Smart Pension
Head of Financial Planning & Analysis
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Head of Financial Planning & Analysis
Head of Financial Planning & Analysis (FP&A) – Teleworking
About Smart
At Smart, our mission is to transform retirement, savings, and financial wellbeing, across all generations, around the world.
Our cloud-native digital platform is revolutionising how people save for their futures—putting customers first through innovation, technology, and lasting impact.
About the Role
We are seeking an experienced and commercially minded Head of Financial Planning & Analysis (FP&A) to join our growing team and help shape the future of financial strategy.
Reporting directly to the Group Finance Director, you will lead financial planning, forecasting, budgeting, and performance reporting across the business. As a senior partner in Finance, you will provide strategic financial insight, guide senior leadership in forward-thinking decision-making, and drive rigorous planning processes that empower Smart to achieve its ambitious goals.
This is a collaborative role that demands requisite expertise, strong business partnering skills, and the ability to influence stakeholders across functions—a true financial change-maker.
Key Responsibilities
Financial Planning & Forecasting
- Lead the annual budgeting, forecasting, and long-range planning processes.
- Develop and maintain robust financial models to support both strategic and operational decision-making.
- Deliver precise forecasts across revenue, costs, cash flow, and profitability.
- Foster continuous improvement in forecasting accuracy and planning methodologies.
Business Partnering
- Serve as a trusted financial advisor to senior stakeholders across the business.
- Provide commercial insights, analysis, and guidance to drive performance improvements.
- Challenge assumptions and offer data-backed recommendations on investments, projects, and growth strategies.
- Build strong, transparent relationships between Finance and other business areas.
Data & Analytics
- Lead a team of four Data Professionals, responsible for BI reporting and analytics.
- Collaborate with the Lead Data Analyst to elevate the team’s impact—transitioning from foundational data work to advanced, business-maximising insights.
- Prioritise and optimise data requests from across the company to enhance efficiency.
- Ensure finance-wide alignment, maintaining quality and consistency in outputs.
Reporting & Performance Management
- Produce high-quality management reports, KPIs, and financial performance analyses.
- Present clear commentary on financial trends, risks, and opportunities.
- Support the Executive team and Board in reporting requirements.
- Implement a data-driven approach to business performance management.
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Strategic Finance
- Assist in developing and executing the organisation’s strategic and financial plans.
- Evaluate commercial opportunities, investments, and business cases.
- Provide financial modelling and scenario analysis to underpin key decisions.
- Identify ways to optimise efficiency, profitability, and overall business performance.
Process Improvement
- Implement enhancements to FP&A processes, systems, and reporting.
- Support evolving financial planning tools, models, and technology.
- Promote best-practice standards in budgeting, forecasting, and performance tracking.
Leadership & Team Management
- Act as an emergent leader, fostering a high-performance FP&A culture.
- Operate as a mentor and coach, ensuring high-quality financial outputs and monitoring team development.
- Directly manage team priorities, resources, and task allocation to meet business demands.
Who We Are Looking For
To do this pivotal role effectively, you’ll bring:
Essential Criteria
- Qualified Accountant: Preferably ACA, ACCA, or CIMA (or equivalent).
- Significant FP&A experience: Including commercial finance and strategic financial planning.
- Demonstrated success in leading budgeting, forecasting, and financial project management.
- Proven ability to partner with senior stakeholders in decision-making processes.
- Advanced financial modelling and analytical skills, leveraging data for informed insights.
- Experience using Anaplan for finance maturity and operations.
- Exceptional communication skills—transforming complex financial data into engaging business narratives.
- Strong stakeholder management, influencing, and problem-solving capabilities.
**Desirable”
Our ideal candidate may also have:
- Prior experience in fintech, financial services, or high-growth technology environments.
- Due diligence, M&A, or investment analysis exposure.
- Experience supporting finance transformations or process optimisations.
- Knowledge of business intelligence or reporting tools.
A forward-thinking attitude and willingness to learn are valued above tick-box experience.
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Who We Are
We partner with governments and financial institutions in the UK and beyond, using technology to empower people to save smarter, retire happier, and achieve financial confidence. We shape financial futures, one smart decision at a time.
Culture
At Smart, innovation, judgement, and customer focus drive every action. Our world-class team operates in a culture that:
- Values purpose beyond profit—impactfully transforming society’s future.
- Encourages limitless growth in both technical and personal development—with time on our hands for meaningful projects (check our sabbatical policy!).
- Embodies genuine connection across teams, making work life more than routine.
Read what our colleagues love about Smart on LinkedIn Life or Glassdoor.
Benefits
Our mission extends beyond business: We are invested in your happiness and growth. Core Benefits:
- 25 days’ holiday—growing with tenure.
- £500** annual training budget** for professional self-improvement.
- Workplace wellbeing programmed in:
- Premium private healthcare (including dental, eye care, and Employee Assistance Programme EAP).
- Three-months’ sick pay with enhanced coverage.
- Six-months’ fully paid maternity leave (and three weeks’ paid paternity.
- Accidental death cover in service.
- A five-week sabbatical after five years of fulfilling work—fully paid, and entirely accommodating.
- Rewarding discounts: Enjoy 50% off gift orders from our sister company, Arena Flowers, Britain’s most ethical florist.
What We Are Building Together
Smart is not just fun and flexible—we’re a financial ally committed to diversity and equity. We thrive when our workforce is inclusive, driven by a wide array of perspectives, and Dedicated to benefitting the nervous financial lives of smart investors.
We renounce bias. From onboarding through your career here, we are ready to make sure your experience is fulfilling, secure, and connected to extraordinary purpose.
If you’re someone who believes the best impact happens when collaboration aligns with ambition, and if you’re ready to master our work ethos, then—you might be our next move.
Join us. Chart the course for a brighter financial future, one transaction, one analysis, one restaurant-at-the-office news at Smart.
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