Finance Business Partner

Hays Accountancy and Finance; Cambridge; Hybrid; GBP 55,000 - 60,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading company in the scientific sector is seeking a Finance Business Partner in Cambridge. The role involves providing strategic financial insights, partnering with senior leadership, and leading budgeting and forecasting processes. Candidates should be fully qualified finance professionals with strong analytical skills and experience in financial management. This position offers a competitive salary and a hybrid working arrangement.

Benefits

Opportunities for professional development

Collaborative and innovative environment

Qualifications

• Experience in financial accounting, financial partnering, or finance management.
• Strong understanding of budgeting, forecasting, and management accounting.
• Ability to present financial data innovatively.

Responsibilities

• Partner with senior teams to provide insightful financial analysis.
• Lead budgeting, forecasting, and financial planning processes.
• Identify opportunities for financial efficiencies.

Skills

Financial analysis

Strategic thinking

Communication

Interpersonal skills

Attention to detail

Education

Fully qualified ACA, ACCA, CIMA or equivalent

Tools

Excel

Oracle

Power BI

Tableau

Job description

Job Title: Finance Business Partner
Location: Cambridge (Hybrid working: 3 days per week in the office)
Salary: £55,000 - £60,000 per annum
Contract Type: Permanent
Are you a fully qualified finance professional with a passion for working in a dynamic, science-driven environment? Do you excel in providing strategic financial insights and partnering with senior leadership teams? If so, our client, based in Cambridge, is looking for a Finance Business Partner to join their team and support the growth of their cutting-edge scientific work.
Key Responsibilities:

• Partner with senior scientific and operational teams to provide insightful financial analysis and guidance.
• Lead the budgeting, forecasting, and financial planning processes, ensuring alignment with strategic goals.
• Develop and present management reports, translating complex financial data into clear, actionable insights.
• Support decision-making with scenario modelling, activity-based costing, and other management accounting techniques.
• Identify opportunities for financial efficiencies and improvements that support business growth and performance.
• Work closely with stakeholders to ensure that financial strategies align with the Institute's long-term objectives.

Essential Skills:Technical Skills:

• Fully qualified ACA, ACCA, CIMA, or equivalent, or equivalent working experience.
• Experience in financial accounting, financial partnering, or finance management.
• Strong understanding of budgeting, forecasting, scenario modelling, activity-based costing, and other management accounting concepts.
• Advanced Excel skills, including pivot tables, lookups, formulae, graphs, etc.
• Familiarity with MI & Reporting tools such as Oracle, Power BI, and/or Tableau.
• Ability to present financial data in innovative and visually appealing ways (e., dashboards, presentations, graphs/tables).

Competencies and Behaviours:

• Strategic thinking with the ability to understand how the Finance team supports broader scientific aims.
• Strong interpersonal skills to build trusted business relationships and work effectively with internal stakeholders.
• Exceptional communication skills, both oral and written, with the ability to simplify complex financial information.
• A self-starter with a proactive, solutions-focused mindset and a curiosity to learn.
• Attention to detail, ensuring financial data is accurate and aligned with business goals.
• Ability to challenge assumptions and decisions when necessary, and to be open to being challenged.
• Strong time management skills with the ability to manage multiple priorities effectively.

About You:As a qualified finance professional, you will bring strong technical skills, particularly in Excel, and a proactive, solutions-oriented approach to your work. You will be confident in building relationships and providing clear, actionable financial insights to senior stakeholders. You thrive in a collaborative environment, where you can contribute to the success of strategic initiatives while supporting teams in managing their budgets and financial resources effectively.
About Us:Our client's Financial Planning & Partnering team is integral in supporting their scientific and operational activities. The team works closely with budget-holders to plan, forecast, and manage funding, while providing clear financial reporting and supporting strategic decision-making through financial modelling and business case development. The team also collaborates across the organization to ensure financial sustainability and develop proposals for third-party funding and major contracts.
What's on Offer:

• Competitive salary between £55,000 and £60,000.
• Hybrid working arrangement (3 days in the office per week).
• A collaborative, innovative environment where you can make a real impact.
• Opportunities for professional development in a world-class scientific organisation.

If you're ready to apply your financial expertise in a role that blends technical proficiency with strategic influence, we'd love to hear from you!

What you need to do now
If you're interested in this role, click 'apply now' to forward an up-to-date copy of your CV, or call us now.
If this job isn't quite right for you but you are looking for a new position, please contact us for a confidential discussion on your career.

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