The Company

Established in 1995, SMS is a fully integrated energy infrastructure company which owns, installs, and manages carbon reduction (CaRe) assets, including smart meters, battery energy storage systems (BESS), and EV charge points.

Using its technology and data expertise, funding capability, and deep engineering skills, SMS provides total, innovative energy solutions for its customers. Through these services, it is changing how businesses and consumers use energy for the better, helping achieve a greener and more sustainable energy system. Through its range of innovative energy solutions, SMS is delivering the future of smart energy – working closely with private and public sector partners to de-carbonise the UK economy by 2050.

The SMS vision is to be at the heart of the low-carbon, smart energy revolution that is pivotal to realising a greener, more sustainable world. With over 25 years of heritage and experience, SMS has an exceptional understanding of the UK energy market and how it is changing. As leaders in delivering and funding smart energy infrastructure and other zero-carbon technologies required to decarbonise, SMS is delivering the future of smart energy – working closely with private and public sector partners to de-carbonise the UK economy by 2050. A trusted partner, SMS are uniquely positioned to help effect real and enduring transformation.

SMS’ purpose is to serve its customers and protect the environment. The immediate goal is carbon reduction, with the ultimate target of net-zero carbon emissions.

For further information on SMS plc, visit www.sms-plc.com/about-us

Background to Current Opportunity

Reporting to the Director of Financial Planning and Analysis, as Group Financial Planning and Analysis Manager, the individual will deliver and execute the FP&A practices across the Group. In doing so, the post-holder will closely collaborate and business partner with stakeholders from across the Group, including Divisional FCs, FDs and MDs.

The Group Financial Planning & Analysis Manager will co-ordinate and deliver budgeting, planning and strategy processes, helping to monitor performance against these and drive accountability across the organisation. The successful individual must be intellectually curious and detail-oriented, with a desire to continually improve financial and operational analysis to help inform and drive better decision making.

The post-holder will be responsible for the day-to-day delivery of all forecasting and budgeting for the Group, including timetable management, helping to prepare and present analysis to executive management, prepare supporting Board papers, and collaborating with the Director of FP&A and Executive Management to ensure appropriate targets across the business are set and monitored.

The Group Financial Planning & Analysis Manager will prepare, develop and assess ad-hoc financial and non-financial analysis to inform and drive decision making – working closely with Operations and Commercial functions.  This will include helping to evaluate the quantitative and qualitative aspects of investment opportunities or business cases, as well as helping to support on M&A and other Strategic opportunities.

The individual will work in collaboration with the wider finance team to ensure messaging and reporting is consistent across the Group.

SMS is a growing, innovative business and values diversity and different ways of thinking to ensure the company is moving forward effectively. The organisation represents an excellent opportunity for a motivated, talented accountant who wants to work in a high growth, AIM listed business environment. In addition, the business will provide a firm career platform with great opportunity for personal and professional development. It is envisaged that over time this role will develop and grow and therefore it is key that applicants are flexible and adaptable to those changes.

This is an exceptional opportunity to join a growing business which is leading the way in its field and to contribute to its future success by playing a key role in its journey.

The Individual

The role of Group Financial Planning & Analysis Manager requires a professionally qualified accountant who possesses excellent analytical skills, the ability to build productive relationships and the determination to play a key role in a fast-growing Plc. It is likely that the individual will have demonstrated a high level of achievement in their career to date, showing an eagerness to develop exposure to FP&A responsibilities in a previous role.

A summary of the key candidate requirements are as follows:

Skills & Experience

• Qualified Accountant (CA/ACA or equivalent)
• Ability to perform the essential functions of the job typically acquired through related experience
• Strong analytical skills – ability to research, compile, analyse and interpret large data sets efficiently to provide insightful, accurate analysis of complex financial data
• Strong financial modelling skills including advance Excel skills
• Knowledge of financial reporting systems (preferably D365) is a plus but not essential
• Robust accounting knowledge and a good understanding of the finance function in a group and/or PLC setting
• As the role is dynamic, a can-do attitude and strong organisational skills, with the ability to work to deadlines and prioritise work-load to deliver high quality work is essential
• Excellent communication skills, confidence to get out into the business to articulate financial matters to a non-financial audience and build effective working relationships across the Group
• Ability to take the initiative and drive continual improvement of processes, practices and analysis
• Strong presentation skills, able to use PowerPoint or similar products to develop high quality reports appropriate to a range of audiences
• Experience of problem solving and implementing process improvements, particularly in relation to internal reporting (e.g. efficient design of Excel reports)
• Experience of M&A beneficial
• Commercial curiosity and acumen – involved in understanding, analysing and questioning commercial areas and new strategic opportunities across the group
• High levels of Integrity: you’ll have access to sensitive information (e.g. market forecasts) hence must be trustworthy and honest, with an understanding of business sensitivities and confidentiality
• Diligent and detail-orientated - you’ll be preparing analysis on which business decisions are based so attention to detail is key
• Communication skills – You’ll deal with a range of stakeholders across the business, requiring the ability to build rapport and collaborate, as well as the ability to identify and present key findings succinctly
• Pragmatic and solutions driven - with the ability to combine being ‘in the detail’ with stepping back to see the ‘bigger picture’
• Organisational skills – personal efficiency, time management skills and the ability to prioritise competing demands
• Self-motivated and organised and a natural ‘roll your sleeves up and get on with it’ person
• Committed individual, displaying drive, ambition, and professionalism
• Role model: demonstrate the values and culture of the organisation

The Role

The Group Financial Planning & Analysis Manager plays a key role in the business, developing the FP&A practices across the Group. The Group Financial Planning & Analysis Manager will have an opportunity to directly influence budgeting, planning and strategy processes.

The main duties and responsibilities will involve:

• Co-ordinate and deliver the yearly budgeting processes covering timing, communications and reporting
• Manage and co-ordinate the timetables for the production of budgets and regular reforecasts for the Group, ensuring consistency of approach and alignment with strategic planning processes
• Prepare & review of reforecasting of the business - formally on a quarterly basis
• Monitor actuals against budget / reforecast to help identify trends, opportunities and risks within the business, to help inform future forecasts and to challenge and drive accountability within functions and divisions
• Analysis of both financial and non-financial information, identifying patterns, trends and opportunities for business growth or cost reduction
• Responsible for regularly updating and reviewing the Group’s long term Corporate Model, seeking ways to simplify and improve accuracy of forecasting
• Provide business partnering support to the senior leadership team and the Group Reporting team whilst establishing strong and effective relationships across all levels in the business
• Compile and monitor forecasting used for cash control, including weekly and monthly cash flow/forecast reporting on variances. Develop and drive improvements in the accuracy of cash forecasting
• Planning, building, and maintaining reporting structures within Power BI/D365 to ensure timely and accurate information is available to facilitate data-driven decisions
• Implementation and support to other departments for financial modelling providing financial analysis and guidance on activities, plans, targets and business drivers
• Developing relationships around the business to further develop the role and profile of the Group FP&A / finance department
• Work on and provide ad hoc analysis and support to finance / M&A projects, as and when required
• Via detailed analysis, help assess the financial risk of any and all business operations, investments, and innovations
• Continual focus on improving financial and operational analysis to help inform and drive decision making
• Any other duties as required

Package and Remuneration

• Basic Salary: £Competitive
• Bonus: Discretionary up to 10%
• Pension: Up to 5% matched company contribution
• Healthcare: Medicash health plan offering a wide variety of benefits
• Holiday Entitlement: 25 days per year (with additional 8 public holidays) increasing to 30 days after 5 years of service (includes options to buy and sell)
• Working Hours:  38.75 per week
• Location: Glasgow office (Hybrid flexible model)