Finance Business Partner

Network Rail; Glasgow; On-site; GBP 44,000 - 53,000; Full time

Job summary

Network Rail’s Glasgow-based finance team leads a critical mission to deliver safe, reliable railway expenditure. As a Finance Business Partner, you’ll develop business cases, forecast efficiency, and ensure governance and benefits realization across the organisation.

This role focuses on identifying opportunities, challenging senior stakeholders, and delivering real impact through strong analytical and strategic thinking.

Qualifications

• Experience in finance business partnering and business case development.
• Ability to influence and challenge senior stakeholders.
• Track record of delivering efficiencies or performance improvement.
• Strong analytical skills with a strategic mindset.

Responsibilities

• Support business case development and efficiency forecasting from concept through to delivery.
• Assist with business case governance, standards and assurance.
• Identify efficiency and cost improvement opportunities, supported by robust analysis.
• Support cross‑industry funding opportunities.
• Work with Technical Authority and Route Services to capture, quantify and agree all benefits.
• Support CP7 efficiency reporting requirements, including progress, forecasts, risks and opportunities.
• Undertake cross‑regional benchmarking and share learning from other regions.
• Support Senior Finance Business Partners with analysis and stakeholder challenge.
• Track benefits to ensure they are realised and sustained.

Skills

Finance business partnering

Stakeholder influence

Efficiency/Performance improvement

Analytical thinking

Continuous improvement

Self-motivation

Education

Degree-level education

Professional qualification (CIMA/ACCA/ICAEW in progress or membership)

Tools

Oracle-based systems

Job description

Who We Are

At Network Rail, we're the publicly owned operator of Britain's rail infrastructure.

We're trusted custodians of one of our nation's most critical public assets: Scotland's Railway.

We keep Scotland moving - connecting people and places, supporting businesses, public services and communities - driving economic, social and environmental success.

Our work spans almost 20% of the UK network and between 2024 and 2029, we're investing £4.8 billion to enhance our stations and routes, supporting new passenger and freight rolling stock.

Working together with train operators, our investment will mean a more reliable, climate resilient railway; a better customer experience; and greener, more sustainable travel that links cities, towns, urban and rural communities with each other and with the wider UK.

But it's our people who make this progress possible. At Network Rail Scotland, you'll find an inclusive, supportive and flexible working culture where your ideas are valued, your growth is encouraged, and your impact is real. Join us.

This is your railway - and it's moving forward. For more information about Network Rail click here .

About the role

At Network Rail, our finance team plays a critical role in delivering a safe, reliable and efficient railway, managing around £1-billion in annual expenditure. Our Glasgow-based finance team - a close-knit group of around 50 professionals - is at the heart of this mission.

As a Finance Business Partner you'll support business case development and efficiency forecasting, helping the organisation identify opportunities, maintain strong governance and assurance, and ensure agreed benefits are captured and delivered.

This is more than a finance role - it's an opportunity to lead improvement, shape strategy, and deliver real impact.

Here are some of the duties your role will include

• Support business case development and efficiency forecasting from concept through to delivery.
• Assist with business case governance, standards and assurance.
• Identify efficiency and cost improvement opportunities, supported by robust analysis aligned to strategy, value and risk.
• Support cross‑industry funding opportunities.
• Work with the Technical Authority and Route Services to capture, quantify and agree all benefits.
• Support CP7 efficiency reporting requirements, including progress, forecasts, risks and opportunities.
• Undertake cross‑regional benchmarking and share learning and good practice from other regions.
• Support Senior Finance Business Partners with analysis, insight and constructive stakeholder challenge.
• Track benefits to ensure they are realised and sustained.
• Help embed a centre of excellence with strong governance and consistency.
• Contribute to future efficiency strategy, including development of the five‑year business plan.

What we’re looking for

• Strong background in finance business partnering and business case development.
• Ability to influence and challenge senior stakeholders.
• Track record of delivering efficiencies or performance improvement.
• Strong analytical skills with a strategic mindset Voices
• Passion for continuous improvement and real-world impact.
• Self‑motivated and proactive, with a drive to make things happen.

Salary: Starting at £43,588 and rising to £53,167 per annum. Network Rail Benefits - To find out about what benefits we offer, click here .

Closing date: Midnight of 2nd October 2026. Late applications will not be accepted.

Please note the recruitment process for this role is a competency‑based interview. If any additional stages or testing/assessments are to take place, you will be notified of these.

We’re dedicated to creating an inclusive environment and we welcome applications from everyone! Network Rail is a Disability Confident Leader and we’ll try our best to adapt the process and offer a reasonable alternative to help support people with disabilities access, apply and interview for roles. You can visit Evenbreak’s Career Hive for advice on accessibility support if you're unsure of the options available.

Should you require any reasonable adjustments/modifications, please add a note to your application.

All offers of employment are conditional upon satisfactory completion of pre-employment checks. Click here for more information.

Your experience and skills

What you will bring to the role

• Membership of, or progress towards membership of, CIMA, ACCA or ICAEW, or equivalent experience.
• Excellent stakeholder engagement and communication skills at all levels, including customers, third‑party representatives, business and functional leaders, and key support personnel.
• Experience in a complex financial environment, including business risk management, professional financial control and forward planning.
• A demonstrable record of budget management and governance, with the ability to interpret budgets, forecasts and actual performance.
• Strong evaluation and decision‑making skills, with experience of managing ambiguity in a financial environment.
• Excellent technical financial and accounting knowledge, applied in a complex commercial environment.
• Degree‑level education in a relevant discipline, or equivalent demonstrable finance experience.

It’s desirable if you have it to help give you context to the role

• Experience of Oracle-based systems.
• Substantial experience across multiple finance disciplines.
• Knowledge of government accounting and relevant financial governance.
• Understanding of project management principles and experience of successfully managing complex projects.