About Desmond Motors
Desmond Motors is a long-established, family-owned motor retail group with operations in Derry, Omagh and Belfast. As the business continues to develop across multiple franchises, we are seeking a practical, analytical and organised Finance & Operations Analyst to support the financial and operational performance of the group.
The role
This is a hands-on role combining daily cashflow forecasting, vehicle stock and funding oversight, workshop performance reporting, budgeting and operational finance administration.
Working closely with the Financial Controller and departmental managers, you will turn financial and operational information into clear reports, identify issues requiring action and follow through to ensure they are resolved.
The position will suit someone who enjoys working with numbers, understanding how a business operates and taking ownership of recurring processes. The principal focus is operational finance and business performance; preparation of monthly management accounts is not a core responsibility.
Key responsibilities
Cashflow and working capital
Prepare and maintain the groups daily rolling cashflow forecast, incorporating expected receipts, supplier payments, payroll, tax and vehicle funding movements.
Reconcile forecast cash movements to actual bank transactions and investigate significant differences.
Review funder prenotifications, remittance advices and payment schedules to ensure cash commitments are captured accurately.
Monitor available cash and overdraft headroom, highlighting potential shortfalls and timing pressures promptly.
Work with the Financial Controller and relevant departments to improve the accuracy of expected receipts and payments.
Vehicle stock and funding
Produce regular vehicle stock reports, including stock ageing, funding status and vehicles requiring attention.
Identify eligible vehicles for funding and coordinate the information and administration required to arrange drawdowns.
Monitor funding availability, scheduled repayments and forthcoming commitments across funding providers.
Check stock and funding records for discrepancies and coordinate their resolution.
Highlight opportunities to improve stock turnover, funding utilisation and working capital.
Workshop performance and budgeting
Prepare regular workshop performance reports covering labour sales, hours sold, productivity, efficiency, recovery rates and other agreed measures.
Support the preparation of workshop budgets and forecasts.
Compare actual performance against budget and targets, identifying trends and explaining significant variances.
Work with service managers to understand performance issues and track agreed actions.
Highlight unbilled work, outstanding work in progress and other items affecting departmental performance or cash collection.
Operational finance and administration
Prepare and process allocated invoices, ensuring accuracy, appropriate supporting documentation and timely completion.
Maintain the schedules, records and supporting information needed for assigned finance and operational processes.
Investigate discrepancies and follow up outstanding information with colleagues, suppliers and funding providers.
Complete the administrative work associated with cashflow, stock funding, reporting and invoicing.
Provide practical support to the Financial Controller and wider finance team as required.
Reporting and process improvement
Produce clear, timely reports that help managers understand performance and take action.
Improve the consistency and accuracy of information drawn from dealership systems, spreadsheets and external reports.
Help develop more efficient reporting processes, including appropriate use of automation and AI-assisted tools.
Validate automated outputs against source information and investigate exceptions.
Document key processes and maintain clear records so work can be reviewed and covered during absences.
Person specification
Essential
Experience in a finance, commercial reporting or operational analysis role.
Strong Excel skills, including the ability to analyse data, maintain schedules and produce useful reports.
A sound understanding of cashflow, working capital and basic accounting principles.
Strong attention to detail and the ability to identify and investigate discrepancies.
Good organisational skills, with the ability to manage daily deadlines alongside longer-term work.
Confidence communicating with operational managers and following up outstanding actions.
A practical approach and willingness to undertake both analytical work and the administration needed to complete it.
The ability to handle commercially sensitive information discreetly.
Desirable
Experience within motor retail or another stock-intensive, multi-site business.
Familiarity with dealership management systems, particularly Pinnacle.
Experience of vehicle stock funding, cashflow forecasting or workshop reporting.
An accounting qualification, part-qualification or relevant equivalent experience.
Experience using reporting tools, automation or AI to improve finance processes.
What success looks like
An accurate, current cashflow forecast with funding pressures identified early.
Timely identification and funding of eligible vehicle stock.
Reliable stock and workshop reports that lead to clear management actions.
Budgets and forecasts supported by well-maintained information and meaningful variance explanations.
Assigned invoicing and administration completed accurately and on time.
Less manual reporting work and more consistent, dependable processes.
Skills:P&L Analysis Financial analysis CIMA Profitability analysis Balance Sheet Review Variance Analysis
Benefits:Paid Holidays Pension Fund Performance Bonus
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