance with company expenditure via the PO process.
- Improving current fixed cost processes.

5. Knowledge, skills, experience and competencies

- Excellent communication and teamwork skills are essential in order to liaise effectively with those with both a finance and non-finance background.
- Calm and confident approach particularly when under pressure.
- Able to manage own workload and prioritise accordingly to meet deadlines.
- Can see beyond the obvious and questions or challenges where necessary.
- A significant degree of integrity due to the sensitive information this role is exposed to.
- Experience in financial role & basic level of accountancy knowledge
- Ambition to progress within finance
- Strong computer literacy - Excel, Word, PowerPoint & numeracy skills.
- Excellent interpersonal skills and a proactive nature.

The Business
Employing over 10,000 people, the group supplies a diverse customer base, which includes, independent pubs, restaurants and hotels, schools, hospitals, contract caterers and well known national chains.
Brakes Group has developed a clear customer focus and a strong understanding of the needs of the foodservice sector providing innovative products and services and is committed to improving both the environment and the communities it serves.
Brakes Group operates as an equal opportunities employer and we welcome all applications regardless of gender, marital status, sexual orientation, pregnancy, race, colour, ethnic origin, nationality, religion or beliefs, disability, age, political opinions or trade union membership
Brakes UK uses a third party to undertake a number of checks. Any offer of employment made by Brakes UK would be conditional upon receiving a satisfactory; reference, identity document(s), basic DBS certificat