Finance Business Partner

China Telecom Global Limited; Greater London; On-site; GBP 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Job summary

China Telecom Global Limited in the UK is seeking a trusted finance partner to translate data into commercial insight, own budgeting, forecasting, and performance analysis for the UK Business Unit. You will drive cash flow, cost control, and KPI reporting, partnering with Sales, Delivery and HQ Finance to optimise margins and support strategic decisions.

The role requires fully qualified accounting credentials and experience across IFRS/UK GAAP, with Mandarin ability preferred to work with Group

Qualifications

• 5+ years post-qualification FP&A or business partnering experience.
• Strong budgeting, forecasting, and variance analysis in a multi-entity organisation.
• Solid IFRS knowledge including IFRS 15/16 and UK statutory requirements.
• Ability to influence senior non-finance stakeholders.

Responsibilities

• Act as finance partner to BU GM and EMT, offering proactive financial advice on decisions.
• Lead annual budget and SP/BP cycle, coordinating across functions.
• Prepare monthly management accounts and KPI packs for BU leadership.
• Support bids and tenders with business-case modelling, pricing and cash flow analysis.
• Manage working capital and cash flow forecasts; monitor cost control initiatives.
• Ensure financial controls, compliance and liaise with auditors; support tax matters.
• Improve finance processes and act as a key ERP/reporting system user (SAP/Oracle/Power BI).

Skills

Financial modelling

IFRS/UK GAAP

Excel advanced

Stakeholder management

English communication

Mandarin language

Education

Qualified accountant ACA/ACCA/CIMA

Degree in Finance/Economics

Tools

SAP

Oracle ERP

Power BI

Job description

To act as the trusted finance partner to the UK Business Unit leadership team, translating financial data into commercial insight and driving performance, profitability and cash. The role connects the business with Group Finance, owning budgeting, forecasting, deal economics, performance analysis and financial control for the BU, while ensuring compliance with UK statutory requirements and Group (IFRS and China GAAP) reporting standards.

Responsibilities

1. Business Partnering & Decision Support

• Act as the key finance contact for the BU General Manager and EMT, providing proactive financial advice on business decisions.
• Provide commercial challenge and support on strategy, pricing, market entry, new products and resource allocation.
• Build strong working relationships with Sales, Delivery, Pre-sales, HR, and Operations teams, and with Regional and Group (HQ) Finance.
• Translate complex financial information into clear, actionable insight for non-finance stakeholders.

2. Budgeting, Forecasting & Business Planning

• Lead the annual budget and strategic/business planning (SP/BP) cycle for the BU, coordinating inputs across functions and aligning with Group targets.
• Own monthly and quarterly rolling forecasts for revenue, gross margin, operating costs, headcount and cash flow.
• Track budget execution, analyse variances against budget and forecast, and recommend corrective actions.
• Develop and maintain driver-based financial models and scenario/sensitivity analysis.

3. Performance Management & Reporting

• Prepare monthly management accounts and business performance packs for BU leadership.
• Define, monitor and report KPIs (revenue, orders, gross margin, contribution, working capital, cost per head) and explain key drivers.
• Perform profitability analysis by customer, contract, product and project.
• Support the design and review of KPI targets and financial performance indicators for the BU and its teams.

4. Deal, Contract & Project Finance

• Support bids and tenders with business case modelling, pricing, margin and cash-flow analysis, and payment-term evaluation.
• Review key commercial and contractual terms for financial, tax and revenue recognition (IFRS 15) implications.
• Monitor project financials across the lifecycle, including cost-to-complete, estimates at completion, and post-project reviews.
• Evaluate capital expenditure and investment proposals (ROI, NPV, IRR, payback).

5. Cost Control & Working Capital

• Monitor operating expenses and drive cost-efficiency initiatives across the BU.
• Manage working capital: receivables collection, overdue tracking, payment terms, inventory and supplier payments.
• Prepare cash flow forecasts and support cash management with Treasury.

6. Financial Control, Compliance & Risk

• Ensure BU transactions comply with Group financial policies, delegation of authority and internal controls.
• Support month-end and year-end close, accruals, provisions and balance sheet reviews for the BU.
• Liaise with statutory and Group auditors; support internal audit and control self-assessments.
• Work with Tax on VAT, corporate tax, transfer pricing and intercompany matters affecting the BU.
• Identify financial and compliance risks (credit, FX, contract, tax) and propose mitigations.

7. Systems, Process & Continuous Improvement

• Improve finance processes, reporting tools and dashboards to increase accuracy and efficiency.
• Act as a key user for ERP and reporting systems (e.g. SAP, Oracle, Power BI) and support system projects.
• Represent Finance on cross-functional projects and ad hoc initiatives as required.

Essential Technical Knowledge/Skills

• 5+ years of post-qualification finance experience, including at least 2-3 years in an FP&A or business partnering role.
• Strong financial modelling and analytical skills; advanced Excel.
• Solid knowledge of IFRS (particularly IFRS 15 and IFRS 16), management accounting and UK statutory requirements.
• Proven experience of budgeting, forecasting and variance analysis in a multi-entity or matrix organisation.
• Ability to influence and challenge senior, non-finance stakeholders with confidence.
• Excellent communication and presentation skills in English.
• Mandarin speaking (both written and spoken), to work closely with Group HQ.

Desirable Technical Knowledge/Skills

• Experience in telecoms, ICT, technology or project-based B2B businesses.
• Experience in a Chinese multinational or reporting to an overseas parent.
• Knowledge of China GAAP and Group consolidation.
• SAP / Oracle ERP experience; Power BI or similar BI tools.
• Experience of bid/contract finance, project accounting or commercial pricing.
• Commercial acumen and business-first mindset
• Analytical thinking and attention to detail
• Stakeholder management and influencing
• Integrity and sound judgement
• Ownership, proactivity and ability to work under tight deadlines

Qualifications

• Fully qualified accountant (ACA, ACCA, CIMA or equivalent); CPA (China) is a plus.
• Degree in Finance, Accounting, Economics or a related discipline.