United Utilities
Finance Analyst

How your CV stacks up
Upload your CV to see how well it fits this job role
?%
Finance Analyst | Hybrid | Warrington | £38,346
United Utilities is looking for a commercially minded Finance Analyst to join a high-performing finance team supporting a key operational business area. This vacancy has arisen following the promotion of the current postholder, demonstrating the genuine career development opportunities available within the team and wider organisation.
This is an excellent opportunity for someone progressing through their AAT, ACA, ACCA or CIMA qualification to gain exposure to senior stakeholders, influence business decisions and develop both their technical and commercial finance skills within one of the UK's largest utility organisations.
The role combines structured monthly reporting, forecasting and planning activities with a reactive operational environment, meaning you'll need strong organisational skills, a calm and pragmatic approach, and the ability to manage competing priorities. We're looking for someone who thrives in a fast-paced setting, adapts quickly to new processes and ways of working, and enjoys building strong relationships while making a tangible impact through finance.
What You'll Be Doing
In this role, you'll:
- Partner closely with approximately 20 stakeholders, acting as a trusted financial advisor and providing meaningful insight to support operational and financial performance.
- Deliver accurate financial analysis, variance reporting and performance insights, monitoring financial KPIs and performance trends to support business decision-making.
- Prepare and maintain spend control reporting for senior leadership, providing clear and actionable financial commentary.
- Partner with budget holders to prepare budgets and forecasts, challenging assumptions, analysing cost drivers and identifying risks to ensure robust financial planning.
- Support month-end activities including journals, accruals, prepayments, reconciliations, financial controls and external audit requirements.
- Translate complex financial information into clear business insights, confidently challenging assumptions, costs and performance outcomes to support informed decision-making.
- Hold operational teams accountable to agreed financial and performance measures while maintaining a collaborative and solutions-focused approach.
- Drive improvements in reporting, data quality and operational efficiency, supporting finance transformation initiatives, embedding new ways of working and adapting to evolving business requirements.
Reasons to use Rodeo
I’m in my final year doing Economics and I don’t know whether to apply for grad schemes now or do a masters first. What do you think?
Honest answer — it depends on where you want to end up. A lot of top grad schemes (Big 4, civil service, banking) don’t need a masters. Let’s look at the ones you’d be competitive for now, and we can decide if a masters actually adds anything.
Also worth knowing: most autumn 2026 applications are open now. Timing matters more than you think.
Start with a chat, not a search bar
Grad scheme, placement, apprenticeship? Not sure what you want yet — that's fine. Your agent talks it through with you and turns "I have no idea" into a shortlist.
Graduate Consultant — 2026 Scheme
Why you're a good match
StrongYour economics background and your summer at a regional bank line up with what PwC looks for on the consulting scheme. Applications close in four weeks.
See breakdownIt searches the market for you
Every day your agent scans the market matching roles against what actually matters to you, not just keywords on a CV.
Why you're a good match
You’ve got the grades and the economics background, and your bank internship is exactly the experience this scheme looks for. Apply soon — deadlines close within the month.
Experience fit
Your summer at the bank plus your econometrics coursework map directly to the day-one responsibilities on this scheme — client modelling, market briefings, and deal support.
Only hits
No noise. No "maybe this fits." Just roles with a clear explanation of why they're right — and where to focus when applying.
Skills & Experience Required
Essential
- Experience in management accounting, financial analysis or a similar finance role, including reporting, budgeting and forecasting responsibilities.
- Strong stakeholder management and business partnering skills, with the confidence to challenge and influence operational managers and support commercial decision-making.
- Excellent communication, organisational and prioritisation skills, with the ability to manage multiple demands and translate complex financial information into meaningful business insight.
- Adaptable, resilient and comfortable working in a fast-paced environment undergoing continual change and improvement.
Desirable
- Working towards an accounting qualification (AAT, ACA, ACCA or CIMA).
- Experience working within a large, complex organisation, partnering with multiple stakeholders across operational business areas.
- Exposure to ERP systems, reporting tools or Power BI.


Get help with your application
Your very own career expert that helps elevate your application to the next level.
Why This Role?
At United Utilities, you'll have the opportunity to play a visible and influential role within a key operational area of the business, partnering with around 20 stakeholders to drive performance and support decision-making. Combining technical finance with commercial business partnering, you'll gain exposure to budgeting, forecasting, performance analysis and operational finance within a large and complex organisation.
Alongside excellent opportunities for career progression, you'll gain exposure to large-scale operations, business transformation initiatives and senior stakeholder engagement, helping you build the experience needed to take the next step in your finance career.
Benefits
- 26 days' annual leave (rising to 30 after four years) plus 8 bank holidays
- Competitive pension with up to 14% employer contribution and life cover
- Up to 7.5% performance-related bonus and recognition awards
- Company-funded healthcare plan
- MyGymDiscounts: savings on gyms and digital fitness
- Access to Best Doctors, Salary Finance and Wealth at Work
- Retail deals and discounts
- EVolve car scheme
- Employee Assistance Programme and mental health first aiders
- ShareBuy scheme
- MORE Choices flexible benefits
- Enhanced parental leave
If you're a Finance Analyst, Assistant Accountant or part-qualified finance professional looking to develop your business partnering skills, influence operational decision-making and accelerate your career within a leading UK organisation, we'd love to hear from you.
“It took my CV and asked me questions relevant to understanding what kind of jobs to suggest for me. Suggestions were almost perfect. Jobs were exactly what I’ve been looking for.”
Jessica, London
Skills