Assistant Finance Business Partner/ Assistant Finance Manager
3-Month Contract | Central London or Glasgow | Hybrid Working
Working arrangement: 2 days per week in the office
We are currently recruiting for an experienced Assistant Finance Manager / Assistant Finance Business Partner to join an established finance team on an initial three-month contract.
Working closely with a range of business areas, you will provide financial insight, guidance and support to help teams manage their budgets, understand financial performance and make informed commercial decisions.
The role will involve a combination of business partnering, financial planning, forecasting and technical accounting, with a particular focus on supporting budget holders, improving financial understanding across the business and ensuring robust financial reporting.
Key Responsibilities:
- Build strong relationships with stakeholders across different business areas, developing an understanding of their priorities and providing financial advice and guidance.
- Support budget holders with financial planning, budget management and forecasting, identifying potential risks and investigating variances.
- Produce financial analysis and management information to support decision-making, using benchmarking and performance data to identify opportunities for improvement.
- Provide guidance on procurement activities, business case development and the financial implications of proposed projects and activities.
- Oversee month-end reporting activities, ensuring journals and financial adjustments are submitted accurately and the general ledger is maintained correctly.
- Support the preparation and reporting of monthly forecasts, ensuring financial information is complete and reliable.
- Provide technical accounting advice, assessing accounting implications in line with relevant financial reporting standards and public sector accounting requirements.
- Help improve financial awareness across non-finance teams, ensuring colleagues understand relevant financial processes and their responsibilities.
- Prepare ad hoc financial analysis to support business planning, annual budgeting exercises and wider financial events.
- Work collaboratively with business areas to ensure appropriate financial evidence and supporting documentation is available for internal and external audit requirements.
- Communicate financial information and recommendations clearly, influencing stakeholders and supporting effective financial decision-making.
Essential Skills & Experience:
- Previous experience in an Assistant Finance Business Partner, Finance Business Partner or similar management accounting role.
- Experience supporting complex business areas, ideally within central government or the wider public sector.
- Strong knowledge of budget management, financial planning, forecasting and risk identification.
- Excellent technical accounting knowledge, with the ability to apply accounting principles across a range of financial activities.
- Strong analytical and problem-solving abilities, with the confidence to interpret financial information and provide meaningful recommendations.
- Excellent communication, presentation and relationship-building skills, including the ability to work effectively with multidisciplinary teams.
- The ability to build credibility with senior stakeholders, challenge constructively and influence financial decisions.
- A CCAB qualification or equivalent, either fully qualified or part-qualified.
Desirable Experience:
- Previous experience working within government finance or supporting government business units.
- Good understanding of public sector financial processes and government accounting requirements.
- Strong Excel skills and experience analysing complex financial data to support organisational performance.
- Familiarity with international financial reporting standards and central government accounting requirements.
- Experience supporting month-end processes, audit requirements and financial reporting.
If you have a strong background in finance business partnering, enjoy working closely with stakeholders and can provide clear financial insight to support business performance, we would be keen to hear from you.