Treasury Analyst (Maternity Cover)

Who are we?

FirstGroup is the largest rail operator in the UK and second largest bus operator in the UK outside London. FirstGroup operates services throughout the UK and Ireland, with over 30,000 employees providing services that make travel smoother and life easier. FirstGroup works hard to reduce its impact on the environment, introducing cleaner and more environmentally responsible methods of transport.

About the job

• Monitor short and medium term liquidity of the group through accurate cash flow forecasting, utilisation of borrowing facilities, placing of deposits and executing foreign exchange trades.
• Provide monthly report to treasury committee detailing Group hedge position and making recommendations for further actions. Execute derivative hedging transactions as instructed by the committee.
• Ensure accurate information is recorded in the treasury management system including loans, deposits and fx trades. Maintain separate spreadsheets documenting derivatives and vehicles finance arrangements.
• Arrange financing for new buses across the Group and refinancing of existing fleet as required and in conjunction with UK Bus.

Your main responsibilities will be:

• Manage short term liquidity management at a Group level to minimise cost and free cash balance. Make recommendations to Group Treasurer for utilisation of Group borrowing facilities and execution of trades for term deposits and FX. Ensure Group liquidity and headroom requirements are maintained. Review 13 week cashflow prior to submitting to Group Treasurer.
• Support preparation of monthly Hedging Recommendations paper for the Treasury Committee and executing derivative trades as instructed by the committee. Liaising with auditors to provide necessary backup for disclosure purposes.
• Support Year end and Interim accounting process in completion of Derivative disclosure notes and debt tables.
• Develop strong relationship with UK Bus finance team to be informed of upcoming Capex and finance requirements. Co-lead process of arranging Vehicle finance by utilising group facilities or organising directly with banking partners. Maintain records of all leases and HP for audit purposes.
• Payment of interest and fees as they fall due via online banking systems.
• Maintenance of the treasury management system and Bloomberg.
• Assist in the preparation of periodic treasury reports, including cash report for weekly trading pack, and monthly Treasury Report for the CFO.
• Assist with the issuance and renewal of Letters of Credit.

Other responsibilities:

• Ensure the promotion and execution of Be Safe principles across the team.
• Assist with a planned upgrade of the Treasury Management System and ensure all data within the system is accurate.
• Ensure compliance with Treasury policy and delegated authorities and procedures.
• Participate in performance appraisal and continued development programs.

As a minimum, you will need to have:

• Good communication skills
• Numerate
• Experience with Microsoft office, specifically excel.
• Graduate with 2:1 degree or part qualified accountant

Performance measures:

• Managing Debt to minimise interest charge
• Maintaining appropriate short term liquidity levels
• Effective execution of derivative transactions
• Successful arrangement of required vehicle finance
• Timely preparation and accuracy of reporting responsibilities

About the location

• To travel occasionally throughout the UK and work away from home as required.

The Reward

FirstGroup's vision is to provide an inclusive environment for all colleagues, across its group of businesses, ensuring all candidates have an equal opportunity to access meaningful employment.

We value our differences such as age, gender, LGBTQIA+, ethnicity, religion, and disability. We maintain a zero tolerance towards any form of prejudice towards our colleagues, customers, and future talent.

We celebrate and encourage diversity of thought, progressive ways of working and seeing all our colleagues grow and thrive.

We review all roles and job descriptions to ensure they are accessible and, where possible, we support and provide flexible working options; we recommend that you refer to each vacancy description for further details.