Cadent Gas Ltd
At Cadent we’re excited to be part of the future of UK energy!  We’ve got a clear roadmap that will drive our performance to the forefront of our industry and support the UK government in achieving its net zero targets by 2050.
We’re making a difference through innovation and new ways of working. Together we’re shaping a cleaner, greener future for our 11 million customers whom we put at the heart of everything we do.
Job Purpose:
We have an exciting opportunity for a Business Planning Specialist to join our team.
The Business Planning Specialist plays a vital role within the finance team and will coordinate all financial planning activities including forecasts, budgets and longer term operational & strategic business plans. You will lead on the delivery of change across the CFO function and will role-model new ways of working whilst owning the delivery of key outcomes to drive the improvement of long-term business capabilities.
As well as the above the team lead in providing financial modelling expertise and support for regulatory plan submissions as it also manages the core data for Financial Plans with the Enterprise planning tool; SAP BPC. We therefore need someone who can accurately analyse key regulatory & financial metrics/ratios to facilitate informed decision-making regarding complex issues.
What you'll get to work on:
- Co-ordinate Financial Planning processes by setting accurate and deliverable timetables, communicating transparent assumptions, reviewing and setting key performance metrics, designing and improving template reports and providing guidance to ensure delivery to agreed timescales and customer requirements.
- Responsible for overseeing the Financial Plan and Forecast upload processes into SAP BPC, including central assumptions, checking uploads agree to control totals and providing regular updates.
- Be Cadent’s SAP BPC super-user delivering training to our local finance / wider business teams, and become an expert in reporting from SAP BPC to complete variance and trend analysis, including reviews of central assumptions.
- Responsible for the creation, development and management of complex and robust financial models and excel spreadsheets. These models should be built in accordance with best practice guidelines to ensure accuracy, audit of changes, and transparency of the models for internal and external parties to provide valuable insights, thus enabling senior business stakeholders to make well informed tactical & strategic decisions. This will include statutory to regulatory adjustments alongside different price bases.
- Accountable for completion of forecast regulatory submissions (RRP) and consolidation of the RIIO3 regulatory plans.
- Accurately analyse key regulatory and financial metrics to facilitate informed decision-making regarding complex issues
- Support the team in production of high-quality PowerPoint presentations summarising analysis completed
- Develop strong relationships with senior stakeholders and work effectively with them in supporting the financial modelling of forecasts, budgets and strategic/ad-hoc business cases
- Support the delivery of change across Finance and the business, embracing new ways of working and maximising the full potential of our new SAP BPC tools and functionality to drive process improvements and long-term business planning capability
- Ensuring that the controls associated with the team’s processes are reviewed, updated, challenged and adhered to by the team with documentation kept in the appropriate form.
Who are we looking for:
Qualifications
- The role requires a fully qualified accountant (e.g. ACA, CIMA, ACCA).
Practical Experience
- Experience in the modelling of complex business scenarios
- Knowledge of the Microsoft suite of tools (Excel, Word, PowerPoint etc.)
- Analytical with a keen eye for detail and the ability to validate and rationalise outcomes based on variations in the inputs or modelling assumptions
- Effectively interpret and communicate complex financial data/issues to both finance and non-finance stakeholders
- Work flexibly, prioritise effectively and handle multiple tasks within strict deadlines
- Ability to work in a collaborative environment, seeking out and drawing on expert knowledge where necessary, to achieve the best possible outcomes
- Problem-solving skills, ability to independently assess situation and recommend solution
- Previous experience within a Financial Planning and Analysis/Business Planning role and working with SAP BPC or similar planning tools would be advantageous.
What’s In It For You
Here at Cadent, we are committed to supporting our employees to get the best out of themselves. For this role in particular we can offer:
- Funding and support towards completing qualifications
- Ample opportunity for progression within the business
- Mentoring and guidance opportunities
Why Join Us
We offer a host of benefits to suit your lifestyle and support your well-being. These include:
- Annual bonus
- Pension Scheme double matched up to a total of 18% of salary (i.e., employee contributions of up to 6%, double matched by a Cadent contribution of up to 12%)
- 25 days holiday, plus statutory days, and an option to buy more
- Fantastic career development prospects with funded learning options, including support with exams, and internal and external learning and development
- Strong focus on supporting you as an individual including:
- Flexible working
- Strong commitments to ED&I
- Generous family provision policies
- Flexible benefits including cycle to work scheme, salary sacrifice car scheme, insurance, and healthcare packages, plus much more
- My Offers membership card – offering discounts and savings from hundreds of retailers
- 2 paid volunteering days per year
- Free gym access at the Ansty office, as well as a ‘Gympass’ scheme providing free or heavily subsidised local gym memberships
We want our employees to achieve a healthy work-life balance and are happy to discuss flexible working options with you if the role can accommodate it. Let us know about your flexibility requirements, whether that be reduced hours, remote working, flexible start/finish times, or compressed hours, and we will be more than happy to explore what’s possible for the role.
Diversity and Inclusion
Don’t meet every single requirement listed?
Understanding, learning, and celebrating what makes us different, as well as what we have in common, is good for us as individuals and enables us to work better together as one team. Cadent is committed to being an equitable and diverse employer that fosters an inclusive culture for all our employees, therefore, all our employment decisions are assessed based on qualifications, merit, and business need. So, if you’re excited about this opportunity but your experience doesn’t align perfectly with every qualification mentioned, we would still love for you to submit your application – You may just be the right person for this role or other opportunities at Cadent.
As a recognised Disability Confident Employer, we are proud to champion inclusion in the workplace and ensure to provide an environment that is accessible to all and supports individuals throughout their journey with Cadent. Please let us know if you require any reasonable adjustments during the application process.
We place great importance on equity, diversity and inclusion, and we welcome applicants from all backgrounds. Our employee communities Women in Cadent, Pride at Work (LGBTQ+), Embrace (ethnicity and religion), Thrive! (disability) and the Cadent Military Community can’t wait to welcome you!
Circle Back Initiative
As an active and proud member of The Circle Back Initiative, we aim to ensure that all candidates receive a response to their application, regardless of the outcome.
We will be receiving applications until the specified date above, though Cadent retains the right to close this vacancy early without prior notification, so it is advisable to complete your application at your earliest convenience.
Be part of something big. Help shape the future of gas for generations to come.
What’s next?
To be considered for this role, please submit your application with an up-to-date CV and our Talent Acquisition team will get in touch soon.To learn more about Cadent and what we do, visit our website at Home | Cadent (cadentgas.com)
Proud member of the Disability Confident employer scheme
Disability Confident
About Disability Confident
A Disability Confident employer will generally offer an interview to any applicant that declares they have a disability and meets the minimum criteria for the job as defined by the employer. It is important to note that in certain recruitment situations such as high-volume, seasonal and high-peak times, the employer may wish to limit the overall numbers of interviews offered to both disabled people and non-disabled people. For more details please go to
Disability Confident.
