Finance Analyst – Portfolio Operations and Cost Governance

Advert Closes: Tuesday 19th May

We’re looking for a Finance Analyst to support portfolio operations, cost governance, financial planning and reporting across the Urban portfolio. If you enjoy working with complex data, uncovering trends, building insightful reports and helping teams make informed decisions, this role offers a great opportunity to develop your impact across both operating costs and capital spend.

You’ll play a key role in providing visibility, accuracy and challenge across Urban‑wide costs and BAU Capex, strengthening financial discipline and supporting effective planning across the business.

You’ll play a key role in providing visibility, accuracy and challenge across Urban‑wide costs and BAU Capex, strengthening financial discipline and supporting effective planning across the business.

• Take ownership of tracking and reporting the Urban cost base, including headcount, controllable non‑payroll costs, overheads, GP/central allocations, discretionary spend and project support costs.

• Maintain a clear view of run‑rates, cost trends and key drivers across Urban.

• Provide reliable data and insight to support cost governance and decision‑making.

• Manage the end‑to‑end monthly BAU Capex reporting process across Urban.

• Monitor spend against budgets, phasing and forecasted cashflows.

• Track project progress, completed works and timing implications.

• Support governance processes including approvals, reviews and post‑completion assessments.

• Support the development of annual budgets and the three‑year capital plan, consolidating inputs and validating assumptions.

• Lead the preparation of Urban cost forecasts, budgets and multi‑year planning models.

• Analyse variances between actual and planned costs, providing clear explanations.

• Provide insight into risks, opportunities and emerging pressures to senior stakeholders.

• Maintain robust assumptions for both operating cost and capex forecasting.

• Lead scenario analysis and cost sensitivity modelling to support decision‑making.

• Produce high‑quality dashboards and reports covering Urban costs and BAU Capex.

• Highlight risks and opportunities ensuring early and proactive escalation.

• Ensure compliance with cost controls, capital governance and approval processes.

• Maintain accurate financial data across ERP and reporting systems, ensuring correct coding and adherence to governance standards.

• Support the transition of BAU Capex reporting onto digital tools, identifying opportunities to streamline and enhance reporting.

• Ensure compliance with financial policies and joint venture agreements.

• Part‑qualified, qualified or PQ accountant (ACA / ACCA / CIMA) or equivalent finance experience.

• High level of analytical capability with advanced Excel proficiency; Power BI experience preferred.

• Excellent attention to detail with curiosity to understand cost drivers and operational trends.

• Clear communicator able to explain financial information simply to both finance and non‑finance colleagues.

• Experience in cost reporting, capital reporting or complex P&L environments is advantageous.

• Collaborative team player with strong interpersonal skills.

• Positive, adaptable and collaborative working style.

• Analytical mindset with a problem‑solving approach.

• Meticulous attention to detail with awareness of broader business impacts.

• Comfortable working with complex datasets.

• Able to build effective relationships across finance and non‑finance teams.

• Confident contributor who supports continuous improvement.

• IT skills including high proficiency in Excel.

We are a proud disability confident employer and operate the offer of interview scheme Disability Confident employer scheme - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk).

We are happy to offer alternative application methods or formats and can be flexible on our process to enable you to have the best opportunity.

If you have any questions about our recruitment process or would like to talk about adjustments, please contact us directly, or at careers@thecrownestate.co.uk

Please note that if we receive a high volume of applications, we may close this advert early. We encourage you to apply as soon as possible.