Associate / Senior Associate

Financial Modelling Associate / Senior Associate

Location:        London (2-3 days per week in the office)

Salary:            Market-related (details will be provided upon enquiry)

Start date:     As soon as possible

About Near Future

At Near Future, we specialise in Best Practice Financial Modelling: the art of building models that are Transparent, Robust, Adjustable, Consistent and Efficient. We support investors, bankers and finance professionals with every aspect of financial modelling, including Model Development, Model Audit and Training. We work on project across the globe, with significant experience in renewable energy in Northern Europe and Scandinavia, as well as telecommunications in Eastern Africa.

Model development

We develop forecasting models for M&A transactions, project finance transactions, debt raising (both from commercial banks and development finance institutions), management and board reporting.

Model audit

We provide full scope model audits where third-party reliance in the form of a model audit opinion letter is required. In instances where a model review is needed for internal purposes, we can design bespoke review procedures to target the higher risk areas in a model

Financial Modelling Training

We share our financial modelling expertise with clients through the delivery of both in-house and public training courses across the globe.

The role

We are now looking to recruit an Associate to join our team and support our continued growth. We are looking for someone with strong technical abilities, a keen interest in financial modelling, someone who is agile with an entrepreneurial mindset and commercial acumen.

As an Associate, you will be supporting a broad range of financial modelling assignments, stretching yourself across many different industry sectors, but with a core focus on infrastructure (especially renewable energy), in addition to private debt, telecoms, manufacturing and consumer industries.

Your responsibilities will include, but may not be limited to:

• Supporting on model developments This will initially mean that the project manager will allocate the less complex areas of model development to you while training you in the principles of Best Practice Financial Modelling. As you improve your skills, you will progress to taking on more challenging aspects of the model development until the point where you are ready to take on the project manager role yourself.

• Supporting the model audit process. This could involve performing cell-by-cell and analytical review on the model, managing correspondence with clients and reviewing findings received from sub-contractors.

• Design of training courses and preparation of training materials. Once you have gathered sufficient experience, you may also be required to deliver training courses.

• Supporting the project manager with the preparation of scoping documents and engagement contracts.

• Business development. Continually seeking new connections and opportunities. When there is not chargeable work available, you would be expected to dedicate your time to proactively seeking or creating new opportunities. This could involve identifying connections on LinkedIn, emailing potential clients, blog writing, or setting up modelling teach-ins (such as a breakfast / lunch meet-up) for potential clients.

• Maintenance of charge codes and invoice preparation.

Requirements

As a boutique consultancy, we are looking for someone who is interested in getting involved in all aspects of the business, including model development, training course preparation, model audit as well as business development. If you are naturally inquisitive, have an analytical mind and enjoy solving problems in a rigorous and logical manner for a variety of different businesses, then this is the role for you.

To be successful in this role, you will need to demonstrate the following:

• A firm grasp of fundamental accounting and finance principles, with a solid understanding of key accounting principles and integrated three-way financial statements

• Strong Excel skills, with a keen interest in Best Practice Financial Modelling.

• Exceptional analytical and technical aptitude, with both financial and commercial acumen and an ability to extract the key drivers of a business’ performance through interrogation of relevant documents and client staff

• An entrepreneurial mindset and self-starter mentality, with a hands-on approach and willingness to get involved in all aspects of the business

• The ability to manage time, prioritise tasks, self-review your work and produce deliverables of a high quality under tight client deadlines in time pressured environments 

• A very strong work ethic and a willingness and ability to at times prioritise client deadlines at short notice and work longer hours to get the job done

• The ability to build collaborative working relationships with clients, identifying and pursuing new revenue opportunities with existing and new clients

Required qualifications and experience

• We are looking for a newly qualified chartered accountant, with 0-2 years post qualification experience

The following skills are also desirable but not essential:

• A basic understanding of Project Finance and M&A transactions

• A familiarity with Best Practice Financial Modelling