Financial Analyst, Marketing

This role is responsible for the accurate financial planning, reporting and analysis of Global Marketing and Overhead expenditures, providing the link between the Business and Corporate Planning functions. This critical team member will act as a finance business partner with select Global & Territory Marketing Teams (US-based and other select teams across our global business) supporting our monthly/quarterly/annual budget and forecasting processes and driving accountability of budgets and forecasts in alignment with our strategic goals and objectives. The role reports to the Director, Global Marketing FP&A.

• Own the financial planning processes for the marketing function within SIE, including the strategic plan, annual budget, and quarterly forecasts, ensuring alignment with business objectives
• Management of accurate Global Marketing team budget trackers, where client team budget and expenses are consistently tracked and reconciled, ensuring data integrity, completeness and clear variance explanations.
• Lead monthly meetings with marketing budget owners to ensure forecasts and actuals are accurate ahead of key submission deadlines.
• Submit accurate rolling forecasts into various planning tool systems within tight deadlines.
• Leverage systems and automated tools to improve value-add financial analysis and reporting capabilities.
• Prepare monthly Global Marketing finance reports, including actuals and commitments versus budget/forecast, along with value-add insights and variance analysis and commentary.
• Understand and highlight cost drivers and KPIs, under/over performance, trends and actions to drive improvement
• Extract, interpret and analyse financial data to identify significant trends and uncover insights in support of key initiatives and projects.
• Prepare detailed ad hoc expense analysis and reporting for FP&R team, leadership team and key partners for strategic decision-making.
• Identify opportunities for cost savings and efficiencies, providing actionable recommendations to leadership.
• Provide clear guidelines and explain accounting policies and principles to non-financial teams to drive the correct recognition of costs across product verticals and GL accounts, support consistent and robust reporting, and ensure budgets are accurately represented.
• Prepare monthly accruals and recharges for Accounting Team journal entry posts.
• Ad-hoc work and projects as required.

• Proven experience in finance/business analytics role (post qualified ACA/ACCA/CIMA or QBE)
• Flexible working, incl. working on-site in San Mateo office as needed (approx. 2 days per week - STC)

• Demonstrated 3-5 years of finance business partner experience in Sales/Marketing or other business function.
• Demonstrated FP&A experience or consistent track record of similar roles/tasks in Global/Pan regional company.
• Ability to work flexibly and accommodate global hours as needed - key offices located in the UK, US and Japan.
• Sophisticated proficiency in Microsoft Excel, PowerPoint, and other planning / reporting tools (e.g. Anaplan, Adaptive, SAP, Domo, Tableau etc.)
• Proven track record to quickly master new information systems, reporting tools, and applications.
• Continuous improvement in execution and change mentality, highly adaptable to evolving ways of working and flexible with changing priorities.
• Proactive and resourceful self-starter with drive and ambition that takes ownership to ensure successful outcomes.
• Customer-focused with ability to build and maintain effective working relationships with internal cross-functional teams and is capable of expertly working alongside senior collaborators across the wider business.
• Organised with ability to prioritise and multi-task (excellent time-management skills), and thrives under pressure in a dynamic, fast-paced environment and deliver against daring timelines (month, quarter, and year-ends).
• Excellent analytical, problem solving and troubleshooting abilities.
• Diligent with experience collecting, organising, and disseminating data and abundant information with accuracy under time pressure.
• Willingness to assist with a variety of tasks and work independently as well as collaboratively on a team.
• Experience in digital media, Internet, technology, or gaming industries a plus.

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