Commercial Financial Analyst

Job Title:

Commercial Financial Analyst
Department:
Finance

Contract:

9-month fixed-term contract, full-time (to commence at the beginning of April)

Pan Macmillan’s Finance team is looking to hire a Commercial Financial Analyst on a 9-month fixed-term contract to provide parental‑leave cover. This is an exciting opportunity to join an award‑winning big‑five publisher in an engaging, dynamic, and supportive finance team. Through this role you will gain exposure to the whole business at all levels, from assistants to the leadership team, and have the opportunity to work with brilliant, creative people who are passionate not just about their work but also about making a difference.

The Finance team works with each department in the business on budgeting and forecasting revenues and costs, and then tracking how we perform against these targets by producing management information and analysis and helping teams with cost control. We support all commercial decisions, such as acquiring the rights of the books we publish and negotiating our contractual terms with our customers and suppliers.

Reporting to the Head of Commercial Finance, the Commercial Financial Analyst position is key to the Pan Macmillan Finance team as you will be the key liaison between the team and several areas of the business. You will deliver regular reporting on author and title profitability, while managing technical accounting for author costs and providing the analysis needed to drive commercial decision‑making.

The work you will undertake will have a direct impact on key business decisions both in the short and long term.

• Manage author financials: Ensure the accuracy of author costs, advances, and royalty accounting, taking responsibility for month‑end processes and reconciliations to maintain high standards of financial integrity.
• Deliver performance insights: Coordinate the reporting of author and title profitability, providing the leadership team and editorial departments with clear data to help them understand how our books are performing.
• Support commercial decisions: Act as a trusted partner to the business by producing financial modelling for new title acquisitions, helping teams make informed choices about future projects.
• Collaborate across the business: Act as a key link between Finance, Editorial, Contracts and Royalties, ensuring author agreements are accurately reflected in our systems and that queries are resolved clearly and supportively.
• Investigate financial trends: Analyse variances in royalties and advances, comparing actual results against initial assumptions to provide a transparent view of business trends.
• Maintain data excellence: Ensure data stays accurate across our SAP and Biblio systems, acting as a technical resource for the team to help improve our reporting and internal processes.
• Contribute to team success: Support the wider Finance team with budgeting, forecasting, and audit preparations, ensuring a collaborative approach to meeting Pan Macmillan’s seasonal deadlines.

• Professional accounting qualification: A fully qualified accountant (ACA, CIMA, ACCA, or international equivalent).
• Systems knowledge: Familiarity with SAP (or equivalent accounting system) and Biblio (or similar publishing‑specific software).
• Analytical & modelling excellence: Strong analytical skills and experience building financial models, supported by advanced Excel skills to manage and interpret complex data.
• Commercial mindset: A proactive approach to problem‑solving and the ability to adapt to changing business needs while maintaining high standards of accuracy and attention to detail.
• Collaborative communication: Proven ability to build positive relationships and communicate financial concepts clearly to both finance and non‑finance stakeholders.
• Inclusion and representation: An active dedication to promoting diverse voices and inclusive practices, taking personal responsibility for ensuring our workplace and publishing reflect the communities we serve.
• Community: A collaborative approach to building a supportive…