FP&A Analyst

The FP&A Analyst will support the Finance Business Partner – Business Services in delivering high‑quality financial insight, reporting and analysis across Shoosmiths’ central functions, including IT, HR, Business Development, Property, Risk and Finance. The role will play an important part in budgeting, forecasting, performance reporting and cost analysis, helping stakeholders to understand financial performance and make informed decisions.

This is an excellent opportunity for a developing FP&A professional to build strong commercial insight and business partnering capability within a complex professional services environment, with exposure to senior stakeholders across Business Services.

• Produce timely and accurate management information for Business Services functions, including monthly reporting, variance analysis and clear commentary
• Analyse cost trends, drivers and performance against budget and forecast across assigned central functions
• Support the development and tracking of KPIs and performance metrics to improve visibility of Business Services performance

• Support the annual budgeting and periodic reforecasting processes for assigned Business Services functions
• Work with budget holders and functional leads to gather inputs, challenge assumptions and ensure consistency with firm‑wide planning
• Maintain forecast models, supporting schedules and planning assumptions for Business Services areas

• Act as a key finance contact for Business Services teams on day‑to‑day financial queries and reporting support
• Support the Finance Business Partner in preparing materials and analysis for stakeholder meetings with Business Services Directors and senior managers
• Help translate financial data into clear, meaningful insight for non‑finance stakeholders and support effective decision‑making

• Assist with investment appraisals, business cases and cost‑benefit analysis to support prioritisation and decision‑making
• Support ad‑hoc analysis for strategic initiatives, transformation projects and efficiency opportunities across Business Services
• Contribute to continuous improvement of FP&A processes, reporting, planning and controls across Business Services

• Ensure accuracy and integrity of financial data used for reporting, forecasting and analysis
• Help improve the use of finance systems, planning models and reporting tools to strengthen insight and efficiency
• Document processes and support greater standardisation across FP&A and Business Services reporting activities

• Part‑qualified or newly qualified accountant (ACA / ACCA / CIMA), or equivalent relevant FP&A / commercial finance experience
• Strong analytical skills with the ability to interpret financial information and turn it into clear, actionable insight
• Good Excel and financial modelling capability, with confidence working with data and reporting tools
• Clear communication skills and the ability to work effectively with non‑finance stakeholders across central functions
• Experience in an FP&A, management accounting or commercial finance role

• Exposure to budgeting, forecasting and performance reporting processes
• Experience in a legal, professional services or other complex people‑cost‑led environment would be advantageous

• Curious, proactive and keen to understand the drivers behind financial performance
• Comfortable working with detail while maintaining awareness of the wider commercial context
• Well organised, collaborative and able to manage competing priorities in a fast‑paced environment
• Eager to learn, build business partnering capability and develop within FP&A

Our approach to our people is underpinned by our approach to diversity, inclusion and well‑being. Our ambition is to build a diverse and ambitious workforce that reflects all backgrounds and talents, and a workplace that is supportive and inclusive, recognises and nurtures talent, and has a strong sense of community between colleagues.

This means that everyone who either applies to or works for the firm is…