Finance is more than numbers
Karl Peach, Finance Director
The Finance function is key to the great success of this business - whether it is advising on the impact of deals being quoted by the sales and commercial teams, managing cash, analysing and reporting on business trends or regular detailed reporting to Group, this is an exciting and fulfilling environment to work in and the Finance function is at the heart of it.
The Finance department
Based at our Head Office the Finance department offers a wide variety of job opportunities within 7 key functions:
Financial Accounting
Headed up by the Financial Accountant, this small team provides technical accounting and tax support to the business. The team also manages internal controls, compliance and the risk environment. Our main goal is to deliver a robust, auditable financial result, while maintaining a strong internal control framework and satisfying Group requirements.
General Accounting
This team reports into the Balance Sheet Accountant, and is responsible for the day to day accounting activities across six separate businesses and various legal entities. The team includes an expense ledger team, and a number of trainee accounts staff, who focus on fixed assets, stock and margin, inter-company reporting and other transactional accounting.
Purchase Ledger, Pricing and Price Investigation
These teams are responsible for the accounting for supplier transactions relating to stock purchases. With c.700 suppliers, and a ledger running into hundreds of millions of pounds, these teams ensure that suppliers are paid on time, and that queries are resolved quickly.
Customer Finance
Customer Finance, a large team, is split into three broad areas, covering Risk, Credit Control and Cash Posting.
The Risk Analysts are responsible for assessing the regulatory, business and credit risks of thousands of customers, opening customer accounts and liaising with our agency partners.
Credit Controllers collect debts and resolves customer issues, whilst the cash posting team allocates receipts from customers, enabling the credit controllers to perform effectively.
Financial Planning & Analysis
Financial Planning & Analysis (FP&A) is an exciting part of the business to work in.
The FP & A team covers all aspects of financial performance including sales and margin, costs and cash. We work closely with commercial managers to provide them with insightful information to help drive future performance and also work closely with our Group and Divisional stakeholders to relate the business financial performance story simply and clearly.
It requires a skill set that encompasses a desire to understand the commercial elements of our business and an analytical mindset that can navigate the financial drivers of performance together with more traditional accounting skills.
Commercial Finance
This small team of qualified accountants is fully focused on supporting the development of the UK wholesale businesses.
There is no day to day reporting requirement which allows the team of Finance Business Partners to serve its internal and external stakeholders effectively.
The work ranges from supporting potential acquisition appraisals to justifying the financial pay back of a capital expenditure request. The work is fast paced, cross functional and adds real value to the business as we drive forward into the future.
Finance Transformation
The Finance Transformation Team is a small, high calibre, team established to identify and facilitate a step change in Finance systems and processes. The team consist of a highly skilled mix of accounting, systems and programming, project management, change management and operations knowledge which is required to support the wide ranging demands of our brief. As well as driving a technological roadmap, we are changing how people interact with our systems and each other. This cultural element can be very demanding, but our legacy will be a more robust, efficient and capable Finance department with collaborative working practices established across Finance and IT. It is this which makes our role so exciting, we aren't just part of the future - we are creating it.
Meet our people
Zaiga, Margin Inventory Assistant
"Alliance Healthcare has a great working environment"
I have worked for Alliance Healthcare for 22 months now. I joined the company as Price File Administrator in Pricing Team in Finance right after university .
Soon after joining I loved and appreciated the buzz that Finance department has, and various events, especially charity days that the company organise. 6 months after joining I was promoted to Margin Inventory Assistant.
Within the last year as a Margin Inventory Assistant I have dealt with most departments and warehouses at Alliance Healthcare, including IT, product categories, supply chain, manufacturer services and more, which has enabled me to build close relationships with most of them. Alliance Healthcare has a great working environment, and the managers really listen and take note of your personal and professional ambitions. There is always an opportunity to move around and gain diverse range of experiences, which can only benefit individual in their career choice, subsequently I am now starting CIMA studies, as part of company's investment in staff. The last 2 years have been a fantastic ride and I am planning on staying here for many more.
Rob, Cost Controller
"I feel that Alliance Healthcare has really invested in my development"
I started with Alliance Healthcare in October 2008 as a Sales & Margin Analyst, which involved monthly reporting and looking at important product trend changes impacting the business.
After 7 months in the role I was given the additional responsibility of one direct report, which helped to develop my management skills.
I became Cost Controller for all of the UK Wholesale Service Centres in July 2010, and 6 months later I was appointed to Cost Controller for all of the UK Wholesale business.
I enjoy working here - it's a challenging environment that is continuously changing and progressing. We are on drive to improve technology throughout the business and being involved in these projects from a Finance point of view is very exciting.
My switch from Margin to Costs also meant that I had a fully rounded set of P&L skills, enabling me to get my CIMA experience accredited. Becoming a fully qualified accountant was a great achievement, and I really appreciated the support provided by the company.
Our Senior Managers encourage us to learn from them, and they are keen to promote people across teams so we become an asset to the company and develop our own skills at the same time. I feel that Alliance Healthcare has really invested in my development - a real sign of a great company to work for!"
Lisa, Finance Transformation Manager
"Alliance Healthcare is a great place to work because there are opportunities to progress."
I joined Alliance Healthcare in 2005 as the Internal Audit Manager and progressed to Finance Margin Manager where I managed a larger team.
I have since joined the Finance Transformation team because I wanted to make a lasting difference to the company and add value.
I am really enjoying the opportunity to support our Finance and IT teams while we implement large technological change. Alliance Healthcare is a great place to work because there are opportunities to progress, improve your knowledge, technical abilities and capabilities while working with a great team of people.
Billy, Trainee Accountant
"There is always opportunity to advance"
I joined Alliance Healthcare in 2006 as a Pricing File Administrator. In 2008 I was given the opportunity to join the Accounting team as a Trainee Accountant .
I have advanced in my career by studying AAT, and in future will go on to study CIMA. I enjoy working at Alliance Healthcare as we have a great team, and there is always opportunity to advance.
Christine, Assistant Systems Accountant
"I am studying towards my ACCA qualification for which I have taken the opportunity of the company's study support package"
I joined Alliance Healthcare in March 2010 as the Assistant Systems Accountant working as part of the Finance Transformation Team. I oversee and provide training for our finance systems.
The diversity of my role keeps me challenged and interacting with a large number of colleagues across the business. I am studying towards my ACCA qualification for which I have taken the opportunity of the company's study support package. It is this variety and support for self development that makes it a pleasure to work here.
Simon, Assistant Financial Accountant
"I always have someone to turn to for advice or direction"
I joined Alliance Healthcare in the summer of 2010 after 2 years working in an accountancy practice.
I chose Alliance Healthcare to pursue my career because I wanted more commercial experience and to be part of a large group company to add perspective when completing my ACCA Qualification.
During my time here I have developed my knowledge and skills within the Financial Accounting Team, supplementing my studies with real life application.
What makes it even better is the team - they are really supportive and I always have someone to turn to for advice or direction which gives me the confidence to set myself higher goals and grow as a young professional.