Senior Finance Business Partner

As a Senior Finance Business Partner, you'll play a key role in shaping financial performance across a range of directorates. You'll champion accountability, lead on cost control initiatives, and provide strategic financial insight to support effective decision-making. Where applicable, you'll guide and develop a team, ensuring they deliver the highest standard of financial support and add real value to the organisation.

Skills

Clear Communicator: Able to simplify complex financial concepts for non-finance colleagues while ensuring compliance with Managing Public Money.
Stakeholder Engagement: Build trust and consensus with internal and external stakeholders, including Executive teams.
Influencing & Impact: Shape and guide key strategic decisions through evidence-based insight.
Analytical Forecasting: Critically review and challenge forecasts for affordability, value for money, and deliverability.
Technical Expertise: Proficient with ERP systems, data analytics tools, and advanced Excel modelling.
Financial Governance: Maintain strong financial controls across high-value programmes and projects.
Team Leadership: Lead and motivate teams, managing workloads and resolving issues within demanding deadlines.Knowledge

Professional Accounting: Fully qualified accountant with experience in complex, fast-moving environments.
Government Frameworks: Strong understanding of government accounting rules (DEL/AME) and compliance within delegated authorities.
Systems & Processes: Knowledge of financial systems, with the ability to design and oversee robust off-system analyses.
Commercial Awareness: Sound appreciation of commercial drivers and their impact on financial decision-making.Experience

Complex Organisations: Proven track record as a qualified accountant within large, multifaceted organisations or projects.
Budgeting & Forecasting: Skilled in activity-based budgeting and annual business planning within Spending Review constraints.
Matrix Environments: Experience working within matrix structures, including large-scale infrastructure projects.
Cross-Functional Collaboration: Partner effectively with planning, procurement, contract management, and HR to optimise resource planning.
Team Leadership & Oversight: Managed finance business partners and project accountants, providing oversight of programme teams with budgets approaching £1bn annually.Details:

Salary: £61, 622 - £92, 400
Working Hours: Full Time, Monday to Friday
Location: Hybrid/Birmingham
Duration: PermanentRole of Senior Finance Business Partner:

Lead the Directorate's contribution to the Government-wide Spending Review, working closely with senior executives, the central finance team, and the parent Department.
Champion a culture of cost control and productivity, ensuring alignment with key agreements and business cases.
Support senior leaders in managing budgets in line with HM Treasury and Government Finance standards, driving accountability and performance.
Build and manage effective relationships with a wide range of stakeholders with differing priorities.
Drive performance improvement and productivity initiatives across the Directorate.
Interpret management reports and present clear, actionable insights to senior leaders and the parent Department.
Oversee month-end financial processes, including account preparation, variance analysis, and report reviews.
Lead the annual business planning and budgeting process in collaboration with senior executives and finance teams.
Partner with senior leaders to prepare quarterly re-forecasts for submission to the Executive.
Review and challenge funding requests to ensure value for money, affordability, and compliance with HM Treasury guidance.
Manage cash flow submissions to the Department for Transport (DfT) and oversee foreign exchange hedging activities.
Identify, design, and implement process improvements to enhance project delivery.
Ensure consistent use of reporting methods and financial processes across finance teams.
Provide proactive business partnering, challenging forecasts and variances and recommending corrective actions.
Develop, coach, and mentor business finance team members to increase capability and impact.
Share best practices with the wider finance community and contribute to cross-functional initiatives as required.Benefits of working as a Senior Finance Business Partner:

a competitive pension scheme, with up to 12 per cent employer contributions
a starting salary that reflects your skills and experience
a cash allowance in lieu of benefits, which means you can choose which benefits are right for you and your family
core company funded benefits such as life assurance, income protection and health cash plan
25 days annual leave plus public holidays
access to tax-efficient voluntary benefits scheme & retail, health, leisure, and travel offers
access to an Employee Assistance Program
financial and health well-being programmes