Senior Financial Analyst
- Job grade: Other
- Contract type: Permanent
- Business area: TEC - Finance
- Type of role: Finance
- Working pattern: Full-time
- Number of jobs available: 1
Location
About the job
Job summary
Basis: Permanent, full time, 36 hours per week
London-based employees receive an additional £3,217 London weighting.
A £312 tax-free working from home allowance is also payable annually.
Location: London, Edinburgh, Belfast or Cardiff (Hybrid – minimum 2 days in office) or Remote (UK)
Benefits: Outstanding benefits including Civil Service Pension Scheme, flexible working, 28+ days holiday, and more.
About the Electoral Commission
The Electoral Commission is the UK’s independent body overseeing elections and regulating political finance. Everything we do is about ensuring trust, participation, and integrity in the democratic process.
As we continue to deliver our five-year Corporate Plan, the Commission is building on a period of growth and change, expanding our workforce and modernising how we deliver our services to better support the needs of a changing democracy. As our organisation develops and adapts to meet future challenges, this post will play a vital part in supporting that progress and helping ensure we remain responsive to the democratic needs of voters, campaigners, parties and electoral administrators across the UK.
Job description
About the role
We are seeking an experienced and qualified Senior Financial Analyst to join our Financial Planning & Analysis (FP&A) team.
This is a varied and strategically important role that goes beyond traditional financial analysis. Alongside leading complex financial planning, forecasting, modelling and analysis, you will work in partnership with senior leaders across the Electoral Commission, providing expert financial insight and constructive challenge that supports evidence-based decision-making and the effective stewardship of public funds.
You’ll play a key role in the Commission’s annual budget setting, medium-term financial planning, in-year forecasting and Supply Estimates processes, helping to shape financial strategy and resource allocation across the organisation. Working in a complex and evolving environment, you’ll also identify opportunities to improve financial reporting, management information and financial processes, ensuring decision-makers have timely, accurate and meaningful financial insight.
Unlike many Senior Financial Analyst roles, this position offers regular exposure to Executive Team and Board-level reporting, giving you the opportunity to influence organisational decisions and contribute to the delivery of the Commission’s strategic priorities.
As a senior member of the team, you’ll also support the development of colleagues, including line management of the Finance Apprentice, making this an excellent opportunity to further develop your leadership capability.
Key responsibilities include:
- Leading annual budgeting, forecasting and medium-term financial planning processes.
- Delivering detailed financial analysis, modelling and scenario planning to support strategic decisions.
- Building strong relationships with budget holders and senior stakeholders, providing expert financial advice and challenge.
- Producing insightful management reporting, variance analysis and performance commentary.
- Supporting business cases, investment appraisals and organisational change initiatives.
- Developing and improving financial models, dashboards and reporting tools.
- Coaching and supporting colleagues, including the Finance Apprentice, to strengthen capability across the function.
About the team
The FP&A team sits at the heart of the Commission’s financial planning and decision-making, providing the insight, analysis and business partnering that supports the delivery of organisational priorities.
You’ll be joining a small, collaborative and highly supportive team where knowledge sharing, openness and continuous improvement are central to the way we work. With no unnecessary hierarchy, colleagues work closely together, providing regular opportunities to learn from one another and contribute across a broad range of financial activities.
Our FP&A function is different from many found in other organisations. Rather than focusing solely on financial analysis, the team brings together FP&A, Finance Business Partnering and Project Finance, giving you exposure to the full financial planning cycle. You’ll work alongside experienced Finance Business Partners, the FP&A Accountant and Project Finance colleagues, contributing to everything from strategic planning and budgeting through to organisational reporting and business partnering.
The team works closely with senior leaders across the Commission and is recognised as a trusted partner that provides robust financial advice, constructive challenge and meaningful insight. This breadth of responsibility, combined with regular exposure to Executive Team and Board-level work, makes the role an excellent opportunity for someone looking to broaden their strategic finance experience.
Person specification
Who we’re looking for
We’re looking for an experienced, professionally qualified accountant who combines strong technical expertise with excellent business partnering and communication skills.
You’ll have significant experience in FP&A and be comfortable working in a complex public sector environment, where you’ll use financial insight to influence strategic decisions, support organisational priorities and build trusted relationships with senior stakeholders.
You’ll enjoy solving complex financial problems and translating technical financial information into clear, practical advice for colleagues who may not have a finance background. Equally, you’ll be someone who works collaboratively, shares knowledge openly and enjoys supporting the development of others.
We're particularly interested in candidates who can demonstrate:
- CCAB, CIMA or equivalent professional accountancy qualification.
- Strong financial modelling and advanced Excel capabilities.
- The ability to influence and challenge senior stakeholders effectively.
- Strong understanding of public sector finance including; estimates, governance and value for money principles.
- Excellent communication skills with the ability to explain complex financial issues to non-finance audiences.
- A collaborative approach and a commitment to developing colleagues and sharing expertise.
Benefits
Why work for us?
The Role:
This is an exciting opportunity to take on a senior analytical role with significant organisational impact. You will work closely with senior leaders across the Commission, providing insight and challenge that directly influences strategic decision-making.
The role offers exposure to a broad range of financial and organisational priorities, from long-term planning and resource allocation through to business case development and transformation initiatives. It is an excellent opportunity for an experienced finance professional looking to further develop their strategic, leadership and business partnering capabilities.
The Office:
Our offices provide welcoming, collaborative spaces where colleagues can connect, share ideas and work together across teams. Whether based in London, Belfast, Cardiff, Edinburgh, you will be part of a supportive working environment that balances the benefits of in-person collaboration with the flexibility of hybrid working.
The Benefits:
We offer a strong total reward package, including:
Flexible working and hybrid model for office-based staff, with a minimum of 40% of working time spent in the office
Flexi-time scheme, allowing flexible hours with the option to accrue and take flexi leave
28 rising to 30 days annual leave + bank holidays
Civil Service pension scheme (28.97% employer contribution)
Performance-related pay
Things you need to know
Artificial intelligence
Selection process details
How to apply
We are committed to fair and inclusive recruitment. To help reduce unconscious bias and ensure all applicants are assessed solely on their skills, knowledge and experience, we use an anonymous recruitment process.
When applying, please provide an anonymised CV which omits your protected characteristics and any personally identifiable information:
Do not include:
- Your name, address, phone number, email or other contact details
- Your date of birth or age
- Gender, ethnicity, nationality or other personal identifiers
- A photo of yourself
- Educational dates (as these indicate age)
- Primary education details
Do include:
- Your employment history including employers and dates of employment
- Explanation for gaps in your history
- Your duties, responsibilities and achievements
If your CV contains personal details (such as your name or contact information), we will be unable to consider your application. Please double-check your documents before submitting, including the file name you use to save and upload your CV.
Supporting disabled applicants
The Electoral Commission is proud to be a Level 2 Disability Confident Employer. As part of this commitment, we aim to prioritise interviews for disabled applicants who meet the essential criteria listed in the job description.
There may, however, be occasions where it is not practicable or appropriate to interview all disabled applicants who meet the essential criteria. For example, during periods of exceptionally high application volumes or seasonal recruitment activity, the Commission may need to limit the overall number of interviews offered to both disabled and non-disabled applicants.
If you have a disability and would like to be considered under this commitment, please indicate this when you apply. We also welcome requests for reasonable adjustments at any stage of the recruitment process or within the workplace.
Key dates
- Application deadline:11th November 2026 (23:59)
- Assessment Centre: 25th November
- Interviews (2nd stage): Week commencing 30th November
- Anticipated start date: January / Feburary 27 depending on notice period.
Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.
Security
Nationality requirements
This job is broadly open to the following groups:
- UK nationals
- nationals of the Republic of Ireland
- nationals of Commonwealth countries who have the right to work in the UK
- nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities with settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS) (opens in a new window)
- nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities who have made a valid application for settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS)
- individuals with limited leave to remain or indefinite leave to remain who were eligible to apply for EUSS on or before 31 December 2020
- Turkish nationals, and certain family members of Turkish nationals, who have accrued the right to work in the Civil Service
Working for the Civil Service
Diversity and Inclusion
Apply and further information
Contact point for applicants
Job contact :
- Name : Talent Acquisition Team
- Email : recruitment@electoralcommission.org.uk
Recruitment team
- Email : recruitment@electoralcommission.org.uk
Further information
At the Electoral Commission, we are committed to delivering fair, inclusive, and transparent recruitment. Our recruitment practices are guided by Civil Service values and comply with the Equality Act 2010 and other relevant legislation.
If you have concerns about the way a recruitment process has been conducted, we encourage you to raise them with us.
How to Make a Complaint
If you are dissatisfied with any aspect of our recruitment process, you can contact us directly by email:
recruitment@electoralcommission.org.uk
Please include the following information:
The job title or reference number
A clear explanation of your concern
Any relevant supporting information
Your preferred contact details
We aim to respond to all complaints within two working days.
Our Commitment
All complaints are treated seriously and in confidence. They are handled in line with our Recruitment Policy and the relevant provisions of the Equality Act 2010, Employment Rights Act 1996, and the Data Protection Act 2018.
If you require this information in an alternative format, or need additional support, please contact us at recruitment@electoralcommission.org.uk or call 020 7271 0500.
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