Finance Analyst
Businesses survive or fail on the strength of their ability to accurately measure the way they perform in their sectors, and to make solid forecasts on how the market is going. This number-crunching is vital for choosing investment pathways, deciding on boosting or scaling back service streams, and making decisions about locations, staffing and all manner of opportunities and threats. It’s why the finance analyst plays such a pivotal role in any ambitious company.
The successful finance analyst will be able to see the big picture regarding the business’s performance, but they are also detail people, able to spot the beginnings of trends from the merest financial signal. They’ll be able to accurately model a range of potential responses, which can then be taken to the board to make informed decisions about future directions.
Skills required by finance analysts
Finance analyst jobs naturally require a thorough understanding of the way investment and business performance work, and will be able to distinguish patterns from outliers as they are analysing the data. Most positions demand CIMA, ACCA or ACA qualifications as a minimum with experience, but you might also require a CFA Charter.
Since you’ll be presenting cases to the directors to base decisions on, you’ll need to be able to condense extremely complex datasets into simple, readable and convincing reports and forecasts that can be relied upon. Finance analysts with a good track record in this area are highly sought after.
Finance Analyst Jobs in Leeds
A thriving city in West Yorkshire, Leeds has a long history going back to the Middle Ages, when it was a market town in a highly agricultural region. Textiles including wool and broadcloth were regularly traded and during the late 1700s, exports were becoming increasingly important to the city's economy.
The building of various railways and canals helped the city grow and by the mid 1800s it was well connected with the rest of the country.
During the Industrial Revolution, Leeds was responsible for a variety of innovations and it was home to a number of factories and mills. Meanwhile, agriculture continued to flourish in the region as well.
Since the 19th century, the city has changed significantly. Manufacturing has declined and the textiles industry has all but disappeared. These days, Leeds is known for its corporate and legal sectors, as well as a number of retail, luxury goods, media and finance companies - making it a great choice for those seeking Finance Analyst roles.
Various big-name businesses are based in Leeds, including Asda, Carlsberg UK, Optare and Capita. Yorkshire Post Newspapers Ltd and regional television stations like the BBC and ITV also call the city home, as well as some small commercial production companies.
The Bank of England's only UK subsidiary office is located in Leeds, while other financial institutions include Leeds Building Society and Yorkshire Bank. An array of call centres can also be found in the city.
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Finance analyst recruitment at Cast UK
When you’re looking for the type of finance analyst who can really get under the skin of your company’s performance and prospects, turn to Cast UK to find the right person. We have the details of incredibly talented finance analysts who are looking for a career move right now. Call us on 0333 121 3345 to talk to a consultant.
If you’re an experienced and qualified finance analyst, we want to hear from you so we can introduce you to some of the UK’s most forward-looking businesses. Register with us below to get started.
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