Financial Planning & Analysis Manager

Financial Planning & Analysis Manager

Hybrid working - Leeds or Harrogate Area

£60,000 to £65,000 Basic (Depending on Experience)

Lookers Motor Group is seeking a commercially astute and analytically driven FP&A Manager to join our dynamic finance team. This is an exciting time to join the business as we build a best-in-class Group FP&A and Centre of Excellence function.

This role is pivotal in shaping financial strategy, driving performance, and providing strategic insight to support business growth through robust forecasting, modelling, and stakeholder engagement.

As we expand the FP&A team's capabilities, we are looking for someone with a strong foundation in reporting governance and who can influence at all levels to help embed robust forecasting and reporting processes across the wider finance function and business.

You will work closely with senior leaders, the CFO, divisional finance teams, and group finance to distil business drivers, forecast growth and support strategic decision-making.

Forecasting & Strategic Planning

• Own the annual forecasting and planning calendar, ensuring timely submissions from divisional finance teams and reviewing/challenging inputs.
• Translate business strategy into financial performance through the implementation of the 3-year plan.
• Lead consolidated in-month and rolling forecasts, incorporating insights from Heads of Divisional Finance.
• Manage capex forecasting in collaboration with the Property Director.

Performance Analysis & Reporting

• Produce annual budget and forecasting packs for ExCo and the wider business.
• Deliver insightful monthly reporting & board reports with variance analysis, KPIs, and commentary.
• Identify & track trends, risks, and opportunities across revenue streams and cost centres.
• Track cost-saving initiatives.

Business Partnering

• Present financial performance and forecasts to senior leadership, offering clear recommendations for improvement.
• Collaborate with divisional finance, head office functional leads, and the Executive team to build forecasts and challenge assumptions.
• Support governance and control around cost and capex spend with functional directors and ExCo.
• Provide financial input into strategic business cases.

Continuous Improvement

• Help embed processes, controls, and governance around the evolving finance rhythm, including month end timetables, meeting cadence and reporting packs.
• Design and maintain dynamic financial models to support strategic planning and scenario analysis.
• Refine forecasting templates across multiple dealership locations and business units.
• Be recognised as a leader in best-practice financial processes and controls.
• Support the Head of FP&A in establishing a business planning and reporting cadence, ensuring buy-in from ExCo and the wider business.

Key Skills & Experience

• Qualified accountant (ACA, ACCA, CIMA or equivalent).
• Proven experience in Group FP&A or a Commercial Finance role.
• Experience in automotive, retail, or multi-site environments is advantageous.
• Strong financial modelling skills and advanced Excel proficiency; experience with BI tools is a plus.
• Excellent communication and stakeholder management skills.
• Ability to influence cross-functional teams and drive performance improvement.

About us

We are one of the top three automotive retailers in the UK, proudly representing 32 manufacturer brands, selling a huge range of new and used vehicles from over 150 dealerships across the UK and Ireland.

We believe our people are our greatest asset, and we’re committed to recognising the valuable contribution each person makes. That’s why we continue to invest in a leading rewards and benefits package designed to support your career, wellbeing, and life outside of work.

Core Benefits:

• Competitive salaries with structured pay scales and progression as you grow within the business
• Generous annual leave that increases with your length of service
• Enhanced family leave, including 6 months’ full pay for maternity and adoption leave, and 2 weeks’ full pay for paternity leave
• Access to Techscheme for discounted technology purchases with flexible payments

Health & Wellbeing:

• Eyecare vouchers to help cover vision care needs
• Smart Health – 24/7 access to GP services to support your mental and physical wellbeing
• Dental insurance for everyday dental care and unexpected treatments
• Critical illness cover for peace of mind during life's most challenging moments

Financial Wellbeing:

• MyView PayNow – access a portion of your pay as you earn, with features to stream, save, and track your money through a user-friendly app
• Will writing services to help plan for the future
• Flexible life assurance options and partner life assurance for added protection

Leisure & Lifestyle:

• Discounted gym memberships to support an active lifestyle
• Travel insurance to help you explore with confidence
• Access to home and technology vouchers
• bYond card and a wide range of exclusive retail and lifestyle discounts

We strongly believe in nurturing and providing our people with specific manufacturer brand and management training to enhance career development opportunities. We have a great bunch of people, and we like to celebrate and encourage success at all levels.

Lookers and Charles Hurst are an equal opportunities employer. We are committed to a working environment that is free from discrimination, is inclusive, and empowers our people to bring their whole self to work and reach their full potential.

If your application is successful, we will conduct relevant employment checks prior to you commencing employment with us. These will include verifying your recent employment, address, credit history and a standard criminal record check. For roles that require you to drive, a driving licence check will also be carried out. Please note, all offers of employment are made subject to a 6 month probation period commencing from your start date.