Finance Business Partner

Ocado Group; Hatfield; On-site; GBP 50,000 - 70,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading grocery technology company in Hatfield seeks a Finance Business Partner to provide strategic financial analysis and insights supporting the Technology Operations team. The role involves budgeting, forecasting, and improving business processes. Candidates should have relevant financial qualifications and experience in a dynamic business environment, along with strong analytical and stakeholder management skills. Offered benefits include flexible working, extensive annual leave, and private medical insurance.

Benefits

30 days 'working from anywhere' policy

Wellbeing support through dedicated apps

25 days annual leave

Pension scheme with employer contribution matching

Generous Private Medical Insurance

Income Protection and Life Assurance

22 weeks paid maternity leave

Train Ticket loan (interest-free)

Cycle to Work Scheme

Free shuttle bus services

Sharesave and Buy as You Earn schemes

15% employee discount on Ocado.com

Qualifications

• Relevant financial qualifications like CIMA, ACCA, ACA, or CFA.
• Experience in a complex and fast-paced business environment.
• Ability to balance competing priorities and manage stakeholder expectations.

Responsibilities

• Provide strategic financial insight and analysis to influence decisions.
• Collaborate with the Commercial Accounting team for financial reporting.
• Lead budgeting and forecasting cycles for financial accuracy.

Skills

Strategic financial insight

Commercial acumen

Analytical thinking

Stakeholder management

Process improvement

Education

CIMA, ACCA, ACA, CFA

Tools

Finance systems and processes

Job description

Overview

12 months FTC, this role offers flexible working opportunities and we're happy to discuss your needs during the interview process. The Technology Operations team ensures the ongoing functionality of Ocado's Materials Handling Equipment (MHE), providing critical remote and on-site support to all Ocado Smart Platform (OSP) and Ocado Intelligent Automation (OIA) clients, empowering them to consistently deliver on their retail promises. In this high-impact role, you will be a dedicated strategic Finance Business Partner to our Technology Operations team, with a special focus on the crucial Operational Services team that is central to our platform's success, ensuring it runs seamlessly and efficiently. You will be instrumental in preparing budgets and forecasts, using your strategic analysis to provide key stakeholders with valuable insights. Your work won't just be about the numbers it will directly influence critical decisions that drive efficiency and create significant value across the business.

Responsibilities

• Serve as the lead finance business partner to the Operational Services business area, providing strategic financial insight and analysis to influence key decisions to achieve objectives and drive cost control
• Collaborate closely with the Commercial Accounting team to innovate and deliver accurate and compelling financial and non financial reports that translate data into actionable insights
• Maintain a deep understanding of the operational drivers to proactively uncover and articulate insights that directly inform and influence business strategy
• Provide robust financial analysis and data driven support for major business initiatives including the development of operational plans, business cases and commercial contracts
• Own and drive the end-to-end budgeting and forecasting cycles for the Operational Services business unit, proactively identifying and quantifying financial risks and opportunities to ensure sound financial projections
• Lead investment appraisals and partner with project teams to ensure financial discipline and success across the entire project life cycle
• Develop and maintain sophisticated cost models aligned with operational and business metrics to provide accurate and granular financial insights
• Identify, champion and implement improvements to business processes and financial controls, driving efficiency gains and ensuring the accuracy and integrity of financial data
• Uphold financial standards, compliance processes and controls across all business areas to ensure robust governance and mitigate financial risk

Qualifications & Experience

• Relevant financial qualifications (e.g. CIMA, ACCA, ACA, CFA) along with knowledge of relevant finance systems and processes
• Experience navigating a complex and fast-paced business environment (ideally with a global footprint)
• Commercial acumen coupled with strategic and analytical thinking to identify key trends and influence business outcomes
• Ability to effectively balance multiple competing priorities and proactively manage stakeholder expectations to drive consensus and deliver results
• Courage to constructively challenge the current ways of working, championing process improvements that drive efficiency and add value
• A high degree of resilience and adaptability to thrive in a dynamic business environment
• A proactive mindset to own and drive personal and professional development

Benefits

• 30 days 'working from anywhere in the world' policy
• Wellbeing support through dedicated apps and an Employee Assistance Programme
• 25 days annual leave, rising to 27 days after 5 years service (plus optional holiday purchase)
• Pension scheme (various options available including employer contribution matching up to 7%)
• Generous Private Medical Insurance (within the first month of joining!)
• Income Protection (can be up to 50% of salary for 3 years) and Life Assurance (3 x annual salary)
• 22 weeks paid maternity leave and 6 weeks paid paternity leave (once relevant service requirements complete)
• Train Ticket loan (interest-free)
• Cycle to Work Scheme
• Free shuttle bus to and from Hatfield Train Station to the Hatfield offices
• Free shuttle bus to and from Welwyn Garden City Train Station to the Welwyn Garden City offices
• Opportunity to participate in Sharesave and Buy as You Earn share schemes
• 15% discount on Ocado.com and free delivery for all employees (within the first month of joining!)