Job Description
Role: Commercial Finance Analyst
Reporting to: Commercial Finance Business Partner
Role Overview
Kids Planet has grown rapidly over recent years and continues to scale through both organic growth and acquisitions. As the business has matured, the Commercial Finance function has evolved from providing visibility through reporting to delivering insight that supports operational and strategic decision-making.
The Commercial Finance Analyst will play a key role in helping the business understand performance by analysing data, identifying drivers, and translating insight into clear commercial understanding. With reporting increasingly delivered through Power BI as the single source of truth, the role will focus less on producing reports and more on interpreting performance, understanding operational context, and supporting decision-making.
This is a highly developmental role, designed to build commercial understanding and provide a pathway into a future Commercial Finance Business Partner position.
Role Purpose
To support the business by turning data into meaningful insight that helps improve performance, protect margin, and enable informed decision-making across operations and leadership.
Principal Duties / Responsibilities
Performance Insight & Analysis
Analyse financial and operational performance data to identify key drivers, trends, and emerging risks across nurseries and regions.
Use Power BI and other systems to interpret performance rather than produce standalone reports.
Support the development of insight that explains what is happening, why it is happening, and what it means commercially.
Operational Performance Support
Support Area Managers and Childcare Directors in understanding performance and key drivers.
Provide analysis to support performance discussions, helping translate data into clear commercial understanding.
Build understanding of operational context through engagement with stakeholders to enhance the quality of insight.
Investigate performance variances and trends using multiple data sources (Power BI, operational systems, financial data).
Budgeting & Planning Support
Support budgeting and forecasting processes through analysis of performance drivers and trends.
Contribute to improving understanding of assumptions and performance sensitivities.
Financial Due Diligence Support
Support the Commercial Finance Business Partner in Financial Due Diligence on acquisitions.
Assist in gathering and analysing financial and operational data, including revenue, payroll and cost information.
Contribute to the preparation of data books and performance analysis.
Stakeholder Communication
Present analysis and insight clearly to non-financial stakeholders.
Support the translation of data into meaningful narratives that inform decisions.
Continuous Improvement
Contribute to shaping reporting requirements within Power BI by identifying opportunities to improve visibility of performance drivers.
Support the ongoing development of Commercial Finance insight capability.
The Ideal Candidate Will Have
Analytical & Technical Skills
Strong Excel and analytical capability with confidence working with large datasets
Experience interpreting data and identifying performance drivers
Exposure to Power BI or similar tools is advantageous
Commercial Awareness
An interest in understanding how operational performance translates into financial outcomes
Ability to think beyond the numbers and understand commercial implications
Problem Solving & Curiosity
A curious mindset with a desire to understand why performance is moving
Ability to investigate and connect multiple data sources
Communication & Stakeholder Skills
Ability to explain complex information clearly to non-financial audiences
Comfortable working with operational stakeholders
Attention to Detail
Strong attention to detail and commitment to accuracy in analysis
Personal Attributes
Self-motivated and proactive
Willingness to learn and develop commercial understanding
Comfortable working in a dynamic, evolving environment
Development Opportunity
This role offers the opportunity to build deep commercial understanding of the business and develop towards a future Commercial Finance Business Partner role, with exposure to operational performance, strategic insight, and acquisition activity.
Why Join Commercial Finance at Kids Planet
You will be part of a team that is evolving from reporting to insight, helping the business understand performance, improve decision-making, and support continued growth
