Finance Controls Analyst

We're now recruiting a Finance Controls Analyst to work in the Finance Department Controls Team, which has an integral role in supporting the Group’s financial control function within the business.

The main purpose of this role is to ensure that fees are charged correctly in accordance with the Group’s pricing structure, in addition to establishing and maintaining robust controls in relation to fees and deposit interest payments.

The Finance Controls Analyst will review fee and interest scripts and operational processes to identify deficiencies, make recommendations for improvements and introduce controls to minimise the risk of lost revenue. The Finance Controls Analyst will document, test, and support the implementation of any fee or interest related changes, in addition to maintaining procedures and providing technical guidance on fee related issues to all business areas and external auditors. This role also involves reviewing large sets of data, performing reconciliations, and identifying root causes of issues/anomalies.

Excellent analytical abilities and strong communication skills are key to this role. The individual will also be self-driven, with a keen eye for detail and motivated to bring ideas for change forward and implementing them. This role requires liaising with various departments and stakeholders in Operations and Finance, investigating and resolving a variety of fee queries as they arise. You will be enthusiastic to take on additional responsibility to improve your learning and performance.

Training and support will be provided to ensure the candidate understands and is equipped to deliver the role and its responsibilities.

What does the job involve?

The key responsibilities of the role include, but are not limited to:

• Monthly and quarterly fee reconciliations.
• Monthly and quarterly controls for interest payments on cash deposits.
• Investigation and resolution of queries generated from fee reconciliations.
• Researching, identifying, and resolving existing/historical fee charging errors that may lead to additional charging / bad debt write off.
• Support the introduction and maintenance of internal controls relating to fees to ensure adherence to business rules and the Group Financial Control Policy
• Run a suite of control reports within agreed SLAs.
• Manage monthly attestation processes.
• Maintain good working relations with internal teams, liaising as necessary to develop efficient and effective controls and processes.
• Liaising with multiple business areas to support the implementation of projects, fee and interest changes and system upgrades through testing of software.
• Always ensure compliance with Group policies and procedures.

About you:

• Excellent numeracy and communication skills; both written and verbal.
• Strong user of MS Office applications, especially Excel.
• Experience using Power BI is desirable, but not essential.
• Experience using spreadsheets to manipulate and analyse data.
• Meticulous attention to detail.
• Excellent planning, organisation, time management and problem-solving skills.
• Logical mindset: able to solve problems and confidently communicate effectively with other team members and stakeholders.
• Able to handle complexity.
• Able to question existing processes, confident in putting forward ideas for improving processes.
• Ability to work independently and as part of a team.
• Understanding of AJ Bell products, services, and systems advantageous.
• Financial industry knowledge desirable but not essential.
• Willingness to complete AAT L2 – L4

About us:

AJ Bell is one of the fastest-growing investment platform businesses in the UK offering an award-winning range of solutions that caters for everyone, from professional financial advisers, to DIY investors with little to no experience. We have over 484,000 customers using our award-winning platform propositions to manage assets totalling more than £76.2 billion. Our customers trust us with their investments, and by continuously striving to make investing easier, we aim to help even more people take control of their financial futures.

Having listed on the Main Market of the London Stock Exchange in December 2018, AJ Bell is now a FTSE 250 company.

Headquartered in Manchester with offices in central London and Bristol, we now have over 1300 employees and have been named one of the UK's 'Best 100 Companies to Work For’ for six consecutive years.

There are opportunities for growth and professional development for employees wanting to progress within their career including induction training and our study support scheme which is part of our benefits package.

There is an active programme of social events throughout the year, which are open to all employees.

In return we will provide all the training and support you need to develop within your role. 

In return for your hard work you will receive:

• Generous holiday allowance of 25 days, increasing up to 31 days with service, plus bank holidays
• Holiday buy/sell scheme
• Hybrid working policy (after initial training period)
• Casual dress code
• Discretionary bi-annual bonus
• Contributory pension scheme
• Healthcare Cash Plan
• Buy as you earn share scheme
• Free annual shares scheme
• Paid study support for qualifications
• Enhanced maternity/paternity scheme from day one
• Bike loan
• Season ticket loan portal
• Discounted PMI and Dental
• On-site gym and personal trainer led classes
• Paid volunteering opportunities
• Free social events and more

AJ Bell is committed to providing an environment of mutual respect where equal employment opportunities are available to all applicants and all employees are empowered to bring their whole self to work.

We do not discriminate on the basis of race, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, age, pregnancy, religion, physical and mental disability, marital status and any other characteristics protected by the Equality Act 2010. All decisions to hire are based on qualifications, merit and business need.