Role: Group Financial Planning & Analysis Lead
Location: Mumbai (Hybrid)
Job type: Full time, Permanent
This position offers a hybrid work model, allowing flexibility between working from home and our office. Typically, employees are expected to work 2 days in the office per week.
Why QS?
At QS, we believe that work should empower you. That’s why we foster a flexible working environment that encourages every employee to own their career whilst flourishing personally and professionally. Our company values underpin everything we do – we collaborate, respect and support each other.
It’s our mission to empower motivated people around the world to fulfil their potential through higher education, ensuring that everyone has access to opportunities that change lives.
Our diversity makes us stronger. By sharing our experiences, we learn from one another and achieve more together, driving progress across the sector.
At QS, you’ll be responsible for implementing real change in the international higher education landscape. You’ll take on meaningful challenges that see a positive impact across the business and the wider sector.
We’re confident you’ll feel right at home here. QS was named as one of Newsweek’s Top 100 Most Loved Workplaces® in the UK (October 2023), recognising the respect, trust and appreciation that drive our culture every day. And as a gold-accredited Investors in People organisation – putting us among the top 28% of workplaces globally – it’s official: QS is a place where everyone can thrive.
The role
The Group FP&A Operations Lead is responsible for leading the operational delivery and continuous improvement of the Group FP&A function.
The role owns the FP&A operating model, ensuring budgeting, forecasting, long-term planning, consolidation, management reporting and governance are delivered consistently, efficiently and to a high standard. Working in partnership with Finance Business Partners, the role drives standardisation, reporting quality and process excellence across the Finance function, ensuring a single, aligned Group view. The role enables Finance Business Partners to focus on business insight and commercial decision support, while enabling the Head of FP&A to focus on strategic finance, executive stakeholder engagement and long-term value creation.
Role responsibilities
FP&A Planning and Delivery
- Own the end-to-end delivery of the annual Budget, periodic Forecasts and Long-Term Plan
- Define and maintain the annual FP&A planning calendar and key milestones
- Lead planning activities across the Finance Business Partner community, ensuring alignment to timelines, standards and Group requirements
Ensure planning cycles are delivered on time and to agreed standards, proactively identifying and resolving delivery issues
-
Group Consolidation & Performance Reporting
- Lead the consolidation of Group budgets, forecasts and long-term plans into a single, aligned Group view
- Own the production of Group management reporting and performance packs, ensuring accuracy, timeliness and a consistent Group structure
- Ensure a clear and consistent Group performance narrative across all reporting outputs by aligning and structuring Finance Business Partner commentary
Drive continuous improvement in the quality, clarity and consistency of financial reporting across the Group
-
FP&A Governance and Quality
- Own Group FP&A governance, including planning standards, reporting methodologies and data frameworks
- Maintain and evolve planning templates, KPI definitions and assumption frameworks
- Ensure robust version control and data governance across planning cycles
- Own final sign-off on Group planning submissions and management reporting outputs prior to review by the Head of FP&A
Enforce adherence to Group FP&A standards, including requiring revision where quality thresholds are not met
-
Partnership with Finance Business Partners
- Drive alignment across Finance Business Partners to deliver integrated planning and a single Group view
- Embed and drive adoption of Group FP&A standards, processes and methodologies across the Finance Business Partner community
- Own the review and quality assurance of submissions, ensuring completeness and consistency
- Lead planning activities across the business, ensuring timely delivery and issue resolution
Escalate and resolve issues relating to process, governance or reporting quality
-
FP&A Systems, Data & Continuous Improvement
- Support the ongoing improvement of FP&A processes, systems and reporting
- Act as the business owner for FP&A planning and reporting tools
- Work with Finance Systems and IT to enhance planning and reporting capabilities
- Drive practical improvements in automation, standardisation and efficiency
Promote high-quality data, reporting governance and consistent use of tools across the Group
-
Key skills and experience:
Essential
- Qualified accountant (ACA, ACCA or CIMA)
- Significant experience in Financial Planning & Analysis, ideally within a Group environment
- Strong experience leading budgeting, forecasting and long-term planning processes
- Proven experience in Group financial consolidation and management reporting
- Strong analytical, modelling and problem-solving capability
- Demonstrated ability to manage complex processes and deliver to tight deadlines
- Advanced Excel skills and experience using reporting and planning systems
- Strong communication and stakeholder management skills across multiple business units
Proven ability to drive alignment and influence outcomes across teams without direct authority
-
Desirable
- Experience with FP&A systems and reporting tools (e.g. Power BI, Workday Adaptive Planning or equivalent)
- Experience supporting improvements in finance processes, reporting or planning methodologies
Working knowledge of data visualisation, reporting and basic automation capabilities
-
So, who are we and what do we do?
QS is the world leader in higher education services, analytics, insights and intelligence. From consultancy to student mobility, academic partnerships to branding solutions, our services power both institutional and individual success.
We’re behind the world’s most widely read university rankings (Meltwater 2023). Our QS World University Rankings® reach hundreds of millions, shaping decisions and guiding futures.
Since launching in 1990, our impact and influence have only grown. Today, we work with more than 2,000 of the world’s leading higher education institutions, over 12,000 employers, and governments seeking change and socioeconomic development through higher education.
Join QS and you’ll join an 800-strong community of problem-solvers, creators, collaborators and change-makers based in 40+ countries and 11 international offices, including Australia, Malaysia, India, Romania, Singapore, France, Germany, the USA and our headquarters in London.
With every talented new hire, business acquisition and bold initiative, we’re strengthening our reach and delivering even greater value to institutions and learners worldwide. Are you ready to shape the future of higher education?
We take investing in our people very seriously.
As standard you will have:
- Competitive base salary
- Access to an annual bonus scheme (for qualifying roles only)
- 21 days annual leave – increasing to 23 days after 5 years’ service + 8 days casual leave
- 15 days holiday for the year 2026
- Enhanced maternity and paternity leave
- Access to Provident Fund and Pension Fund Scheme
- Group Medical Insurance
A vibrant social environment and multicultural and multinational culture
-
But that’s not all. Outside of these standard benefits we also offer resources to allow professional growth and wellness initiatives to nurture a healthy mindset:
- Free subscription to the Calm App – the #1 app for sleep, meditation, and relaxation
- A focus on welfare which is led by our global wellness team, with mental health first aiders globally
- Access to a variety of diversity and inclusion initiatives and groups
- Strong recognition and reward programs – including a peer-to-peer recognition platform, quarterly and annual QS Applaud Awards, Connect with your Career annual personal development event
- Support for volunteering and study leave
- Free subscription to LinkedIn learning – with over 5,000 courses and programmes at your fingertips
Options to join our outstanding global Mentorship programme
-
Like what you’ve heard? Great, apply now!
As a candidate, we know the application and interview process can be daunting and so it’s important that you have a great experience with us. Our dedicated Talent Team will work hard to ensure you are fully informed at all stages, and you are really excited by this opportunity to do meaningful work in the education space.
Equal opportunities
QS Quacquarelli Symonds is proud to be a fair and equal organisation where everyone has the same opportunity to achieve their full potential, irrespective of their background or personal attributes. We celebrate our diversity and believe through sharing our experiences we can learn from one another, be stronger together, and enable our business to thrive.
Please keep an eye on your spam / junk email folder for correspondence from BambooHR
