Head of Strategic Costs and Business Performance, Abrdn
Savings & investment company
Open for applications
Savings & investment company
1001+ employees
Open for applications
1001+ employees
Company mission
Helping clients to prepare for the future
Role
Who you are
- The role will require a highly impactful, credible individual to influence effectively at Senior Management level in a complex global business
- Asset management or financial services background essential, with sound knowledge and experience of FP&A, ideally within an Asset Manager/ Wealth Manager
- Understanding of financial systems and processes (Power BI & Anaplan experience preferable)
- Proven commercial acumen with strong communication skills
- Excellent analytical ability with good attention to detail, prepared to roll up the sleeves to understand the complex drivers of the business
- Strong time management skills, ability to prioritise workload and operate to strict reporting deadlines
- Demonstrate credibility with stakeholders (relationships, influence and confidence)
- Experience of leading and implementing change
What the job involves
- This is a fantastic opportunity for someone who has experience in FP&A at a Group level in complex organisations, or with detailed experience in Asset Management or Wealth Management, with an excellent understanding of financial markets
- The role is to provide 'real time' commercial insight and analytics, be a trusted adviser to the Group CFO, Group Financial Controller, Director of Group FP&A, Technology exec, Functional Heads and Segment CFOs and successfully influence business decisions to maximise shareholder value and customer outcomes
- It is this mix of analytical, commercial and communication skills which are at the heart of our successful finance function
- As Head of Business Performance, you will work closely at a senior level with Finance colleagues and key business stakeholders to own and develop FP&A processes, delivering critical MI, challenge, and planning and forecasting outputs
- The role holder will bring consistency of processes, analysis and insight across aberdeen group Finance, providing timely and high-quality outputs in terms of content, structure and format
- As the Head of Strategic Costs, you will need to leverage the digitally enabled commercial cost insight and analytics to support delivery of aberdeen group’s strategy and be a trusted business partner to the Functional Heads (including Technology)
- With a strong strategic and commercial focus and mind-set, you will work closely with the Functions & Technology businesses to build a bridge through to all Finance reporting and forecasting, creating a real and active strategic partnership
- Support delivery of overall FP&A processes, delivering critical MI, challenge, and commercially focussed planning and forecasting outputs
- Support and develop robust monthly reporting and forecasts, engaging and collaborating across Segments, Functions and Finance teams as required
- Support the functional cost allocation process ensuring compliance with transfer pricing guidelines and consumption-based charging methodology
- Significant and noticeable step change in the quality, impact and timing of Plans and Forecasts as well as monthly and quarterly Business Performance reporting
- Provide analysis and insight that links financials to business strategies
- Building and maintaining key partner and customer relationships, while challenging and influencing the business to maximise potential (Identify growth opportunities and key risks to performance)
- Continuous and proactive review of markets, competitors and strategy to inform forecasts including all financial opportunities and risks
- Proactively supporting the transformation of FP&A and Finance to ensure a ‘future fit’ platform with appropriate governance, controls and functionality
- Ensuring delivery of not just the ‘WHATs’ but also ‘HOW’, contributing to a material shift in the Finance culture
- Be a role model to demonstrate the key behaviours expected in Finance
Application process
- End Date: March 31, 2025
Salary benchmarks
Our take
Abrdn, formerly known as Standard Life Aberdeen, is a global investment company helping its clients to save and invest for their futures. It operates three businesses - Investments, Adviser and Personal - and has been operating since way back in 1825.
Nowadays, atop its investment and advice services, the company delivers two platforms for financial advisers. The first, Wrap, enables users to build and manage portfolios for each client. It also includes SIPP drawdown capabilities - which means advisers can choose the best platform charges when client assets are at their highest. The second, Elevate, encompasses a suite of tools for advisers to save time and make sure their clients are informed.
Recently, Abrdn announced "adviserOS" which represents an upgrade to their platform offerings. There is limited information to go on, but the company claims this new venture will be more simple and data-led, as well as require less admin. It will be interesting to see if this new release keeps pace with tech developments across the investment space, and allows abrdn to continue as an innovator.
Freddie
Company Specialist at Welcome to the Jungle
Company
Company HQ
Edinburgh New Town, Edinburgh, UK
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