Finance Business Partner

Gambling Commission; Birmingham; Hybrid; GBP 55,000 - 75,000; Full time

Job summary

A public regulatory body in Birmingham is looking for a Senior Finance Business Partner to lead management accounting and provide financial insights. This role requires public sector experience, strong leadership skills, and the ability to navigate complex financial environments. You will be pivotal in driving the efficiency of financial planning and reporting, ensuring effective management of budgets and resources. This position offers hybrid working with generous benefits including a competitive pension and flexible working arrangements.

Benefits

Generous civil service pension

Flexible working arrangements

26 to 29 days holiday

Friendly work environment

Qualifications

• Experience with public finance frameworks.
• Ability to work under pressure and manage competing priorities.
• Strong business partnering capability.

Responsibilities

• Lead day-to-day management accounting.
• Produce high-quality monthly management reports.
• Manage, coach, and develop accounting technicians.

Skills

Public sector accounting experience

Management accounting

Financial reporting

Stakeholder management

Project accounting

Leadership skills

Excellent communication

Education

Fully qualified (CCAB, CIMA, CIPFA or equivalent)

Job description

Join us at the Gambling Commission as we continue to strengthen the financial insight, accountability, and strategic impact of our organisation. We are seeking a highly capable Senior Finance Business Partner to play a pivotal role in ensuring we remain an effective public body overseeing both Gambling Regulation and the National Lottery. Reporting directly to the Head of Finance, you will lead the day‑to‑day management accounting function, provide high‑quality business partnering across the organisation, and drive robust financial planning to support strategic decision‑making.

Our offer to you: Generous pension: market‑leading civil service pension with a 28.97% employer contribution rate. Prime location: our central Birmingham city centre office is just a stone's throw from New Street train station, with convenient hybrid working arrangements. Holidays: 26 days, increasing to 29 days after 2 years, with an option to buy up to 5 additional days. Work environment: certified Great Place to Work, committed to inclusivity, respect, and helping you achieve your full potential. Make sure to help yourself to the free tea and coffee! Work‑life balance: take back your commute time with the ability to work from home up to 4 days a week alongside a variety of flexible working part and full‑time arrangements.

What you’ll deliver

• Lead the day‑to‑day management accounting for the Commission, covering Gambling Regulation and the National Lottery.
• Produce high‑quality monthly management reports and provide insightful analysis to Executive Directors and senior leaders.
• Lead the annual budgeting and business planning cycles, ensuring accurate, timely, and strategically aligned submissions to DCMS (Department for Culture, Media & Sport), including spending reviews and in‑year budget revisions.
• Manage, coach, and develop a small team of accounting technicians, enabling a strong business partnering service that provides challenge, advice, and financial insight.
• Act as the primary contact for internal audit on matters relating to financial control and budget management.
• Support the Commission in delivering its business priorities by providing trusted financial expertise and robust governance.
• Shape the financial narrative, enhance strategic decision‑making, and build strong relationships with senior non‑financial leaders across the organisation.

Qualifications and Evidence

• Public sector accounting experience, with strong understanding of public finance frameworks.
• Fully qualified or qualified by experience (CCAB, CIMA, CIPFA or equivalent).
• Demonstrable experience in management accounting and financial reporting, producing high‑quality monthly reports and insightful analysis.
• Project accounting experience, including monitoring complex budgets and multi‑workstream programmes.
• Proven leadership and team management, including supporting and developing part‑qualified accountants or trainees.
• Strong business partnering capability, able to influence, challenge, and support senior non‑financial stakeholders.
• Excellent stakeholder management and communication skills, able to clearly translate financial information for varied audiences.
• Ability to work under pressure, manage competing priorities, and meet tight deadlines.
• High level of financial accuracy, control focus, and professional judgement.

Desirable Criteria

• Experience working directly with senior executives or board‑level stakeholders.
• Resilience, adaptability, and a proactive approach to problem‑solving.
• Experience communicating with government departments or external regulators.
• Project accounting experience on a GMPP project (Government Major Projects Portfolio).
• Name‑blind CV including your job history and previous experiences, detailing up to your last five roles.
• 500‑word statement of suitability covering how your key skills and experience meet the essential and desirable criteria.

Artificial Intelligence can be a useful tool to support your application; however, all examples and statements provided must be truthful, factually accurate and taken directly from your own experience.