County Finance Business Partner

UNITED UTILITIES GROUP PLC; England; Hybrid; GBP 45,000 - 65,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading water company in Warrington is seeking a County Finance Business Partner to influence strategic financial decisions. This role involves partnering with operational leaders, conducting financial analyses, and supporting transformation initiatives. Candidates should be fully qualified accountants with significant experience in large organisations. The benefits include a competitive salary, annual leave package, and additional perks such as healthcare and performance bonuses. This opportunity promises a vibrant work environment fostering professional growth.

Benefits

26 days' annual leave plus bank holidays

Competitive pension scheme

Company-funded healthcare plan

Performance-related bonus

Flexible benefits

Qualifications

• Significant post-qualification experience in finance.
• Experience in large, complex organisations.
• Strong stakeholder management capability.

Responsibilities

• Partner with County Business Leaders to embed performance management culture.
• Identify, analyse, and track cost efficiency opportunities.
• Deliver high-quality financial analysis for investment decisions.

Skills

Financial analysis

Stakeholder engagement

Commercial mindset

Budget management

Communication skills

Education

Fully qualified accountant (CIMA or equivalent)

Job description

Overview

Location: Warrington, Lingley Mere

Company: United Utilities

Salary: Competitive + excellent benefits package

United Utilities is proud to be the North West's Water company. Every day, we deliver great water for a stronger, greener, healthier region and we're looking for a proactive, commercially minded County Finance Business Partner to help us shape the future.

This is a high-impact role at the heart of our Finance function. You'll partner with operational leaders, provide insightful financial analysis, challenge assumptions, and support transformation initiatives that drive long-term value. If you thrive on turning complex data into meaningful insight, influencing decisions, and building strong relationships across a large organisation, this is your opportunity to make a real difference.

We're a FTSE 100 business with a clear purpose and a culture built on inclusion, innovation, and continuous improvement. You'll join a supportive team where your expertise is valued, your development is encouraged, and your contribution directly shapes performance across the region.

Benefits

• 26 days' annual leave (rising to 30 with service) plus bank holidays
• Competitive pension scheme with up to 14% employer contribution
• Up to 10.5% performance-related bonus
• Company-funded healthcare plan
• Discounts, wellbeing support, EV car scheme, ShareBuy, and more
• Enhanced parental leave and flexible benefits

Performance Measurement & Reporting

• Partner with County Business Leaders to embed a culture of performance management and cost-conscious decision-making.
• Identify, analyse, and track cost efficiency opportunities across county operations.
• Review historic and forward-looking cost trends, recommending corrective actions.
• Assess financial risks and support development of mitigation strategies.
• Develop and interpret KPIs and operational metrics to highlight performance gaps.
• Provide insightful reporting comparing actuals to plan, driving accountability and informed decision-making.

Transformation Support & Benefits Tracking

• Work closely with transformation programme teams, offering robust financial insight and challenge.
• Support development of business cases and financial models for change initiatives.
• Track delivery of financial and non-financial benefits, identifying risks and gaps early.

Decision Support

• Deliver high-quality financial analysis to support investment decisions and business cases.
• Assist in prioritising capital projects based on value, affordability, and strategic alignment.
• Challenge assumptions and ensure decisions are grounded in robust financial insight.

Planning, Budgeting & Forecasting

• Contribute financial expertise to strategic planning cycles.
• Support budgeting and forecasting, ensuring alignment with efficiency targets and business objectives.
• Collaborate with the Totex Performance Team to deliver integrated financial plans.

General Responsibilities

• Coach and mentor colleagues across the Finance team.
• Champion continuous improvement in financial processes and reporting.
• Provide ad-hoc support including regulatory review and compliance activities.

Influencing & Stakeholder Engagement

• Proven ability to challenge and influence senior stakeholders.
• Confidence to act as a critical friend - supportive, constructive, and commercially focused.
• Strong relationship-building skills, particularly within operational environments.

Commercial & Strategic Insight

• Strong commercial mindset with the ability to understand business drivers and external factors.
• Experience contributing to medium- and short-term business planning.
• Ability to translate financial insight into strategic recommendations.

Communication & Relationship Building

• Excellent communication, presentation, and negotiation skills.
• Ability to explain complex financial issues clearly and concisely.
• Skilled at managing multiple priorities in a large, matrix organisation.

Analytical & Technical Expertise

• Ability to analyse complex financial data, identify trends, and generate actionable insight.
• Strong experience in budget and target management.
• Understanding of operational performance metrics, KPIs, and financial systems.
• Knowledge of United Utilities' financial reporting processes and regulatory environment (or ability to learn quickly).

Leadership & Personal Attributes

• Highly motivated with a proactive, solutions-focused approach.
• Confident in challenging constructively and navigating ambiguity.
• Passionate about continuous improvement and personal development.
• High levels of integrity, professionalism, and accountability.
• A true business partner who understands that fixing operational issues ultimately fixes the P&L.

• Fully qualified accountant (CIMA or equivalent) with significant post-qualification experience.
• Experience working in large, complex organisations and managing competing priorities at pace.
• Strong commercial experience and stakeholder management capability.

If you're ready to make a meaningful impact, influence strategic decisions, and help shape the financial performance of a leading FTSE 100 organisation, we'd love to hear from you.