People Finance Analyst

People Finance Analyst

We're looking for a commercially minded People Finance Analyst to join our People team and play a key role in helping the business make confident, data- led decisions around our People costs.

Working alongside the Finance and People teams, you'll take ownership of key cost and income lines, ensuring high standards of management accounting, reconciliation, reporting, and forecasting.

You'll turn payroll, bonus, and pay rate data into meaningful commercial insight that supports business profitability, while embracing AI and emerging technology to spot trends and anomalies.

WHAT YOU'LL DO

• Take ownership of month-end management accounting for People cost lines, preparing monthly prepayments, accruals, journal postings, and balance sheet reconciliations.
• Deliver accurate, timely monthly P&L reporting and flash forecasts, providing meaningful variance analysis against budget, forecast, and prior year.
• Support the annual budgeting and quarterly forecasting processes by partnering with budget holders to review costs and drive strong cost control.
• Calculate, analyse, and report on monthly payroll, pay rates, and bonus numbers, partnering with our Operations team to help them achieve their targets.
• Build strong relationships with internal and external partners, using Excel and Business Objects to create clear reports and dashboards that aid business decision-making.
• Assist in managing our company fleet vehicles, monitoring lease, fuel, and repair costs while ensuring full policy and insurance compliance.
• Embrace AI and emerging technology to uncover trends and anomalies in People cost data, turning complex numbers into clear, actionable insights.
• Support ad-hoc analysis, reporting, and departmental initiatives driven by the wider corporate agenda.

WHAT YOU'LL BRING

• Part-qualified accountant (ACCA/CIMA) or equivalent experience in management accounting, ideally within a retail or multi-site environment.
• Strong core accounting knowledge, with hands-on experience in accruals, prepayments, variance analysis, and balance sheet reconciliations.
• High attention to detail when handling sensitive data such as payroll, pay rates, and bonus calculations.
• Advanced Excel skills and experience with BI reporting tools (such as Business Objects), paired with an appetite for using AI to improve analysis.
• The ability to turn complex financial data into clear commercial insight and build trusted relationships with non-finance stakeholders across HR and Operations.
• A proactive, hands-on approach to cost control, with the confidence to spot anomalies, solve problems, and support ad-hoc projects.

WHAT YOU'LL GAIN

• 25 days holiday plus bank holidays.
• Discretionary Bonus - We love to share our success with you!
• Access to Stream, to support your financial wellbeing needs, giving you more control and flexibility with your pay.
• Hybrid Working! 3 days office and 2 days off-site.
• Access to our TPS Perks which offers you a variety of saving and discount options.
• Buy & Sell Holiday scheme and Life Assurance.
• 20% staff discount, as well as discounts at Superdrug and Three Mobile.
• Round the clock support from our partnership with RetailTrust.
• Cycle to work scheme for those who don't mind riding up the hills of High Wycombe.

"We're a sociable bunch of down-to-earth people, who enjoy our work and each other's company"

Agencies: We are not accepting speculative CV's or profiles and kindly request that you refrain from contacting us.

The Perfume Shop is an equal opportunity employer that is committed to supporting diversity and inclusion within our work environment. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, colour, religion, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, national origin, genetics, disability, age, or veteran status. We will ensure that individuals with disabilities are provided reasonable accommodation to participate in the job application or interview process, to perform essential job functions, and to receive other benefits and privileges of employment.