Senior Finance Associate - London or Edinburgh

About Columbia Threadneedle Investments

Working at Columbia Threadneedle Investments you'll find growth and career opportunities across all of our businesses.

We're intentionally built to help you succeed. Our reach is expansive with a global team of 2,300 people working together. Our capability is diverse with more than 550 investment professionals sharing global perspectives across all major asset classes and markets. Our clients have access to a broad array of investment strategies, and we have the capability to create bespoke solutions matched to clients' specific requirements. Our unwavering focus on our clients and strong financial foundation connects each of our enterprise businesses — Ameriprise Financial, Columbia Threadneedle Investments and RiverSource Insurance and Annuities.

Job Description

Where you’ll fit in & what our team goals are…
In your role, within the EMEA/APAC Finance Business Partnering team, you will be responsible for a variety of regular and ad-hoc business finance support activities for the International Sales and Marketing business regions, including business analysis support, cost and headcount management analytics delivered with a can-do attitude and continuous process improvement mindset.

How you'll spend your time...

The EMEA/APAC Finance Business Partnering team within the Global Lead Finance Office of Columbia Threadneedle Investments team are responsible for all regional business support, including oversight of metrics/sales reporting, country profitability analysis, cost management and analytics, compensation schemes, headcount management, commentary, budgeting and forecasting, ad-hoc analysis, and business plans.  

You will report directly to the VP - Finance LFO. Your role will support a variety of Regional cost activities, liaising across Finance and with regional business leads to meet reporting and analytical deliverables. Key responsibilities will include: 

• Provide business partnering finance support for cost and headcount budgeting and planning, financial analysis and regular report production for the regional sales and marketing teams

• Oversight of the production of BAU financial cost and headcount reporting at senior management level

• Produce ad-hoc financial reports and analyses on a timely, accurate and consistent basis as required 

• Efficiently produce insightful and well thought out analytics

• Lead the continuous improvement of processes through understanding information flows and challenging current practices where necessary

• Develop and maintain relationships with the business areas they support along with other members of the Finance and HR teams to ensure qualitative, well thought out reporting from Finance in the eyes of the wider business

• Contribute to an environment where the fostering of good communication across teams is actively encouraged to enable sound understanding of the business and ensure effective and successful interaction of the Finance operating structure

• Increase Finance's profile throughout the organisation by the production of value added management information and the contribution of strong financial direction 

The project work would include but will not be limited to:

• New product / initiative business cases

• Process improvement on core tasks

• Control reviews and implementation of control recommendations on core processes

• Analysis of cost base

• Transitioning reporting processes away from Excel to tools including PowerBI, Qlikview and WD Adaptive Planning

To be successful in this role you will have...

• Broad experience working within a finance team, with strong experience of monthly management reporting and analysis, ideally in UK and US GAAP

• Excellent communicator with strong interpersonal skills and gravitas to facilitate effective working relationships with senior staff and management within the business including an ability to challenge the status quo 

• Problem solving skills and a desire to understand complex situations

• Able to advance multiple priorities simultaneously through strong work planning / project planning skills

• Client and commercial focus 

• Excellent analytical skills with intellect to both develop and challenge explanations and arguments 

• Good knowledge of and attention to detail 

• Experience working with global teams 

• Fully qualified accountant

• Strong Excel skills

If you also had this, it would be great…

• Good knowledge of financial services industry, processes and products, preferably gleaned from within an asset management organisation 

• Knowledge of finance systems including SQL, PowerBI, Essbase, Qlikview

Full timePermanentFinance

Columbia Threadneedle is a people business, and we recognise that our success is due to our talented people, who bring diversity of thought, complementary skills and capabilities. We are committed to fostering an inclusive and performance-based culture where everyone can belong, grow, contribute and realise their potential.

We appreciate that work-life balance is an important factor for many when considering their next move so please discuss any flexible working requirements directly with your recruiter.

Columbia Threadneedle Investments is an equal opportunity employer. We consider all qualified applicants without regard to racial or ethnic background, religion or belief, sex or gender, nationality, genetic information, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability, marital status, pregnancy or maternity or any other basis prohibited by law.

We are committed to fostering an inclusive and accessible recruitment process for individuals with disabilities. If you require a reasonable accommodation to aid your participation in the application or interview process, speak to your recruiter to discuss how we can support you.