Cost Analyst
Help shape the financial performance of one of Europe's leading holiday rental businesses. Join our Commercial Finance team and play a key role in driving cost performance, delivering operational insight, and partnering with senior leaders across Awaze.
Your mission
As our new Cost Analyst, you'll play a pivotal role in supporting the financial performance of NOVASOL's Property Managed Services (PMS) division. You'll combine commercial thinking with strong financial analysis to provide meaningful insights into operational performance, helping the business make informed decisions that improve efficiency and deliver sustainable cost performance.
Working as part of the Commercial Finance team, you'll partner closely with operational and finance stakeholders across Europe, turning complex financial and operational data into actionable recommendations. This is a hands-on role where you'll thrive by balancing strategic planning with a deep understanding of day-to-day operations.
What you'll be doing
· Own the monthly reporting, analysis and forecasting of PMS overheads and operating costs, providing clear variance analysis and commercial insight.
· Monitor and analyse key operational drivers, including cleaning volumes, cost per clean, and internal versus external cleaning performance.
· Partner with budget owners to improve cost visibility, challenge spend where appropriate, and support proactive cost management.
· Lead the cost planning elements of the annual budgeting process and quarterly reforecasts across all PMS cost functions.
· Develop and enhance financial models to support forecasting, scenario planning and strategic decision-making.
· Work closely with senior stakeholders, including the Operations Director and Director of Owner Success & Growth for NOVASOL, providing financial guidance and performance insights.
· Support strategic business initiatives such as cost efficiency programmes, organisational changes and commercial negotiations with robust financial analysis.
· Collaborate with the wider Commercial Finance team to produce dashboards, reporting and ad hoc cost analysis across the broader business.
· Continuously identify opportunities to improve financial processes, reporting tools and forecasting methodologies while driving greater operational efficiency.
Who we're looking for
You'll thrive in this role if you're commercially curious, enjoy solving complex problems through data, and are equally comfortable analysing detailed operational performance as presenting insights to senior stakeholders.
We're looking for someone who brings:
· Solid experience in finance business partnering, management accounting or commercial finance, with a strong focus on cost analysis and overhead management.
· Strong Excel modelling skills alongside experience using planning and reporting tools such as Power BI, SAP or Oracle PBCS.
· Excellent analytical, organisational and problem-solving skills with a pragmatic, operational mindset.
· Outstanding communication and stakeholder management skills, with the confidence to influence and challenge constructively at all levels.
· A collaborative, proactive approach and the ability to work effectively across finance and operational teams.
Bonus points if you have:
· A professional accounting qualification (CIMA, ACCA or ACA), or you're close to qualifying.
· Experience within travel, hospitality, leisure or another consumer-facing industry.
· Knowledge of payroll, workforce planning or staff cost modelling.
· Experience leading or supporting cost efficiency initiatives.
· Practical experience using AI tools to improve finance processes and reporting.
How you'll make an impact
· Deliver accurate, insightful financial reporting that enables better operational decision-making.
· Improve visibility of key cost drivers and operational performance across the PMS division.
· Strengthen forecasting accuracy through robust financial modelling and scenario planning.
· Build trusted relationships with senior operational leaders, influencing commercial decisions through data-driven insight.
· Drive continuous improvements in financial reporting, planning processes and operational efficiency.
· Support the Commercial Finance team in achieving ambitious cost performance targets across the wider business.
Why you'll want to work at Awaze
We offer a versatile position in a strong professional and social environment - one you'll have the opportunity to influence and help shape. You'll be part of an international company that invests in the future, and join a dynamic, fast-paced department with skilled and committed colleagues who support each other.
We're a people-first business - and we know that our success starts with our teams.
Here's a glimpse of what you'll enjoy:
· Generous discounts on holidays across our brands
· Flexible hybrid working – with the autonomy to work how you work best
· Real opportunities to grow, learn and shape your role as well as careers progression vertically or horizontally, cross countries and responsibilities.
About Awaze
Our mission is clear - to create amazing holidays with Europe’s widest choice of holiday homes.
With more than 110,000 properties across Europe, we are the largest managed vacation rentals business in the region. Our ambition is not only to be the biggest, but the best provider of holiday homes in Europe.
As travel continues to evolve, we are focused on what comes next. We will keep strengthening our relationships with guests and homeowners, continuously improving the way we work, and delivering strong performance. By making things simpler and smarter, we are building a business that is ready for what’s next - powered by proud, passionate and inclusive people.
Worth knowing
We offer the best of both worlds: the energy of the office and the freedom of home, with hybrid working that lets you have a mix of office and remote work in a fast-paced, collaborative environment.
What next?
If this sounds like the right next step for you, hit "Apply" and follow the instructions to submit your application. We tailor our recruitment process to each role to give both you and our hiring teams the best possible chance to assess whether this could be the start of a successful collaboration. You'll hear from us shortly after we've reviewed your application.
We're committed to running an inclusive and accessible recruitment process. All applicants will receive equal consideration for employment, and if you have any specific requirements or adjustments needed for the interview, just let us know when you accept your invitation - we're happy to accommodate.
- Department
- Finance
- Role
- Business Analyst (Finance)
- Locations
- Manchester
Our Perks & Benefits
-
🌴 Travel that inspires
All of our team members get exclusive travel discounts on over 100,000 properties across Europe - relax, recharge, and experience our product like a guest, gaining valuable insight along the way.
-
🏆 Join a market leader
We are proud to be the leading managed vacation rental player in Europe. We operate well known brands with a strong heritage in over 25 countries and have more than 100,000 holiday accommodation choices.
-
🌍 Local benefits
Our benefits are adapted to each country we operate in, ensuring competitive, locally relevant support and perks wherever you’re based.
Manchester
What to expect from our hiring process
At Awaze, we know that applying for a new role is a big step - so we aim to make our hiring process as clear, respectful, and engaging as possible.
We believe hiring should be a two-way conversation. It’s just as much about you getting to know us, as it is about us learning more about you.
While the exact process can vary depending on the role, here’s what you can generally expect:
-
1. Initial Conversation
We like to keep things relaxed, so we'll usually start with an informal call. This is a chance for us to get to know each other, learn about your background and interests, and give you a better sense of the role and Awaze as a whole.
-
2. Interview Stage
If our initial conversation goes well, we will invite you for an interview. This stage will give us an opportunity to understand your skills and potential, and for you to explore whether Awaze, the culture and the role align with your ambitions.
-
3. Additional Steps
Some roles may involve follow-up interviews, presentations or skills assessments. If that's the case, our team will talk you through every step, so you always know what to expect.